Bound by Light (20 page)

He made love to her and then it was time for
their bonding ceremony. The official “marriage” for the purpose of
Cauld Ane recordkeeping.

Thane had surprised her with a new dress to
commemorate the occasion. A lace, off-white cocktail dress that
settled a few inches above her knees. It had one shoulder and a
wide satin sash and, with a pair of matching Jimmy Choo stilettos,
she felt like a modern day princess.

Thane pulled her into his arms and kissed
her. “You are beautiful.”

“So are you.” He wore his traditional tartan
kilt, the green and blues exceptional against his coloring.

“You’re missing something,” he said.

“I am?”

He grinned and pulled out a small, black,
velvet box.

“What’s this?” she asked, and gasped when he
pried it open. A pair of white gold diamond teardrop earrings
sparkled in the black satin. “Thane,” she breathed out.

“Do you like them?”

She smiled. “Honey, they’re exquisite.”

“I have to admit, I wanted to buy the
six-carat ones, but I know you enough to know that you’d feel
uncomfortable wearing them.”

“You’re right.” Sydney stroked his cheek. “I
would. But these? These I can wear almost every day.” She secured
them to her ears.

Thane ran his thumb gently over one.
“Perfect.”

“Thank you, honey.” She squeezed his hand.
“I have something for you too.”

“Something other than the red lacy gift I
tore off your body last night?”

She giggled and pulled open the bureau
drawer. “Yes.”

Pulling out the gift bag with the statue,
she handed it to him. “That’s not all,” she said, and stepped into
the closet, sliding the real gift out of the front pocket of her
tote. She walked back into the bedroom and pointed to the gift bag.
“Open that first and then you can have this.”

He raised an eyebrow and peeked into the
bag, letting out a laugh that made Sydney grin. He pulled out the
Oscar and studied it. “This is the best gift I’ve ever
received.”

“It’s a major award, honey, and you earned
it.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “I love it.
Almost as much as I love you.”

She smiled and handed him the leather box,
unwrapped. “Elspie helped me pick this out.”

He set the Oscar on the dresser and took the
box, opening it and shaking his head. “Baby.”

“Is it okay? Do you like it?” She’d had the
timepiece engraved and now she wasn’t sure about it.

He pulled the watch out and kissed her
again. “It’s amazing, love. Even better than the Oscar.”

“Wow, that’s high praise. I won’t tell the
Academy.”

Thane turned it over and read the back.
“
I’m blessed to call you mine. All my love, Mrs. Movie
Star
.” He smiled. “I’m the blessed one, Sydney. I love
you.”

“I love you too.” He kissed her, sliding her
dress up over her hips. “Thane, you’ll ruin the dress.”

“I’ll be very, very careful.”

“Even if you are, honey, we don’t have
time.”

“I’ll make it quick.”

“You haven’t made it quick yet.”

“I will now,” he promised, and kept his
word.

After putting themselves back together,
Sydney followed Thane downstairs and into the throne room. She was
shocked to find his entire family in attendance. Even though they’d
discussed the option for her to invite hers, she’d decided that she
wanted to experience the traditional ceremony, rather than one that
was “human sensitive.” Thane had promised a wedding to rival all
weddings once the situation with her mother was sorted, so she was
happy to keep their bonding between them for the moment. But her
heart swelled when they joined the pastor and Thane’s family was
there, along with their closest friends.

Isolde wrapped Sydney in a warm embrace and
kissed her cheek. “You look stunning, love.”

“Thank you.”

Domnall was next and his gruff, but no less
warm, hug brought tears to Sydney’s eyes. “You’re the best of who
we could have imagined for him, lass. A gift from God.”

“Thank you,” she rasped.

It took several more minutes to hug each of
the rest of the family and then it was time to start the
ceremony.

As the group settled in their seats, Thane
and Sydney faced each other and Pastor Kent smiled at them and then
the congregation. “Thane and Sydney have chosen a traditional hand
fasting until they can join together in human matrimony. I am to
understand you have bonded?”

“Aye, pastor,” Thane said.

“I’m happy for you both.” He reached for the
Allen tartan ribbon and studied each of them. “Join your right
hands.”

Sydney giggled when she nearly raised her
left, but recovered quickly and clasped Thane’s hand.

