.....Illya held his life mate and started whispering softly to him watched by the white feline.

**Polya!** Illya whispered, mentally.  **Can you hear me?**

Napoleon Solo struggled towards consciousness.  **Illya?**

**I am here.  Are you all right?**

Napoleon tried to sit up. **Did anyone get the license of the shape shifter?**

The vampire restrained him.  **Take it easy, Polya.  You've had quiet an experience**  he cautioned.

Solo decided the vampire's advice was sound and, slowly, lay back down on the pillows.

**Greetings, Mr. Solo**

Napoleon turned towards the only visible female presence in the room - the white panther, who had moved fromm the foot of the bed to lie beside him.   **Hello**  he replied, politely.

**How do you feel?**

**Well, my head is still attached to my body.  I guess that's a start**

The soft feminine laughter rippled through his mind like waves on a sea.  **Ah, an excellent sense of humor!  Do you understand what is about to take place?**

**Yes.  All of what Valentine and Waverly**

**You have chosen well, Illya Nikovetch** The panther purred her approval and admiration of the human's abilities.

**Thank you** Napoleon replied.

**You are not embarrassed?**

Solo knew exactly what she was referring to. **No.  Is that true we are the first to be witnessed?**

**Indeed.  The pairings are rare enough, for such was performed in the Time before the Covenant...**

**...when it was forbidden**  Napoleon finished.

**Precisely**

**Was it because the bond was unbreakable?**

Before Napoleon could reply a sudden stab of pain lanced through his mind, the mental waves assaulted both vampire and panther.

*Let us to begin**

**Okay.  Uh, what do I do**

The vampire spoke aloud.  "First of all, Napoleon Delano Solo, I must know that you trust me implicitly.  Whatever I do you must not project fear or regret.  Do you understand?"

"I understand and I am prepared."

The vampire grinned.  "In that case,.  for once, sit back and enjoy it!"

Not waiting for an answer the Russian placed a hand on each side of the American's head, splayed his fingers, closed his eyes and concentrated.  Slowly he maneuvered each hand toward its target but instead of stopping they penetrated the flesh and bone as if such obstacles never existed.   They sought and found the delicate meld points.  Gently he enfolded the human's brain.  "It is time.  My mind to your mind.  My thoughts to your thoughts.  As it was at the Beginning of
Time, so shall it be at its Ending.  I, Illya Nikovetch Kuryakin to ask thee, Napoleon Delano Solo, to be my Bondmate.  I offer to thee my heart, mind, soul and body, of my own free will, in a Joining that no even Death can sever.  What is your answer?"

Napoleon gasped.  The vampire was literally touching his mind and each word Illya spoke was being indelibly written there.  Slowly, and with deep reverence, he reached up and copied the Russian's initial movements then paused.  "Can I do the same thing to you, Illya?", he asked, somewhat hesitant.

"Yes.  Now that you're in position, concentrate."

Napoleon obeyed and found his objectives.. **Whoa!  This is fantastic! Let's get this show on the road!**  "My mind to your mind.  My thoughts to your thoughts.  As it was at the Beginning of Time, so it shall be until its Ending.  I, Napoleon Delano Solo do ask of thee, Illya Nikovetch Kuryakin, to be my Bondmate.  I offer to thee my heart, mind, soul and body, of my own free will, in a Joining not even Death can severe.  What is your answer?"

Illya smiled a smile of pure happiness.  "I accept thee Napoleon Delano Solo", he intoned.

Napoleon  returned the smile with one of his own.  "I accept thee, Illya Nikovetch Kuryakin", he replied in kind.  **What now?**

**You will know by my next question**  "Napoleon, what we do next cannot be undone.  Do you love me enough to grant me the ultimate trust?"

For several minutes Solo stared at the vampire, searching the sapphire blue eyes.  Had he heard what he thought he'd heard?  Was the vampire offering to make the fantasy he'd harbored since their meeting come true.  //Well, you don't know until you ask//  "Uh, Illya, forgive me if this sounds dumb but, did you just ask me to surrender myself to you?"

"I did indeed, Polya, as I am prepared to do the same at your bidding; however, we are going to get a big imaginative."

Napoleon leered.  "Why you sexy Russian, you!  What did you have in mind?"

In answer the vampire closed his eyes and concentrated.  When he opened them seconds later they were totally nude and floating several inches above the bed.  **There are no wires, Polya**  Illya replied before the obvious question was asked.  Did you notice how perfectly our bodies fit together?**

"Yeah!  I did notice that."

"Well, we are about to become closer."