"-was built by a long-forgotten architect."

As Keilynn droned on about all she'd learned of Stilla, Remi pushed food around on her plate. With all the sleep she'd gotten, it was little wonder she'd been up all night. Thoughts and questions whirled in her head, further preventing any rest. After she'd eaten, Gideon took her on a tour of the fortress. Then, they'd had their evening meal and were surrounded by people up until the moment she went to bed.

As the sun rose, lighting her bedroom window overlooking an inner courtyard, Remi resolved to speak with Gideon in private after her shower. But the connecting door had been locked. And now, the man was nowhere to be found.

"His name was Drakon in the Ancient Greek accounts," Keilynn added, unaware of Remi's inattention. "Of course, he predated their civilization, so who can say what his real name was?"

"Fascinating," Laris the Viking all but purred.

Pushing her plate back, as well as her chair, Remi rose. She was far too grumpy to listen to any more of Keys' history lesson. "I need to work on a song," she muttered toward the two stunned expressions facing her.

Picking up her dishes, Remi walked to the kitchen. The fortress felt deserted. There were others about, but with Gideon not by her side, it seemed empty.

"We would have cleared your place," a tall, attractive muscular woman said in accented English. She wore a stained apron over her uniform and held a spatula in her right hand, much like a queen would a scepter. It was apparent she oversaw the kitchen.

"Oh," Remi mumbled. It would've felt odd just to leave her dishes on the table, however. There was a buffet set up in the dining room, but no servers. It'd only been the three of them – Keys, Olofsson, and herself.

"Well, you know for next time." The dark-haired woman smiled kindly and took the dishes from Remi with her free hand. She tsked at the barely touched food.

"Er, I don't eat much," Remi explained lamely.

The woman tsked again. "Gideon won't like this," she muttered and passed the dishes off to an underling.

Already in a foul mood from lack of sleep, Remi nearly snapped. It wasn't any of this woman's business how much she ate. And it damned sure well wasn't any of Gideon's.

Biting back a sharp retort, Remi thanked the woman through a stiff jaw and left the kitchen. By the time she entered her room, she was good and worked up about being spied upon by the witcher's minions. After slamming her door, she stood there, facing the window for a few moments. Her fists clenched at her sides, and her breathing heavy.

What was really bothering Remi, the reason she couldn't sleep was simple: Gideon. The previous afternoon's conversation with Breqlynn and Keilynn kept her awake with circuitous thoughts. Then, she rose from bed to find he'd locked her out before she could explore her newly realized feelings for him.

Remi's fingers clenched more tightly. Her nails dug into the soft flesh on the palms of her hands. Was she about to make yet another mistake? Did she dare trust what her inner voice was telling her this time?

Blowing out a breath, Remi remained tense. Her stomach tightened as she thought of what the werewolf having his people spy on her signified. It screamed over-protectiveness. She wasn't his possession, just as she hadn't been Trystan's.

To her left, the door to Gideon's room opened. Head turning stiffly, Remi was met by the sight of him in only a pair of tight, blue jeans. Around his shoulders hung a limp, damp towel. His black hair was wet.

Stilling when he saw Remi standing in front of her door, Gideon asked, "Who's upset you?" The words were full of concern.

The long, dark bangs on the right side of Gideon's head fell forward in thick, wet strands as he walked further into the room. Remi's clenched fingers itched to unfurl and comb them back when he stopped before her. His next words recalled her as to why she was angry.

"Tell me who it was," Gideon urged darkly.

"It was you," Remi spat. Bringing up her fists, she pushed against that warm, massive, bare chest. Gideon, of course, didn't budge.

Capturing Remi's balled fingers in a gentle grasp, Gideon asked softly, "What have I done to make you so upset?"

Remi glared up at Gideon, the head cook's words coming back to her. "You've set your people to spying on me."

Cocking his head to the side, Gideon replied, "That doesn't sound like something I would do." There was a teasing light in his blue eyes that pissed Remi off further. "Are you sure it was me?"

"Yes," Remi answered shortly. Pulling her hands free, she skirted around the towering, nearly nude man. She wouldn't be distracted from her anger. "The head woman in the kitchen told me she was going to tattle."

Looking over her shoulder, Remi watched closely to judge Gideon's reaction to her revelation. He stood, feet slightly apart and arms crossed over his chest. The tempting locks of hair had been pushed back from his forehead. His features were frozen. She couldn't discern his feelings on the matter.

"And why would Jayna have reason to 'tattle'?" Gideon's words were low, nearly a growl.

"Because I wasn't hungry." Remi matched the werewolf's growly tone. "I'm a grown-ass woman. I don't need to be babysat or spoon-fed."