“
May the best
you’ve ever seen be the worst you’ll ever see.” Pastor Kent bound
the ribbon around their hands as he recited the ancient Scottish
blessing. “May the mouse never leave your pantry with a teardrop in
his eye. May you always keep healthy and hearty until you’re old
enough to die. May you always be just as happy as we wish you now
to be. You may now kiss your mate.”

Using their joined hands as leverage, Thane
tugged Sydney to him and kissed her deeply. Domnall hollered and
pulled Thane away from Sydney, causing the guests to laugh...she,
however, blushed beet red.

Domnall untied their hands and they signed
the royal book, then it was time to party, which they did until the
wee hours.

* * *

The next morning, Thane drove Sydney down to
the stables and they mounted a couple of horses to ride over to Max
and Grace’s home, just a few miles from the castle.

Sydney was a little nervous to hang out with
the famous rock star, but it helped that Niall and Charlotte would
be there as well. It was one thing to shake the man’s hand, and an
entirely different one to spend a morning with him. Arriving at the
expansive white mansion, Sydney did her best to take it all in. Ivy
wove its way up one side of the house, adding to the historical
façade, while the cobblestone courtyard offered the perfect welcome
that led to the blue seven-foot-tall, six-foot-wide double doors at
the front.

Thane’s hand on her leg drew her focus to
him as he stood below her and she smiled down at him. “Mmm, I like
this angle.”

He chuckled. “Would you like me to stand
here for a while?”

“I’d say yes, but then we’d be late to
brunch.” She giggled and slid her foot out of the stirrups,
dismounting with the help of her very sexy man.

A groom walked the horses away, and Thane
took Sydney’s hand and led her to the front door.

Grace pulled the door open before they’d
even reached the porch and hugged Sydney then Thane. “Welcome! I’m
so glad you guys could make it.”

A flurry of blonde slammed into Thane’s
legs. “Unca Thane!!” the little girl squealed.

Thane chuckled and lifted her into his arms.
“Well, hello there, sweetpea.”

“Moira!” Charlotte rushed out in an attempt
to catch her. “Lordy, she’s quick.”

“It’s the Cauld Ane in her,” Thane said.
“Sydney, this is Niall and Charlotte’s daughter, the beautiful
Moira Faith.”

“Hi Moira, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Hi,” she whispered, and dropped her head on
Thane’s shoulder.

“Come in,” Grace said, and waved them
inside.

Thane gave Moira a gentle hug and stepped
back so Sydney could precede him into the house. Sydney was just as
impressed by Grace and Max’s home as she had been with the castle.
Their home was laid out over three stories, with a library,
kitchen, parlor, great room, dining room, bedroom, and two full
bathrooms on the first floor. Six large bedrooms, each with their
own bathroom, were on the second floor, as well as a large common
room and an additional bathroom.

The third floor was considered the family’s
private quarters, with a gigantic master suite and four other
bedrooms with private bathrooms. Elevators on each end of the home
covered each story and the basement.

“It’s ridiculously big, isn’t it?” Grace
murmured.

“I think it’s beautiful,” Sydney said.

“Thank you.” Grace grinned. “Max had a
little emergency with one of the horses, so he and Niall will be
back in a bit. Make yourselves at home. Can I get you some wine or
pop?”

“I’d love a beer if you have one, please,”
Thane said, and lowered Moira to the floor.

“Of course we have beer... we’re not
animals.”

Thane laughed. “Thanks, lass.”

“I’m happy with water for now,” Sydney
said.

“I’ll be right back.” Grace walked out of
the room and Moira dragged Thane to the sofa.

“Book,” she demanded, and handed him
Cinderella.

“Moira, honey, let’s give Uncle Thane a
minute, huh?”

“She’s fine, Charlotte.” Thane pulled Moira
onto his lap and Sydney sat next to them.

Thane got two lines into the book before
Moira slid off his lap and made a run for Niall. “Daddy!”

“Ah, the fickleness of ladies,” Thane said,
and chuckled as he rose to his feet. Sydney followed suit.

“Famous drummer beats movie star,
apparently,” Sydney said.

Niall hugged Thane and then Sydney. Once Max
had said hello, he went to help Grace. Charlotte sat beside Niall
and Moira, but her phone rang and she sighed. “Sorry, I have to get
this, it’s Pepper.”

