Oh, what a tease! Well, you certainly left me anxiously anticipating the next chapter. Poor, Spike-- I hope that soon Buffy will make peace with her feelings so that he can get a little emotional satisfaction and heal his bruised self-esteem a little.

I hope that Buffy will nurture Spike in front of the others instead of treat him like a possession. Good reading! Thanks!

To tell the truth, I'm really not liking Buffy in this story. She's a crule, cold-hearted bitch. Spike may belong to her, but she treats him like a toy. If she can hear his thoughts, wouldn't she be able to understand that he was sad about her wanting to undo the claim, and that was why he wanted to leave? She just got done explaining to Anya how horrible she about the way she treated him, yet she continues to treat him in the same disturbing way? How hypocritical is that?!? I hope you make Buffy get a brain in the next few chapters, because she is really starting to piss me off.
Please update asap. Thanx! ~Raven~

Really good chapter. It's a shame Spike didn't fully pay attention to what Buffy said... Poor guy. Looking forward to more!

That was great. I love how you had Anya explain everything.

Great chapter! Can't wait for the next update!

now that Anya has cleared most of the questions, all im waiting for is for her to drop the bomb to the scoobies, or for her to juz have a slip and spill it all out.... love the update and waiting for more!

Ah Haaaa! Exactly what I'd been seeking in chapters 12 and 13,

"... When a claim is made, the person doing the claiming is saying that the person being claimed is *theirs*. And that doesn’t just mean they have to do what they say. That means the claimant feels the need to protect them – to care for them, as their own…because they are.”

Thank the heavens for Anya's 1000 years experience.

I love the way you've intermingled dominance, claiming and mating rituals and actually made sense of it all... you're not a Watcher, are you? *grins*

I did wonder, while this heart to heart was going on, just where Spike was, and if he'd heard any of it? I really am not looking forward to, as I mentioned in my cooments on the last chapter, a prescriptive chapter where Buffy's in total denial in front of the Scoobies and Giles and makes Spike feel insignificant, unworthy and despised, with the snarky Xander and withering Willow glances and utter disdain from Giles. I'd prefer the showdown to be just between the two of them. But, that's my feelings, and your work in this chapter just shows how little I know.

Great writing, pet.

How soon is 10 o'clock? I'm looking forward to the vampire in question to arrive! Great update, as usual. You probably don't ever get sick of hearing how great your writing style is-- I really do love it.

Well at least Buffy knows what she's dealing with. Wonder how she'll finagle Giles into not asking poignant questions regarding the sequence of events to the ritual. Anya and Spike blurt out things and with any luck, Buffy has covered those bases to bide her time on coming out. Great reading.

So what!?? Anya seems to know what happened (when Buffy claimed Spike). The are both feeling the effect now. And not only the telepathic stuff :)

Oh, come on now! You can't just end it like that! I need something. . .just a crumb! Please! Oh, my gosh. I need to know what she did! I need to know now! Please update as soon as you can! I'm absolutely addicted to this story! Thanx so much!
~Raven~

I'm glad Buffy did what she could to reassure Spike, it would have been cowardly and, well, mean if she hadn't. Good chapter, can't wait to hear what Anya has to say.