Page 57 of Claws for Celebration
Lucien’s rhythm faltered. He gasped, then thrust deep—one final, claiming thrust—and roared against her throat as he came. His cock twitched violently inside her, thick spurts of heat spilling deep, coating her in the most primal kind of promise.
Lucien gave a deep, guttural growl. His body tensed as he spilled his release in thick waves. His claws—half-shifted—dug gently into her hip, the pressure a claiming, not a wound.
And through it all, Moirafelthim.
Felt his release like it was hers. His pleasure, his surrender, his love. Their magic didn’t just dance anymore—itmerged.Golden light braided around them, through them, binding them heart to heart, soul to soul.
The mate bond surged between them, snapping into place with a force that made the air crackle. Their magic didn’t just tangle—it fused.
And Moira…feltit all.
Every emotion. Every heartbeat. Every piece of him that had been held back until now.
And he felt her.
All of her.
33
LUCIEN
Dawn was breaking over Hollow Oak when Lucien woke to the most profound sense of completeness he'd ever experienced. The mate bond hummed between him and Moira like a living thing, carrying not just her emotions but the steady pulse of her magical signature intertwined with his own. She lay curled against his chest, her mahogany curls tickling his chin, and for the first time in fifteen years, he felt like he truly belonged somewhere.
"Good morning, mate," she murmured against his throat, the word carrying new weight now that their bond was fully established.
"Good morning, beautiful," he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head while marveling at how naturally he could sense her contentment mixed with lingering soreness from their claiming. "How are you feeling?"
"Different," she said honestly, sitting up to stretch with unconscious grace. "Like I'm more myself than I've ever been, but also like I'm part of something larger. Is that normal for new mate bonds?"
"I wouldn't know," Lucien admitted, running his fingers along the claiming marks on her hip that had already begun to settle into permanent scarring. "You're my first and only mate. But it feels right, doesn't it?"
"It feels perfect," Moira agreed, then paused as golden threads of magic began dancing around her fingertips. "Lucien, look at this. My power isn't fighting me anymore."
The magical energy that had been chaotic and destructive just days ago now flowed with controlled precision, responding to her conscious will rather than overwhelming her with uncontrolled surges. More importantly, he could feel the magic through their bond, understanding its nature and intensity in ways that would allow him to provide support when she needed it.
"The mate bond is stabilizing your abilities," he said with wonder, watching as she created intricate patterns of light that would have been impossible when her magic was unstable. "I can feel what you're doing, almost like I'm channeling the spells myself."
"And I can draw on your panther's natural magical resistance," Moira replied, demonstrating by pulling power that should have made her hands shake but instead felt perfectly controlled. "It's like having an anchor that keeps me grounded no matter how much energy I'm channeling."
They spent the morning exploring their new magical connection while sharing breakfast and coffee in his small kitchen. What had once been a solitary routine now felt wonderfully domestic, filled with casual touches and shared glances that spoke of permanent partnership rather than temporary attraction.
"I should probably check on the grimoire," Moira said eventually, though her reluctance to leave their intimate bubblewas evident in her voice. "Six days until the Convergence, and we still don't have a clear plan for preventing disaster."
"We'll figure it out together," Lucien assured her, the mate bond allowing him to offer comfort with complete sincerity. "But first, I want to research something. The way our magical signatures are interacting reminds me of historical accounts I've seen in the Council archives."
They made their way to the destroyed bookstore, where cleanup crews had already begun clearing debris and securing the building. The Shadowheart Codex sat undamaged on Moira's usual table, its leather binding seeming to pulse with awareness as they approached.
"Does it feel different to you?" Moira asked, settling into her chair with careful movements that favored her newly claimed hip.
"Yes," Lucien said, studying the ancient tome with enhanced senses that now included magical perception borrowed from their bond. "It's not just responding to your bloodline anymore. I can feel it recognizing our combined magical signature."
As if responding to his observation, the grimoire's pages fluttered open to reveal text that addressed both of them directly.
The mated pair approaches. Blood magic strengthened by shifter bond. The binding may be reshaped rather than simply unlocked.
"Reshaped how?" Moira asked aloud, leaning forward to study the elegant script that appeared even as they watched.
When Shadowheart power flows through claimed mate's stabilizing influence, the ritual's purpose can be redirected. Prison becomes permanent banishment. Key becomes lock rather than liberation.
