Harlee POV
"I am bound to you for eternity.  This is not like before-before we might have separated your soul from me, and you still could die, and if or when you did, it would also kill me.  This is different.  I am yours for eternity.  You don't have a choice-it's already done.  By sacrificing my Grace to save you, I committed an act of Love so great it means my Heart now belongs to you.  I cannot take it back-it is yours.  You may use me as you wish, shape me how you desire.  I will follow you and obey you so long as nothing you ask of me puts you in harm.  You can command me or not, but I must stay by your side and protect you."

"However, this power comes with a price, as all Demon Deals do."  He stood.

"You are also mine."  The words fell like a blow as he stepped forward.  "Your life will be extended, possibly eternally, your soul attached to me forever.  I could never relinquish it now if I chose to.  You will have two choices over time.  You can remain human and watch the world end, or you can transition to a Demon to remain by my side, but either way, your soul will never ascend, because it is now weighed down with the weight of a Demon Heart."  Zeev caressed my cheek with a tear in his eye.

"I'm so sorry Harlee.  I didn't mean to condemn you like this."  He said softly and leaned his forehead against mine.

"My heart is yours.  Please protect it well."  He pressed the object into my hands and I shuddered, nearly dropping it.  But the moment he handed it to my, my soul sang out with joy, its missing piece was so close!  But I could feel the Demonic Energy the Heart was giving off, and it felt like it was polluting me.  I almost dropped it again with disgust, but then I felt something else-a feeling coming from Zeev.  Unwavering devotion-pure and sweet love.  When he said he'd be anything I wanted him to be, he meant it.  This wasn't love between man and woman-this was more.  Zeev would do more than kill or die for me.  He'd destroy the world for me, even if it meant destroying himself in the process, just to make me happy.  It was almost stalkerish and so overpowering and strong it made me jerk back from our link.

"Do you accept?"  Zeev asked me quietly in the breakroom again.

"I don't get the impression I have much of a choice."  I laughed nervously.

"Well you can try to reject it, but that's not often met with success."  Zeev shrugged and leaned his forehead against mine like he had in our minds.  I felt the devotion again and his willingness to tear the world apart to keep me safe and happy.

"You're scary-you know that?"  I sighed.

"Oh?"  He asked, standing up and blinking.  "I'll try to be less so-unless you like it."  He smiled teasingly.  I rubbed my forehead.  He had given up his Grace to save me.  He was offering a lifetime-no eternity of servitude, but it still cost my soul.

"It already cost your soul, whether you accept or not."  Zeev reminded me gently.  I sighed.  He was right.  One way or another-plus half souled, Angels and Demons out to get us-wouldn't this mean things would be easier between us?

"Perhaps."  He answered.

"Would you stop doing that, it's creepy!"  I snapped.

"I apologize, it's my duty to anticipate my Mistresses' needs and desires.  So helping you make this decision seemed to be the most pressing matter at the moment."  Zeev replied.

"First-don't ever call me Mistress again.  Ew.  Second-can I have some time to think this through?"  I asked.

"Certainly.  But one final thought.  Accepting my Heart would make us closer-you felt how much easier your soul was-right?"  He kissed me on the head and disappeared.  I walked shakily back out to the customer service desk.

"Harlee!  You look even worse!  What happened?"  Kayla babbled, but I barely heard her.  The rest of the day passed way too quickly, but all I kept thinking about was my soul-how it would be more complete if I accepted willingly.

Zeev POV
Harlee was silent when I picked her up from work, but the moment we stepped into her home, I knew she had made up her mind.  Every bit of me knew before she even said the words, but she had to say them.  She straightened her shoulders and looked directly in my eyes.

"I accept."  She spoke and I felt my body drop to a knee in front of her, my very being now fully belonged to her.  I felt the Binding finalize between us and she gasped as the threads between us tightened.  She was permanently Bound to me now.  No escaping for her-ever.  But me neither.  I was now hers.  Her servant, plaything, toy, soldier, guard dog, whatever she chose to make of me.  But I was not disappointed or upset about this servitude.  It was more like I was fulfilling my purpose again.  Like this Fallen Angel had once again found his god.