Looking Remi up and down, Gideon's cold gaze from moments before thawed. "You definitely are a woman," he agreed.

Throwing her hands in the air, Remi exclaimed, "I'm serious! Tell your people to stop spying on me."

"I never asked them to. If one comes to 'tattle,' I'll tell them it's none of their business. Anything else?" Gideon asked shortly.

Hesitating, Remi tried to think how best to word her next complaint. She didn't want to come across as some dependent, needy twit. It also took a great deal of courage to put faith in what her intuition was telling her concerning the man. She had to learn to trust it, herself, and Gideon.

Taking her silence for an answer, Gideon began to walk past Remi, toward the connecting door to his room. Not wanting to leave things the way they were, she blurted, "You locked your door."

Halting, Gideon spun around. "You tried my door?" Light blue eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Remi intently.

Remi's cheeks warmed, and she wished a hole would open up in the soft sheepskin rug and swallow her. She should've just stayed in bed and tried to catch up on all her lost sleep. "Yes," she slowly admitted. "I wanted to see if you were awake."

Cocking his head to one side, Gideon stated, "I didn't hear a knock."

Trying to swallow through a dry throat, Remi felt like the pathetic twit she'd been trying not to portray. Dropping her eyes, she murmured, "I didn't want to wake you up in case you were sleeping."

"I was showering," Gideon explained unnecessarily. His bare toes came into her line of sight. "Remi," he all but whispered. Once her gaze rose to meet his earnest, blue eyes, he continued. "I won't lock my door again. You're free to come into my room whenever you wish."

"I'm not a werewolf," Remi explained, trying to salvage some of her pride. "I don't have super hearing and didn't know you were in the shower until a few minutes ago."

The corners of Gideon's mouth kicked up in an alluring way. "You can join me anytime you want."

That grin defeated Remi's earlier anger. In its place, with a half-naked Gideon so close, another emotion stirred. It was just as powerful and fiery. Heart rate kicking up as she held his gaze, her fingers tingled. They wanted to trace every damned inch of his exposed skin.

Reaching up, Remi grabbed hold of the edges of the towel draped around Gideon's neck. Once she had a firm grip, she tugged at it. The towering man before her bent forward, light blue eyes searching hers.

As Gideon inched closer, Remi the spice and musk of his aftershave enveloped her. Tilting her head up, her fingers left the soft cloth to rest on the smooth planes of his cheeks. His warm, minty breath feathered across her mouth. Finally, their lips met, and she closed her eyes, reveling in the first contact of their firm softness. In a heartbeat, her world narrowed to only where she and he touched.

Tongue darting out, Gideon traced the seam of Remi's lips. Long, strong fingers wrapped around her hips and brought her closer to his hard body. Rising on her tiptoes, she opened her mouth and let him in to invade its sultry recesses.

Shifting her hands again, Remi combed her fingers through Gideon's soft, damp hair. They came to a rest at the shaved nape of his neck and drew him closer. Angling her head, she took over the kiss.

Gideon's hands left the dip above her hips to tunnel under Remi's sweatshirt. The soft, warm pads of his fingertips skipped upward over the smooth, sensitive skin at her waist and ribcage. They came to a rest just beneath the cups of her bra.

Wanting him to continue, Remi made a soft, mewling sound in the back of her throat. Gideon got the message and slipped his fingers beneath the bra's material. Then they shifted, and his warm, calloused palms cupped her bare breasts.

A muffled moan filled the room as Gideon's thumbs found Remi's tightly rolled nipples. The pleasurable sparks they elicited shot outward from their peaks. They came to rest and pool at her core. It very nearly set off an orgasm.

Mais, Remi needed this man in a bad way. Breaking the kiss, she took a step back and shucked her teal sweatshirt. Before it even hit the floor, she was reaching behind her back to unhook her bra.

Gideon's blue eyes darkened. A coppery hue entered them, starting at the outer rim of his irises, and moving in toward the pupil. They flicked from Remi's dark areolas and up to capture her gaze. "It's a blessing to have a woman who isn't shy," he murmured, sliding the towel from his neck.

"You haven't had me yet," Remi noted. Then, her hands went to her waist. Hooking her thumbs between the elastic and skin, she slid her black leggings and underwear off in one, smooth motion. Her panties weren't anything she'd want Gideon to see her in. They were old, and the satin encased elastic waistband was beginning to unravel from many washings.

Two, measured steps brought Remi flush against Gideon. Snaking a hand between them, it traveled over his darkly bristled chest. She all but purred in the back of her throat. The slow caress didn't stop until she cupped the nape of his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she stretched along his partially clothed body. Her sensitive nipples brushed that coarse, springy hair, causing her to moan low.

