Not edited

Grimacing at the words, Aleksandr gives me a grin. "Still trying to resist the Bond?" He takes a big gulp of theamber liquid and puts the glass down on a nearby table. "Just like yourparents." He comes around and stands in front of me. "They tooresisted for as long as they could, fighting it every step of the way." Helaughs a little at my most likely confused look. "Neither of them wantedto give up their freedom for the other. Not realising that it is not a case ofgiving up their freedom. It is a case of joining two halves of the samebeing." I get a stern look at the snort that escapes me. "There is areason the Bonding happens. It is more than all that spiritual crap, it is biological."

"Fight as much as you want, you willnever win. Even if it takes days, weeks, months or even centuries, biology willwin in the end." The woman pips up. "The fact your fangs dropped assoon as you caught sight of Aleksandr is proof of the fact your head iscatching up." Running the tip of my tongue along my teeth, I am astonishedto realise she is right. My fangs have dropped. "And it will only getworse as time wears on. In addition, your mood swings will increase as well.Which will be dangerous for everyone around you as you are just coming intoyour powers and they are unknown to most." Her sharp green eyes bore intomine, "And we can't endanger the whole school just so you can act thetough guy, so we decided to keep you and Hunter supervised for the next coupleof months as it is nearly time for school to end anyway."

Bristlingat the obvious disregard for my own opinion on this ridiculous notion as myexclaimed "WHAT?" went blatantly ignored as did my "You can't be serious!" Alarm bells went off in my head as my body started to heat up, the warmth slowly creeping up from the soles of my feet, up to my calves. The next thing I know, my body is hurtled towards the opposite wall near the fireplace. The burning feeling explodes from my body along with a roar of anger. The firethat was just barely heating the room shoots up in response, flashing into the room, creating a wall between the Council and me. As my body thuds against the wall, another sound echoes from the other side of the door.

Hunter

I cannot hear much over the roar of the fire that miraculously does not burn the floor, walls or ceiling. The shouts from the Council are chatter in the background as my eyes focus on the double doors that shake with the impact of a body slamming into them. Repeatedly. Grunting, I slowly work to get to my feet and marvel at the fire still surrounding me. Usually, when something like this happens, it will disappear as soon as I get close or it sapped me of my strength until I feel like I have the flu and cannot move the ten-tonne cement block on my body.

"Why so surprised young Ainsley?"Aleksandr asks as he too is keeping an eye on the door and my ring of fire."The more you grow so do your reserves and the amount of power you cancontrol." The glass rattles in the windowsill with soft chiming noises as he crosses his arms over his chest as a resounding crack and crash whips my head around to the now broken doors. As the dust settles, the outline of Hunter emerges and he seems to be panting hard from the excursion. "Ah. Welcome my son." I do not like the twinkle in Aleksandr's eye as he regards Hunter who is marching forwards, passing the Council members without sparing them a glance. My body vibrates as he comes to a dead stop in front of me. The urge to reach out to him battles with the need to have the fire between us so I can keep myself in check and not fulfil the last part of the Bonding process. I know it is cowardly of me to do so, but I feel that I otherwise will lose apart of myself. Moreover, I hate losing.

"Ainsley." The one word slides over my skin like a lover's caress, making my skin heat up and setting my nerve endings tingling. Terror strikes my heart as Hunter reaches out to the fire, and does not winch in pain as he bodily steps through the fiery barrier and pins my body to the wall. He presses close, too close and I start to panic as his scent floods my nose, making my head spin. My hands tighten around his shoulders, ready to push him away as his skin should have burned, but it feels smooth and silkily as ever. I am surprised to find his clothing not even singed or blackened.

How is this possible? Did I unconsciously hold back some of the flames to make sure he would not be hurt? Alternatively, did he do something to the flames himself to pass through unharmed?

All thoughts stop as I feel the slight pressure of a pointed fang tracking my pounding vein from the side of my jaw down to my chest to rest just above my heart. Regardless of the scrutinizing eyes watching, Hunter clamps down on the fabric, which easily tears as he yanks it away from my body with his teeth. The fabric flutters to the ground and Hunter's hands slide all over the exposed skin of my chest and abs before settling at the small of my back. His hold is tight as he flexes a few times to settle me against him to his liking. As his blond head is bent, my fingers fists themselves in his soft hair, pressing his face closer to my skin.

