Owen's POV

I felt like a veil had been lifted from me and turned to look at the fragile woman in my arms. "Eveleen," I gasped. I saw the tears streaming down her cheeks as her eyes met mine. Oh gods, what have I done? "Please say something, Tesoro," I begged her.

"O...Owen," she gulped. "Do..do you really remember me?" Her body shook in my grasp as I nodded. She cried out and wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging to me as if she were afraid I'd disappear. "I thought I'd lost you," she sobbed.

"As touching as your reunion is, perhaps we should take this somewhere more secure," the figure before us said. Waving her arm, we suddenly found ourselves in a place I hadn't been for a long time - the Summerlands. The Morrigan pushed back the hood of her cloak and looked at us with concern. "Um, perhaps you could, well, um...find another position - and clothes," she stuttered.

Eveleen and I both looked down and grumbled, as we realized we were still naked, and I was still balls deep inside of her. She squeaked and buried her head in my shoulder. I quickly summoned clothing for us both, along with a warm blanket for her and water. A pair of oversized chairs materialized and the Morrigan motioned for us to sit. I pulled Eveleen onto my lap, wrapping the blanket around her. When she had taken a few sips of water, I turned to the goddess. "How long?"

Hanging her head, the Morrigan sighed, "Almost fifty years since the first of you vanished. When the goddess looked up at me, her eyes were tear-filled. "What happened to you? The last time we spoke, you were following a lead with Marc and Axel. You thought you had located where Eveleen was being held. That's the last any of us heard from the three of you."

A growl ripped from my chest, making Eveleen jump. "Sorry, Tesoro," I said, attempting to calm myself, then continued. "Volto, well Deimos happened. He tricked us then handed us over to Sang and Kaylie." I looked at my hands and groaned, "Sang infected me with her venom and blood - Demios's blood. She said it corrupted me and this is the result. I forgot everything - even my own name. I was her plaything." I felt pain fill my chest as I looked at the woman I had sworn to love and care for. "Tesoro, I...I'm so sorry, I..we..." I couldn't say it.

Those beautiful purple eyes met mine as she placed a soft hand against my cheek, "Mo chroí, it's okay. You weren't in control, none of us have been. None of this is your fault, it's theirs."

I felt a sob break free. "You don't understand," I groaned.  "Sang...she was pregnant." Eveleen stiffened but still held my face.

"Was?" she asked.

I nodded, "She lost the child, but said she planned to try with the others."

She let out a sob, "I...I haven't been faithful either. Deimos and Erebus, they've done things to me. Some I wasn't aware of, but other times..." her guilt-ridden voice trailed off.

I lifted her chin, "No. You aren't allowed to blame yourself either." She nodded and kissed me softly.

Her face twisted into a determined look and she drew in a breath. "Okay, then we will deal with whatever has happened. Now, can anything be done to reverse what Sang did to Owen?" she asked, turning to the Morrigan.

I already knew the answer and the look in my patron's eyes confirmed it. "Tesoro," I said softly. I let my magic flow and took on my human glamor. "Magic is the only way I'll look like this again. I'm so sorry, my love."

Her eyes glistened with tears, "Oh, Owen, I love you no matter what you look like." He pressed her lips to mine as her arms twined around my neck. I kissed her back fiercely. I have no idea what I'd done in my life to deserve this woman.

"Ahem," the Morrigan cleared her throat, bringing us back to her attention. "While I think Owen is right, and the curse is permanent, we still have another problem to deal with. We need to find all of your husbands and try to save them, Eveleen."

"Do you know where any of them are?" she asked both of us.

The Morrigan shook her head no. "I haven't seen Marc or Axel since the day Sang turned me. However, I did see Luke, Gabe, and Loki once in glass cages, but I didn't realize it at the time." I shook my head, "It's like my thoughts were veiled and now I can remember them the way they really happened. Loki and Gabe seemed unharmed, but Luke looked like a giant dog, not a wolf. I haven't seen them since. Can you access the bond?"

Eveleen's face fell. She showed me her unblemished arm. Not a single bond mark remained. "He broke them all. Only his blood bond and now yours remain, but the soul bonds are gone," her voice cracked as she stroked her arm forlornly.

"Not necessarily," the goddess replied quickly, "Depending on the spells placed on them, the connection may be muted, or like with Owen, they may not even remember who they are, let alone who you are. Deimos magic may have made it appear the bonds are broken, but your love is more than a symbol."

"I did see Sean, she said, "Well, he's not entirely Sean anymore."

"What do you mean, Tesoro?" I asked her, noticing the trepidation in her eyes.

