The group hiked a few more miles before Teegan ordered them to stop for the night. He instructed the men whose wives had accompanied them to set up camp; the others were to continue on to their village.

"We are only two more hours away, but my wife grows tired," Teegan smiled in Bettany's direction as she worked with the other women to help prepare camp. "Our trip into the city was very draining for her."

"I can't imagine why," Sam snipped, followed by a quick "sorry."

Jack gave her hand a comforting squeeze, but ignored her snarky remark. During the last part of their hike, she had given him quite a bit of attitude by saying almost anything that popped into her head. He didn't know if he should feel appalled or impressed that she'd been able to keep all her thoughts to herself throughout the years. He settled somewhere in between and chose amusement mixed with a hefty amount of guilt. Despite Teegan's earlier words, he felt what had happened in the cave last night was his fault. He'd made a pass at her, plain and simple. A non-semi-bonded Carter would have probably slugged him for crossing the line.

"My wife was liberated from the city several years ago," Teegan told them, bringing Jack out of his own thoughts. "I, too, bought her to save her."

"She doesn't wear a cuff," Jack observed aloud.

"No, I had it removed as soon as I could," he explained. "I just want you to know that I've been through the process, so when I describe what will happen, I speak from experience."

Jack nodded as Teegan motioned his wife to join them.

"I would have Bettany share her experience so you understand the woman's perspective," he said wrapping his arm around his wife as she sat down and hauling her into his side.

"I appreciate that," Sam told them.

"Once the slave cuff begins the bonding process, it cannot be undone. Your bond will be permanent as long as both of you live," Teegan began. "However, There is a way to alter the nature of the bond. Instead of Sam losing her free will and seeking only to fulfill your needs, the bond becomes balanced. It's like joining your souls to become one." Teegan tried to explain, "Besides knowing everything about each other, Bettany and I can share particularly strong thoughts and feelings. There are other bonded couples who can communicate over vast distances."

"Can you influence Bettany to do things against her will?" Sam asked.

"I cannot, nor would I," Teegan said harshly before softening his voice at his wife's touch.

"He speaks the truth," Bettany told them. "See the balanced bonding has been a part our culture long before the extremists took power. They were the one who implemented the barbaric auctions. They took the bonding cuffs, which used to be a vessel for our love and commitment, and turned them into a way to force submission."

"I'm sorry, we didn't know," Jack said softly. The history of what had happened to the women of this world was hard to imagine. He wondered how a society devolved in such a way.

"Women, however, have never been viewed as equals in the eyes of the law," Bettany told Jack, "we've never been permitted to be warriors or scientists," she smiled at Sam. "But we were loved, honored, and respected. There was a time when the thought of hurting a woman was abhorrent."

Sam reached out and took Bettany's hand. Giving them a sad smile the woman looked to her husband. "I was lucky Teegan won me at the auction that day, brought me here and showed me how wonderful a balanced bond could be. That's what the resistance is all about; not just getting rid of the auctions, but returning our culture to one based on love."

"You bombed the auction," Jack said. "Didn't you?"

"We did," Teegan confirmed. "We made sure the women were safe before setting off the bombs. Several of my men helped the women escape into the woods. We'll do our best to help them."

"We've digressed, husband," Bettany told him, "let us discuss what can be done for Sam."

"Of course," he gave her a squeeze. "The only way to alter the nature of the bond is to complete it using a set of original bonding cuffs gifted to us by the goddess Anire. It is said she gifted the first set of cuffs during a time long ago when she walked among us," Bettany explained. "Once the first couple was linked by the cuffs, they gradually learned how to live as one. Upon fully bonding, they no longer needed them; their hearts had taken over."

"How long did it take them to become completely bonded," Jack asked growing impatient.

"Several weeks," Bettany told him.

"But I don't have that long, do I? Not if we want this balanced bond to finish before the slave bond," Sam asked.

"Correct," Bettany said, "which is why Teegan and his followers have found a way to speed up the balanced bond. It can now be completed in as little as three days."

"Really?" Sam and Jack asked in unison. Jack felt a small glimmer of hope and by the look on Sam's face, she did as well.

"Yes," Teegan confirmed.

"Ok," Jack said ready to do whatever needed to be done, "just tell us what to do."

"Teegan and I have discussed it, and we will give you our original cuffs to use; however, you must understand that the process is incredibly intimate," Bettany spoke with emotion. "You will literally be bearing your souls to one another. And the entire process culminates in the fire."

Jack forced himself to ask the question, "what is the fire?"

"It's when the woman finally surrenders her body, mind, and soul into the safe keeping of her chosen—her husband," Teegan answered, but his eyes stayed upon his wife. "There is no greater a gift."

"I'm told that speeding up the bonding process makes the fire much more intense," Bettany blushed a deep shade of red, "but I have nothing to compare it, too. All I can say is that I burned for my husband."

Jack's eyes searched Sam's for any signs of what she was thinking, but she remained quiet. Ironically, this was the one time he wished she'd blurt out everything she was thinking.

"Here," Bettany held out two cuffs that resembled delicate bracelets; they looked nothing like the larger slave and controller cuffs. "I always bring our cuffs when we travel to the city, in case we come upon a couple in need of them. We would be honored if you decide to use them."

Sam gingerly accepted the two golden cuffs from Bettany with a quietly whispered, "thank you."

"I believe you two would probably like some privacy to talk," Teegan said standing up, pulling Bettany along with him. "Just over that hill," he pointed to the north, "is a quiet clearing. This area is safe, so no one will bother you."

"Thanks," Jack said standing. Offering Sam his hand, they started walking in the direction Teegan pointed