Free Soul Mates Bind by Sandra Ross Page A

Mates myth, understanding at least that there was more to this world that he could ever comprehend. They had been deliberately vague about how they met when other humans ask inquired, but it was a prerequisite for Lola that she be honest with her father about things like this. 
    Her Dad could understand love, she thought wistfully as she watched her father listening in rapt amusement, while her mother talked non-stop about something. They were both sitting at one table, with people surrounding them, yet both of them seeming as if no one else existed. Did her mom look a little nervous and flushed? Yes. My father might not fully understand magick, but he understands love very well, she thought as she held Marcus’ hand a little bit tighter.
    Marcus leaned forward. “What’s the matter?” he asked in a low voice.
    “I was just thinking about those idiots,” she whispered back. “Look at them. They’re still so in love. There must be something we can do to help them around my mother’s stubbornness and my father’s principles. They look perfect together. See?”
    “Huh,” he said. “I see what you’re seeing, honey. I do.”
    She was nodding, then her face whipped to him as she caught the tone in his voice. “You’ve seen something!” she exclaimed. 
    One of Marcus’ active gifts was the ability to see the future. But it was not really like seeing the future. It was more like he could smell the scent of what was likely to happen—as if he was able to hear the tone of a future melody with the tempo of the present, or sense an approaching storm with the smell and feel of the present atmosphere.
    During the nights they slept together, he would wake up sweating and trembling from a nightmare that he could not remember. He would only settle down when she had gathered him in her arms. 
    Before she could ask him further what he had seen, the guests started clinking tiny teaspoons against their glasses, asking for the groom and bride to kiss each other. 
    And they were more than happy to oblige.
    SO FAR, everyone just adored Marcus. 
    In fact, some people adored him a bit too much for Lola’s comfort. He had really come out of his shell since remembering who he was and why he was here. Unfortunately, the new charismatic Marcus, who always smiled and was accommodating to most everyone, was able to charm even the elderly or the most haughty witches.
    But luckily, only his loving eyes were focused on her. 
    The only shadow spoiling their sunny dispositions was that they were still searching for answers regarding his birth parents. The Council had been very helpful regarding some of the more difficult-to-find details. But they could not answer all of Marcus’ questions, with the most important one being “Who the hell are my parents?” Answers to this question ranged from grunts, shrugs, explanations that amounted to nothing, but mostly just silence and stares.
    Lola smiled fondly as she watched her new husband dancing with her mother. He and Sable had really hit it off and Lola was relieved. 
    “May I have this dance?” 
    Lola turned to see her father at her side. 
    Davis had been wonderful throughout the entire process. He had not pretended to understand her decisions regarding her wedding. Once, she had slipped up and called it a "hand-fasting" in his presence and he had given her a look. A handfast was what a wedding was to non-magicals, with a few differences, such as Lola’s and Marcus’ vow: …the bond and connection shared by your spirits is fated…  
    The powerful words were a spell unto themselves and could still make Lola shiver. Handfasting’s only defense was that it was as old as time, and therefore older than the modern wedding. Most witches chose to follow old traditions that made them who they were; similarly, she and Marcus selected handfasting rather than a traditional wedding because its binding magick was much more powerful and profound. 
    “Why, I would be delighted to,” she