"Isn't that blasphemy?"  Harlee gasped.  I glanced up at her with a wicked grin.

"I am a Demon."  I replied

Harlee POV
That was the love I was trying to figure out.  The utter devotion one has towards a god.  I shivered slightly.  He was not joking about tearing the world apart for me or dying trying.  He would rip the very soul from his Demon Heart and give it to me if I asked him to-even if it meant his death, and probably ultimately mine in the end.  He would gladly place the Heart within my own chest if I asked him to.  It was all very frightening.  I heard Zeev chuckle.

"Buckle in Harlee, it feels weird calling you that-are you sure I can't call you Mistress?-It just gets more frightening from here."  Zeev stood, with his Demon eyes glowing and paced to stand directly in front of me.  His expression softened as he looked at me.

"Harlee."  He said calmly, looking me dead in the eyes.  It felt like a lightning bolt struck me in the forehead and sizzled throughout my body.  "I leave you with my Mark-the Mark of a Demon to claim you as mine, and me as yours.  No other Demon will dare touch you with this Mark with the intent to claim you as their own, and if they do, I shall seek retribution."  The sizzling increased along the left side of my jaw and fizzled out.  "You know my True Name and now you bear my Mark, you may call on me for anything you desire at any time.  My life, my will, is now yours to do with as you wish."  He moved forward again slowly and ran his thumb along my jaw.  "Interesting."  He murmured  "I've never seen one appear so prominently before."  As he touched the mark his arm jolted and I saw the flicker of electricity run up his arm and settle on his neck.  The small black silhouette of a wolf appeared against the outline of a full moon.  Zeev reached up to his neck and asked  "What's it look like?"

"It's a wolf."  I replied and he chuckled.

"Of course-because you call me 'Zeev'.  Which is basically your way of thinking of me as the big bad wolf in your head, isn't it?  Even though I have more eagle features than that of a wolf.  I should be insulted."  He teased.  "Would you like to see yours?"  He asked brightly, eyes shining.

"Oh my god, that's why you were touching my face?"  I shrieked, horrified, clapping a hand along my jawline and running to the bathroom.  I uncovered my face hesitantly and looked at my jaw with worry.  A small bright spiky white shape surrounded by other smaller ones trailed prettily along my jawline.  It was subtle and looked like white tattoo ink, but almost seemed to shine when I moved my face.

"It's Polaris-the North Star, surrounded by other constellations.  So I never lose my way again."  Zeev said helplessly.  I turned to him with tears in my eyes and hugged him tightly.  He stiffened briefly, but then warmly returned the hug as if sensing that at that moment, that is exactly what I needed.

"That's kinda beautiful Zeev."  I sniffed.  Then looked at his neck in the mirror.  "Hey wait a minute-yours has changed!"  Now the wolf looked like it was howling, lonely, at the moon.  "Aw, he looks sad now."  I reached out and touched the Mark and the jolt of electricity caught me off guard.

"Careful Harlee.  Don't touch unless you plan to invoke the Bond.  Yipes."  Zeev scolded gently, gripping my fingers and pulling them away.

"So this makes you do what I say?"  I asked reaching for it again.

"Like pulling a dog's leash."  He grabbed my fingers once again.  "It also connects us, allows us to access our Bond."  He said quietly.

"Why doesn't that work on me?"  I asked and placed his hand on my jaw.  There was a sparkle of electricity, but it still seemed to run more towards Zeev than from him.

"Because you're the Master, and I'm the dog."  Zeev replied.  There was nothing hostile in his voice when he said it, but I blanched anyway.

"That must suck for you.  I'm sorry."  I told him.

"No, not really.  You felt the way I feel, it's like I'm complete again, because I have a direction, a purpose, again.  And you-don't you feel better?  The strain from the soul fragments has lessened, right?"  Zeev sounded like a puppy dog eager to please.  I almost patted his head.