With a groan, Gideon's hands came around Remi's waist. Large, long fingers slipped over the globes of her ass. They tested the bare flesh there before pulling her lower half flush to his. Then, he bent his head and recaptured her lips.

The hands cupping Remi's backside shifted. Gideon slowly ran his warm, calloused palms up her waist, stopping below her breasts. Then, his fingers snaked around her ribcage. Gripping her lightly, he lifted her several inches from the floor.

Instinctively, Remi wrapped her legs around Gideon's middle. His show of strength was impressive; he didn't struggle to lift her. But judging by the slight limp as he walked them toward the bed, he was still experiencing discomfort from the mi'ir's attack.

Stopping just before the bed, Gideon's head dipped, and he took Remi's nipple between his lips. Her heated core lifted on his stomach as she gripped his shoulders and thoughts of Stilla fled. Throwing her head back, she gave him better access to the furled peak. When he flicked it with the tip of his tongue, she let out a low moan.

Balancing Remi's torso in one palm, Gideon shifted his attention to the other nipple. The questing free hand came around to her stomach. It pressed there, between their bodies for a heartbeat. Then, his teasing fingertips moved slowly downward, toward her wet heat.

"Yes," Remi breathed.

The command in that simple word was easily understood. Gideon's woman wanted him to continue on his current path. Judging by her panted breath, she was eager for him to reach his destination.

A warm chuckle huffed against Remi's breast. Her nipple furled even tighter. Gripping the longer hair at the back of Gideon's head in a fist, she demanded, "Don't stop."

Those orange-tinged orbs of Gideon's wolf met Remi's. They were proof that he wasn't wholly human. As a single finger slipped between the folds of her sex, his lids closed. Then, it slid over her clit before entering her dewy heat. Dual moans filled the silence of the room. Remi's inner muscles gripped him as he withdrew. Another finger joined the first when he reentered her.

Remi's heart was racing. The breath in the back of her throat hitched when he slowly repeated the previous move with those naughty fingers. She wanted more – needed him hard and fast. She had no patience for such tenderness, nice as it was.

Tugging on Gideon's hair still in her fist, Remi waited until he opened his eyes. "We can go as slow as you want later," she told him. "I need you now, Gideon."

It'd been too long since Remi had a man. Not since Trystan had she trusted herself to be that vulnerable with someone else. Now, neglected desire made her impatient.

Head falling forward, Gideon's mouth closed over the juncture between Remi's neck and shoulder. As she gripped him with her hands and legs, his fingers left her. They went to the top button on his jeans. Then, the sound of his zipper descending filled the room. Laying her on the soft mattress, both hands went to his loosened pants. With one smooth motion, he pushed them to his ankles.

Rising on her elbows, Remi tried to catch her first look at Gideon fully nude. He had other ideas and caught her ankles in a gentle grip. Pulling her forward until her ass teetered on the edge of the bed, he then wrapped them around his waist. Leaning forward, he braced his palms on either side of her.

"No second thoughts?" Gideon asked, staring ardently into Remi's eyes.

"Nope," Remi answered. "But I do have a request." For a few, racing heartbeats, she studied Gideon's orange-brown eyes. "Hard and fast," she finished.

A smile kicked up at the corners of Gideon's mouth. The sexy sight made Remi's breath catch. "Your wish is my command."

Dropping onto her back, Remi reached up to bring Gideon closer. One of his forearms bracketed her head as his own dipped downward. A half-second later, his lips captured hers in a scorching kiss.

Gideon snaked his hand under Remi's hips. Raising her higher, he then ran the head of his cock along her warm, wet slit. As anticipation built, the back of her head pressed firmly into the mattress.

Following, Gideon never broke the kiss. The tip of his cock slipped lower, poised before Remi's entrance. In the next breath, he thrust forward, sliding in to the hilt.

Remi moaned against Gideon's mouth as he filled her completely. Inner muscles grasped him, not wanted him ever to leave. But he did, only to come back once more. The next slide in and out came more quickly. Soon, he set the hard and fast pace she'd requested.

The back of Remi's head tilted into the mattress, bringing her chest upward to press against Gideon's. Hard, tightly furled nipples brushed along the wiry hair there. She was reaching for the promised pleasure at the bottom of the precipice. "Oh Lawd," she moaned, her southern accent thick in the throes of passion. Then, she tipped over the edge. Wave upon wave of ecstasy crashed over her.

Gideon's hand shifted as he brought Remi closer. Her inner walls closed around him, squeezing him in a warm, soft fist and urging him to find his release. As her lavender and rosemary scent surrounded him, his gums tingled, and his teeth elongated.