I feel a slight twitch of his lips as my body begins to throb in anticipation of the bite. Seconds tick by, which turn into minutes and nothing, is happening. There is no sting of teeth, no rush of adrenaline as my blood is leaving my body through Hunter's mouth and into his being. Binding us finally together in the way we should be. The throbbing becomes unbearable the longer he waits; forcing his head closer to my skin is of no avail as he refuses to move. Opening my mouth to word my protest at the needless waiting, a sound I do not recognise leaves my throat instead. It is soft and sounds feminine, so different to my usual voice. A gasp leaves me as the teeth return and the pressure to my skin is hard enough to leave marks. Still, the pressure is not enough to break the skin, just enough to leave red marks.

"Hunter." The voice is not mine but at the same time, it is. A whining quality has slipped in, and it sounds breathless. Full of wanting, of desire. For showing my desire to him so quickly after our embrace, a lap of his tongue across my skin is my reward. Though it is a lazy track across mere inches of my skin, desire swamps my blood and a coil of it starts in my gut. My hips flex into his heat of their own accord. In addition, a hoarse groan leaves me when Hunter's hands hold on to my bottom, decidedly closing any distance left between us. Hunter's scent strengthens around me and I feel my reign on my actions snap and I dimly register a piercing of my skin but a familiar euphoria carries me away before I can figure out what perforated my skin.

Blinking at the loss of pressure and heat of Hunter's hands and skin, I find myself on my back in a different place than the Head Master's room with the High Council. It is blindingly white and somehow I find it disturbing, threatening. Slowly getting to my feet, my eyes scan the shining horizon for Hunter. The conviction that he HAS to be here since I am here does not surprise me. In fact, I expect him to pop up any second now and explain to me what is going on. Like usual. Fear casually creeps in as time goes by and there is no sign of Hunter. Trying to keep the panic at bay, I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. Willing myself to calm down and access the situation properly. By the fifth breath inhale and exhale, I am calmer and less panicked.

    I can do this.

    It is the four words that keep the level of anxiousness acceptabel at this new situation. Now, all I need is to find Hunter. Just thinking about him as my feet Moving in a random direction and very surprisingly the white landscape changes to a lush green and Brown of a forest. A forest that is familiar to me as a vague memory of chasing a young kid through a similar forest. That particular feeling brings me a sense of security, which I haven't felt in a long while. My step rythm increases as Hunter's scent is on the breeze ruffling my hair and in my haste I nearly trip of a thick root. Stumbling into the clearing was not my idea of an entree, but I don't really care as Hunter stands there smiling at me. Launching myself at him has him laughing out loud and catches me around the waist as we tumble to the ground in a heap of uncoordinated limbs.

    "I love you." Were the words that left my mouth instead of what the hell are we doing here?! A deep chuckle vibrates through me at the words, and soft lips move across my neck as I hid my face against Hunters collarbone in embarresement. His hold on me goes tight as he locks both his legs and arms around me.

    "You finally said it." He sounds happy, relieved even. "You FINALLY told me the three words I wanted to hear the most. I am not gonna let you go now. You're mine." As he speaks the last few words, I anticipate anger, or an indignant feeling to come to the surface, but somehow there is a quiet acceptance of the words and what they mean.

    "Then, you are mine." I mumble against his skin, and an invisible rope of energy that starts at my heart uncoils and I feel it sneaking it's way down my chest, regardless that we are pressed together and connects with Hunter's heart. A second heartbeat beats next to mine, like a copy. Lifting my head to look at him, to see if he feels it too, I am more than humbled at the unconditional love, shining from his eyes as he gazes at me fondly. His fingers stroke my unruly hair, the contours of my face, as if he has never seen me before. A gasp leaves me as something connects to my heart and pulses softly before disappearing. Information floods my brain and without a word my hand fists the fabric of Hunter's shirt and rip it. It does not go as dramatically as when Hunter ripped my shirt, but it gets the job done to access the skin over his heart.

    Exposing his skin to my fangs, they easily pierce the skin. My body spasms when Hunter's blood touches my tongue, making me feel drunk. Hunter's hand cradles my head while the other rubs soothing circles on my back. His blood tastes amazing, I feel instantly energized, clearheaded, and quite aroused. The slight gamy after taste makes me think of deer. Wild and free, somehow it suits him eventhough he always seems to be in control of every situation. To never loose his cool, to always keep his composure.

    Suddenly two strong hands peel me away from my fountain of euphoria and I snarl. "That is enough Young Ainsley, drink anymore and my son dies of bloodloss." Aleksandr's voice is cold and stern as his hands tighten around my face to keep it from bending back to Where Hunter's warm blood gushes out with every slowing heartbeat.