"When Sang changed you and Deimos took me, Sean broke. He said he burned up in his light, but Morpheus made a bargain with him. He and Sean now share Sean's body. I saw Sean in my dreams before...before Erebus and then Deimos..." she choked on her words, trying to steady her breath.

The Morrigan took in a sharp breath. "Did you say Morpheus, child? Are you certain?" Eveleen nodded and the goddess frowned. "This is worrisome. I'll need to inform Brigid. Morpheus is a very unpredictable god and for him to take a human vessel is rare, almost unheard of."

I looked at the Morrigan, "What should we do for now?"

"I'm not certain. If you two go missing, Deimos and the women might start to become suspicious, but letting you return has risks as well." She tapped her fingers on her knees.

Can you hear me? My eyes watered as her voice filled my mind.

With a soft smile, I replied, Yes, my love. I can hear you.

Good. We have to go back. It might be the only way we can find our loves. As long as we can reach out to each other, we will be safe.

I wanted to argue with her but she was right. "You're right, Tesoro," I said, placing a kiss on her head. "Now that our minds are clear, we can search for the others. If we call out to you can you get them to their patrons? Perhaps they can help them as you did with us?" I asked the Morrigan.

She gave a sad smile, "Call out and I'll come. I will do my best." She leaned forward, taking both of our hands in hers. We watched as a golden cord appeared and wrapped around our wrists. "I bind your souls once again in this life, may you give one another strength regardless of distance or hardship. Duit, tugaim mo bheannacht - tugaim an chumhacht duit do chuid smaointe a cheilt uathu siúd a lorgódh dochar a dhéanamh duit agus cumhacht an bháis agus an aiséirí. (To you, I give my blessing - I give you the power to veil your thoughts from those who would seek to harm you and the power of death and resurrection." The cord began to pulse and glow then sank into our skin, leaving behind a golden tattoo that shimmered and then disappeared from view.

"Thank you," Eveleen said reverently.

"Of course, my child. I will leave you now. You might want to return and, um, finish what you started Owen. Then again, might want to let the wife in on your plan too," she chuckled, then vanished.

"Plan? Just what plan, mo chroí," Tesoro asked, giving me the side-eye.

I rubbed the back of my neck and hesitated before saying, "Well, um, the plan was to, um, get you pregnant." Her mouth fell open but no sound came out. "To be fair, I did claim you as my mate," I tried to say, hoping she wouldn't yell.

"Owen Everett Blackbourne! What the absolute feck? Just how the feck did you think that was going to work out? I mean really...like Deimos wasn't going to notice? And what about Sang the psychobitch demoness - she'd fecking kill me for carrying your child!" I cringed as her eyes turned an emerald green and glowed with fury.

I held my hands up in surrender, "To be fair, I wasn't thinking. I was letting my baser instincts control me. Besides, you look sexy as hell when you're pregnant," I smirked, running my hand across her stomach. "Not to mention, the spell is halfway complete already."

She growled, then rolled her eyes. "Ugh, men!" I chuckled and pulled her closer, pressing my lips to hers. My hand palmed her breast as I vanished our clothes once again. She whimpered as I shifted her body to straddle my lap, "Owen."

"Let me love you, Tesoro," I groaned as I pressed into her warmth. "Accept me, my wife - my mate." I felt my own need rising as I teleported us back to the blackened river. The magic in the water was potent, heightening our desires instantly. Her hips ground against me, driving me deeper inside her core. "That's it, love, let go."

"Owen, please," she panted, "I need...I need to cum." I could feel her body begin to shake, her walls tightening around me. Her hands traveled to my horns as she bucked against me greedily.

"Cum," I roared as I filled her womb. She screamed out my name and clung to me fiercely as her own orgasm overtook her. I stayed buried inside of her as I stepped out of the water and wrapped her in a towel I'd conjured. She whimpered when I withdrew from her, setting her on the soft grass. "Shh, love, rest now. I'll be here when you wake." She muttered something unintelligible as she curled against my chest. I chuckled softly as I stroked her soft skin. She looked so delicate lying next to me in my demonic form. Her hair was still damp and clung to her face and neck. I nuzzled my face in her neck, inhaled deeply, and smiled. Her scent had changed. Placing my hand on her stomach, I whispered, "You are loved, my son, and I will protect you and your mother with my very life if necessary." A soft glow colored her stomach and my hand as the blessing's magic sealed, then I laid down, pulling the woman I loved against me and let my own eyes close.

Author's Notes:  So how long can they keep her pregnancy a secret?

Thoughts?