Rain knew they were right. If Ellysetta Baristani didn't accept him, he would die. No gift from the gods ever came without a price, and that was the price Fey warriors paid for the truemate bond. He had recognized her as his mate. His soul, for good or ill, was already bound to hers. She, on the other hand, had yet to accept him, and he was ancient enough, powerful enough, that the debilitating effects of an unfulfilled matebond would begin to take their toll on him quickly. Madness first, then death, either at his own hands or the hands of his people.

"My Lord Feyreisen”

Ellysetta stood beside him, holding tight to the children with the lovely hair. He could feel her fear, and her determination not to be cowed by it. She didn't trust him, even though she felt the pull of his soul—or perhaps because of that—and she definitely didn't trust Marissya or Dax. The tairen within pushed against its cage, sensing its mate, seeking release.

"My Lord Feyreisen," she repeated. "My sisters and I must return home.”

Logic evaporated. Cold fury took its place. She thought to leave him? "Nei.”

Ellysetta's jaw went slack.

"What Rain means is that you are welcome to walk with us," Marissya hurried to explain. 'Rain! Do you want to drive her away?» She held out a hand. "I would be honored if you would join me.”

"No!" Ellysetta all but leapt back to avoid Marissya's outstretched hand. "I mean, no, thank you. We've had enough excitement for one day. I'm sure you understand." Her eyes turned back to Rain and she said slowly, as if he were thick in the head, "My parents will be worried if we don't come home.”

"Your sisters may go," Rain told her. "You stay with me."

"I can't send them home alone!" she exclaimed. "They're just children!”

Her defiance angered him. The tairen's cage rattled. "The Fey will take them. You stay.”

Her hands fisted. Her body trembled. "I won't!”

The tairen screamed in rage. She is our mate. She will not leave us! She will submit. We will make her submit! Power flamed in his eyes. "You will.”

She cried out and shrank back in fear. Suddenly there was a glow of power around her, and it wasn't his. Baring his teeth in a snarl, he whirled around. Who dared? His eyes narrowed on Dax, who wore the telltale shining aura about him.

"Rain, stop it." With seeming fearlessness, Marissya stepped between her king and her mate. «This anger is the bond-madness talking. The girl must return to her home. She is not leaving you. She has not rejected the bond. Think, Rain! Stop feeling, and think!» She didn't touch him, but he felt the insistent presence of her power in his mind, urging calm upon him.

He shook his head. He couldn't think. That was the problem. Since the Mage Wars, caging the tairen required constant vigilance and concentration. His centuries-old vise hold on it had been weakened by the Eye only days ago, and the tairen had reawakened with a vengeance, hungry for freedom. Here in Celieria, memories and the thoughts of millions pounded at him, sapping his concentration. Added to that, the visceral power of the matebond had him in its teeth. Just touching his shei'tani's hand caused a rush of feelings the likes of which he'd never felt—not even for Sariel. Was it any wonder he was going mad?

"I must leave this place. I need to find peace … and strength … to do what must be done”

Marissa nodded. "Aiyah, but you cannot take the girl with you. We will watch over her until you return." He looked at his shei'tani. Her lips were almost bloodless with fear, and the sight stabbed at his Fey heart. He was a monster. And this poor child had just been offered up as a sacrifice. "She may return to her home for now," he informed Marissya abruptly, adding on a private weave, «She must be well guarded. Half of the warriors will accompany her to her home, stay there to guard her. The other half will remain with you. Belem—he looked at the tall, dark warrior who had been his friend since before the Mage Wars—«Guard her. Use Kieran, Adrial, Rowan, and Kiel for her quintet.» At Bel's nod, Rain released his power and glared at Dax until he did the same. Only when his shei'tani was no longer enveloped in another's light did Rain begin to relax.

He crossed the short distance to Ellysetta Baristani, ignoring the tairen's hissing command to dominate her when she backed away from him. "I know I have given you cause to fear me, and I am sorry for that. I am ... not myself." He held out his hands, shamelessly used a push of Earth to make the ground beneath her feet shift so that she stumbled forward into his arms. His eyelids lowered as the intense pleasure flowed up from his hands where his bare skin touched hers. He breathed in her scent, knowing he would never forget it. "Of course you may return to your home, but you must allow me to send warriors to accompany you.”

"I—" She looked at the grim-faced army of Fey and gulped. "I really don't need—”

"It is for your protection," he interrupted. "They will guard you until I return.”

She looked up at him, green eyes wide. "You are leaving?" Her relief was so obvious that he didn't need to read her emotions to know it. His young shei'tani thought to be rid of him!

"Only for a short while." There was tairen-wicked satisfaction in dashing her ridiculous hopes. "I will come for you tomorrow." Releasing her hands, he made a sharp gesture and half the contingent of Fey warriors circled her.