“Don’t worry on our account,” Thane said,
and wrapped an arm around Sydney, pulling her close.

Grace and Max walked in with drinks and then
sat with Niall.

“How do you feel Sydney?” Grace asked.

“Great, actually.”

“It’s a little strange, huh?”

“Yeah, it is. My body feels different, but
not so different I don’t still feel like me.”

Grace nodded. “Just wait until you find out
you can lift three times your body weight.”

“Is that a thing?”

Thane jostled her gently. “Yeah, baby, it’s
a thing.”

“I want to do it now!”

He chuckled. “How about we do it later?”

Sydney wrinkled her nose. “You’re no
fun.”

Charlotte returned and flopped down beside
Niall.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

She smiled. “Yep. I just need to go early
tomorrow to help set up.”

“We were already going early.”

“I’m aware. But apparently Pepper forgot.”
Charlotte sighed. “I’m giving her new-mother-brain-loss grace.”

Grace giggled. “You’d think it was her party
with how stressed out she’s making herself.”

Charlotte groaned. “No doubt.”

“Well, we’re staying there, so we can help
as well,” Sydney said.

“Oh, you will,” Charlotte decreed.

Sydney giggled. “Just put us to work.
Apparently, I can now lift heavy things, so my damsel in distress
gig is over.”

Thane kissed her temple. “You’ll always be
my wee damsel, love.”

“I will?” she asked with a saccharin tone,
clutching her hands to her chest. “You’re the bestest most
awesomest mate in the whole wide world.”

“Damn straight.” Thane laughed and kissed
her.

The rest of the day was spent in comfortable
ribbing and conversation. By the time they had to leave to go back
to the castle, Sydney felt like she had lifelong friends.

Thane took her to bed that night and she was
able to fall asleep without his help. She couldn’t wait to find out
what more her new body would do for her, but in the meantime, she
was going to enjoy the hell out of what it was doing now.

* * *

Sydney’s alarm buzzed her awake at seven the
next morning. She hit the snooze and rolled over to snuggle close
to Thane again.

“It’s not morning, is it?” he groaned.

She smiled, kissing his chest. “Yep. ’Fraid
so.”

“I can’t move,” he complained. “I think you
broke me last night.”

Sydney laughed. “Just testing out my new
limits. I know I don’t have any point of reference, but sex is
awesome
in my new vessel.” Thane chuckled just as her alarm
buzzed again and she pulled away to turn it off, sliding off the
bed. “Okay, mister movie star, time to get up. Come shower with me
and I’ll fix whatever ails you.”

He jumped from the bed. “Don’t have to tell
me twice.”

“You’re a quick study, honey.”

Thane laughed and smacked her bottom as he
passed her. “Come on, baby. I’m dying to soap you up.”

She shivered as she followed him into the
bathroom.

Once showered and dressed, they headed down
to the great hall and Sydney laughed as Samantha stood in the
middle of the room directing traffic while she cradled Phineas in
her arms.

“Wow, you’re a pro,” Sydney said.

Samantha smiled. “Oh, you missed me
blubbering in the corner an hour ago when Kade had to talk me down
off the ledge.”

Sydney smiled sympathetically. “You could
have canceled. No one would have faulted you.”

“A Moore... ah, I mean a Gunnach, never
gives up.”

Samantha’s maiden name
, Thane
provided.

Thane laughed. “Well, what can we do? Put us
to work.”

“Sydney, Grace and Charlotte are working on
gift bags in the library, would you please help them with
that?”

“Of course.”

Samantha smiled. “And Thane, Max is setting
up the sound and video stuff. If you wouldn’t mind helping him with
that, I’d appreciate it. He’s in the garden.”

“No problem.”

“Eat first, though, okay?” Samantha rocked
the baby when he fussed. “Breakfast is set out in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Sam,” Thane said.

“No, thank you,” she quipped.

Thane guided Sydney to the kitchen and then,
once they ate, they split up to take care of their tasks.

* * *

Guests started trickling in at noon,
dignitaries the first to arrive, and Sydney soon found out all of
them were Cauld Ane. There would be humans in attendance, but they
wouldn’t arrive until four, which gave their people a chance to
speak unhindered for a few hours.