Turning his head, Gideon broke away from Remi and bit into the comforter. There was no way he was going to mate or bond her without her permission. No matter what his inner being wanted.

With a loud shout, muffled by the blankets on Remi's mattress, Gideon came. As his seed burst forth, he buried himself to the hilt within her. Still trying to catch his breath, Gideon raised his head and looked down at his woman. It was his fervent hope that soon he'd be able to claim her.

"Mmmm," Remi purred. "That was just what I needed."

Remi's eyes popped open to find Gideon staring at her. There was such an earnest look on his face. Before she could ask what he was thinking, his expression changed into a smile. "You and me both."

Straightening, Gideon slid out of Remi. She immediately missed his presence. He kicked off his pants, tunneled his hands under her, and moved them to the head of the bed. Resting his temple on the pillow next to hers, he wrapped her in his arms and brought her close.

"I never want to leave this bed," Gideon said as he tucked Remi's head beneath his chin. "We'll just have our food brought to us."

Snuggling into Gideon, Remi huffed out a laugh. "Nice thought, but we can't stay here forever."

Soft, warm fingertips lightly brushed up and down Remi's spine. "I'm sure we could find a way," Gideon murmured. Judging by his tone, he was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking?" Remi ventured. She studied her fingertips as they traced heart shapes over Gideon's left pec.

On the top of her head, Remi felt Gideon open, then close his mouth. Whatever the answer, he was likely struggling with his promise to tell her the truth. Blowing out a breath, he eventually gave his answer. "I'm thinking that it would be nice to claim you as my mate."

Remi's brows dipped. Even though the Darkin sisters had mentioned this mating thing, she still had questions. First, "I thought you said you couldn't change people."

Leaning back, Gideon placed a knuckle beneath Remi's chin. When she looked up, he asked wonderingly, "What did Breqlynn tell you?"

"Not much. She just welcomed me to the family and said to tell you congratulations."

"Ha! Figures," Gideon huffed.

Not wanting to seem like a complete idiot, Remi said, "I know that in the movies there's biting, and that bite turns humans into werewolves."

Gideon shook his head. To his credit, although there was laughter in his eyes, he didn't give it voice. "That's pure fiction. The first part is true; there is biting and blood magic that will bind us. But you won't change into a shifter. You have to be born a witch or a shifter to be one."

"Then," Remi began slowly. It was time to speak her most significant doubt about the whole process. "So, what you're saying," she started again, "is that I'll stay human and live a normal lifespan? I'll grow old, and you'll stay young."

Pursing his lips, Gideon thought for a moment. Considering his words carefully, he answered, "That is true for mating." Shifting positions, he brought Remi more fully across his front. "Usually, when a shifter loses his mate, he turns feral. It isn't long before he joins her, however. Ferals are hunted and killed for the wild beasts they are."

Making a face, Remi interjected, "That's horrible."

Lifting his shoulders, Gideon countered, "Not for the feral shifter. He is looking for death."

Placing a finger across Remi's lips, Gideon silenced any protest she was about to make. "But if his mate is a human, then yes, he won't age with her."

Remi frowned down at the sexy-as-sin-witcher. The long hair on top of his head was mussed, due in large part to her. His eyes had returned to their usual, human light blue. "I don't like the thought of you becoming feral."

"It won't matter," Gideon stated. "I'm also half-witch. We'll likely bond during the mating. When a witch loses his destined, it shatters his soul. He follows close behind her. Death cannot keep him from being with the one who is his destiny."

It was a beautiful sentiment, but Remi was still stuck on the drawbacks. "Ugh," she scowled. Scrambling to sit up into a cross-legged position, she faced Gideon. "Either way, I'll kill you."

Following, Gideon leveraged himself up on one elbow. Then, he cupped her cheek with the opposite hand. "Remi," he said softly. "I love you." Blowing out a breath, he continued, not realizing how those three words shook her to the core. "What I feel for you is stronger than that, but I'm left with the shortcomings of the English language." Looking deep into her eyes, he finished with, "I don't want to live in a world without you."

A tear leaked out of the corner of Remi's eye. The urge to tell this man, yes, to agree with his proposition pressed against her tongue. But she couldn't. She loved Gideon too much to sentence him to an early grave. "We cannot change my lifespan or the fact that I'll grow old and die," she shakily stated.

One corner of Gideon's mouth kicked up briefly. "If we're bonded, I'll either live and grow old like a human, or you will share in my slow aging."

Hope fluttered in Remi's chest. "But I'd still kill you."

"Or I could be the one who dies first, taking you with me. Life is uncertain." Bending his head, Gideon captured her lips. "Think about it, Remi. That's all I ask," he murmured against them.