Teya was still standing in front of Neo’s door, considering where to look next, when the elevator bell drew her attention. Laughter echoed down the hall as her brother and Jericho stepped out. Relief washed through her. As one, they turned toward Neo’s apartment, still laughing and talking. Jericho’s eyes met Teya’s and his smile changed. Heat rushed through her. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how worried and scared she’d been when she realized Jericho was gone.

“Looks like you were right.” Neo slapped him on the back. “I don’t know how you always know exactly where she is and when she’s looking for you.” Jericho turned to face Neo, a disbelieving look on his face.

“It’s not that hard. Her dragon tells me.” Neo blinked twice

“Seriously?”

“Yes, I am under the impression that her dragon speaking to me is normal.” He looked back and forth between Teya and Neo as if he was now unsure.

Neo turned to Teya. “Are you aware of your dragon talking to him?”

“I know she does it—” she shrugged “—but I’m not always aware when it’s happening.”

Neo fell silent, but his gaze went back and forth between the two of them several times.

I’ll tell you again, don’t let this one go. Trust me on this one. Neo’s voice was clear and earnest in her mind.

I don’t plan to, she sent back, turning to look at the man she’d known for centuries but had only recently made an appearance to the rest of the world. I’m sure he feels the same. “What’s the plan for tonight?”

“I’ve got a date, so you two are on your own.” Neo glanced at Jericho then back to Teya. “Have fun.”

Teya rolled her eyes and turned to Jericho as her brother pressed is hand against the panel next to the door and went inside.

“Well, what do you want to do?”

“Hmm...” Jericho stepped close and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. “How about we order something to eat then spend a quiet evening together?”

“That sounds amazing.” Unable to stop the smile that crept across her face, Teya leaned her head against his shoulder as he pulled her closer. “Let’s go order dinner.” She wrapped her arm around his waist, and together, they walked back to what had become their apartment.

After they’d eaten, Teya sat on the sofa, curled against Jericho’s side, while “Clarity with Amie” played on the radio. Jericho’s arm wrapped loosely around her as they sat in silence.

“Have you thought about what you want long term?” Teya asked without moving.

“What do you mean what I want?”

“Do you want to be here with me? Do you want to go out and build a life of your own, away from all the drama of the dragons? Or something else? Anything else. Have you thought about it?” He shifted beneath her. She glanced up to find him frowning down at her, a crease between his eyes.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“I didn’t say that. I simply want to know what you want.” Her heart ached at the idea of him leaving her, but she wouldn’t ask him to stay if it wasn’t what he wanted.

“I want nothing more than to be with you. I have worked toward being able to hold you in my arms for centuries. I have no desire to give you up. If you want me to go, I will, but it is not something I desire.” His arm stiffened around her and his entire body went tense. She’d managed to upset him, which hadn’t been her intention at all.

“I don’t want you to go anywhere.” She met his gaze so he could see the honesty in her eyes. “I needed to make certain it was what you want, though, not just my wishful thinking.”

“I have no desire to be anywhere but here with you, Teyacapan. For the rest of my days.”

“You really mean forever?”

“I do. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you, however long that may be.”

“You’re certain?”

“Baby, I spent more than two thousand years trying to get to you. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I understand there’s a way we can make our bond permanent so that we will each live as long as the other, and when one dies, the other will follow.”

Teya blinked, wondering where he’d heard about the spell that would bind them. Then it dawned on her. Her dragon had told him.

“There is. Would it be something you would be interested in doing?” Teya wanted it more than she was willing to admit, but she didn’t want to push him into something he didn’t want.

“I can think of nothing I would like more.” Jericho cupped one side of her face. “You are my everything, and I have no desire to be without you, if it is something you want.” She wondered if her dragon had told him exactly how she felt, and how strongly.

“It is, but I wasn’t sure you would be ready for such a commitment. Once it’s done, there’s no way to undo the spell. We will be bound to each other for eternity.” She covered his hand on her face with one of her own.

“I would not have brought it up if I did not want to do it. I want nothing more than to be bound to you. I have no thought or desire to exist on any plane for even a single day without you.” Relief and contentment washed through her. Somewhere deep inside, she’d been worried he wouldn’t want to be bound to her.

“It’s not hard.” She pulled his hand from her face and folded both her hands with his as she faced him and watched him. “We just have to recite the spell together. We can even do it now, if you would like.”

“I would like.” He shifted on the couch so his entire body faced her the way she faced him. “What do I need to do?”

“Just say the words with me at the same time. Do I need to tell you them first?”

Jericho shook his head. “I already know them.” Teya took a deep breath and together they spoke the words.

“Two hearts become one, two souls forever entwined, coming together, now combine, tied to each other for all time.” Power and energy pushed through them, metaphorically tying them together for eternity.

“Is that all?”

“All? Don’t you feel it?” The energy continued to race through them, creating the bonds that would take them into the next world when one or the other met the end of this life.

Jericho was quiet for a moment before his face changed. His eyes widened with surprise then a shiver ran through him. He closed his eyes and gasped.

“I feel it. It’s like heat and magic rushing through me.”

“Exactly.” She leaned close and waited until Jericho opened his eyes then kissed him.