Immortals After Dark 04 - Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night

we think you might be able to talk her from this. Nix told us this morning that you intend to be her protector—”
    “He’s a beast familiar,” Warren scoffed.
    “Which makes him a werewolf protector. And that’s why he’s been allowed here.”
    “Can she hear me?” Bowe asked, disregarding the fact that he hadn’t spoken to Nix until minutes ago.
    “Mari’s aware of everything we’re saying,” she answered.
    “How do I free her?”
    “You persuade her to somehow find the power to pull away. Talk to her, make her fight,” Jillian said. “Reflections are Mari’s strengths, but they’re also her weaknesses. She can be hurt by them if she draws too much on them—once you succeed in freeing her, then you have to make sure she doesn’t lose herself in the mirror like this ever again.”
    No wonder he’d had such a strong reaction to her chanting to the glass.
    Warren added, “Tonight, if you succeed, we’re going to bind Häxa’s power within her. For a few decades, Mari will need to use the mirror for knowledge sparingly—only in the direst emergencies . She can travel through mirrors and use them to focus spells, but the knowledge is what Häxa’s power will always crave—and bindings are not infallible.”
    “Can we trust you to see to this?” Jillian asked.
    Bowe gave a sharp nod. “Aye, I can see to it.”
    “Don’t try to put anything in front of her eyes,” Warren said. “She’ll burn away whatever blocks her gaze. And whatever you do, do not break the mirror.”
    Without looking away from Mari, Bowe asked, “Why no’?” This seemed an ideal solution to him.
    Jillian murmured, “The shock could... it could kill her.”
    No’ ideal.
    “I want to be alone with her,” Bowe said.
    She nodded. “We’re going to the binding ceremony. Good luck, Bowen.”
    After they closed the door, Bowe could still hear Mari’s father say, “Jill, why are you so confident in MacRieve?”
    “Because he won’t ever rest until he has her back with him,” she replied before they descended the stairs.
    Alone with Mari, Bowe said, “Lass, we’re about to take a break from the mirror for a bit. How am I to marry you in front of all those witches in an eerie, embarrassing ceremony if you will no’ look away?”
    No reaction.
    He put his arms around her waist and leaned down to kiss her neck, closing his eyes with pleasure just to be close to her once more.
    “Doona wish to turn from your glass? Verra well. Then ask it some questions while you’re here. Ask it how much your Lykae’s missed you.”
    Had she blinked?
    At her other ear, he murmured, “Ask it who Bowe loves.”
    Her lips parted. Her body seemed to begin thrumming, as if she was struggling with everything she had in her to be free.
    “Aye, that’s right. Ask it who’s the only one Bowe’s ever been in love with.” He brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek, willing her to meet his gaze in the mirror. “And the last question we’re goin’ tae have before you come away with me... ask it how damned good our lives are goin’ tae be together, just as soon as you turn tae kiss me.”
    Her brows drew together, and her stiff posture tightened, then relaxed. Her eyelids slid closed.
    “There now, that’s it, beautiful girl,” he rasped, easing her face toward him. Behind her, he pressed the mirror until it flipped over, revealing the back of the frame. “Now, kiss me, witch.”

    When Mari opened her eyes once more, Bowen’s warm, firm lips covered her own. Then he was lifting her and carrying her to the bed.
    Once he settled her in his lap, she laid her hand against his unshaven cheek. How she’d missed him! She felt a sharp pang at how exhausted he looked. “I can’t believe you made it here.”
    “I’m your familiar.” He jutted his chin up in that proud way. “I’m tae guard you. Besides, you canna lose me this easily.” His gaze held hers as he said, “I’ll follow you anywhere, Mari.”
    “I’m so—Whoa,” she abruptly whispered, her hand flying to her forehead. The ponderous weight of Häxa’s power was lessening. “Are my eyes clearing?”
    “Aye.” He exhaled with relief. “The binding’s working.”
    “I can feel it.” She bit her lip. “Bowen, about earlier—I’m sorry that my dad was rude to you. And I’m so sorry for everything that happened to you. The enchantment—”
    “I’m no’ sorry about that.” When she gave him an incredulous look, he amended, “At first, I