“Speaking of outsiders, Kalcifer wishes an audience. He is displeased.”
“Kalcifer would have much to say. I have no answers to give without talking to the witch, who is unconscious for gods knows how long, or Rae.”
“Breandan will have answers. He and the witch have conspired for sometime. It is obvious.”
My headache grew worse.
I had no magical sway over little brother. He foreswore his oath, and nothing would make him tell me what he knew. He understood I’d act for the greater good if told something concerning.
Perhaps, it’s too late to try and lead after I’ve failed to manage my brother and his wilful mate. Or did I choose the path of failure months ago when I left to discover if the rumours of Cael’s growing power were genuine? I have the throne, but no people to lead, and no High Lady. My fairy Knights are cut down. The leaders of the demon factions watch me closely for weakness, and are uneasy because my followers forsook me. It would be easy if they left without reason, but it’s because of my attraction to the vampire. A complication I must remedy directly. After I deal with whatever fallout I helped create resurrecting Rae. Like the others, I’d wanted her back to assuage my guilt, but I let it happen too quickly. Again, what else could I have done? As Rae’s body grew insubstantial before my eyes, little brother became more dangerous each moment that past without her.
Gods, he would have lost his sanity if I denied him my power for the ritual.
“My lord?” Kian prompted when I remained entrenched in my thoughts. “What shall I tell the Pack Alpha? He rants that his wolves left and that it is our fault.”
“Later. At the Meet, we can talk. He must be patient.” I glanced at the empty tree boughs. Talon gouges marred the bark, and a scattering of feathers littered the ground. “The raptor Clan left.”
He nodded. “I trailed them to the edge of the Wyld.”
“Gita broke her word.”
“They were spooked.” Kian hesitated. “Three families left in their wake.”
“This is news?” I scoffed, bitter. “Most of the Wyld has fled. These were merely stragglers.”
“The Pride guarded the circle boundary as promised.”
“Alec is loyal to Rae. He would not abandon her.”
Kian rubbed his jaw to mask a smile. “And of course he lays claim to Lady Maeve.”
My eyelid twitched. “So I have heard.”
I spotted Daphne standing lost in the agitated gathering. My immediate instinct urged me to draw her close and shelter her body with mine. How does she feel now her dead Sire returns? My gut clenched. Nothing good will come of this attraction. Turn your back and never think of her again.
Heart lurching when she looked in my direction, my hand lifted before I realised the blunder, and I beckoned to her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Rae
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
The warmth faded. My hand rubbed the itchy flora, and I knew if I wore the creepy garment much longer I’d fall ass first into hysteria.
I was covered in dead things.
Why?
I remembered Lochlann dressed Maeve in flowers for her funeral shroud before we burnt her body. Is that why I smelt my skin burning? Did Breandan wrap me in these vines then set me on fire?
My chest hurt, and I rubbed it with the heel of my palm. The scar over my heart barely induced a murmur. I bore many scars what was one more?
Breandan stabbed me?
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
Magics thrummed at my fingertips and exploded from me in a tingly rush. The withering vines and leaves surged to life under my palms.
I licked my lips, and as the air from breathing out rushed past them it was cool and refreshing.
There were eyes on me. The demons gathered expected apprehension. Disorientation. I felt neither. Each thought was crisp, and each feeling clean. I doubted anything could scare me such was my acuity.
Physically I felt wonderful but my emotional bewilderment couldn’t be denied.
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
My purpose was to bring balance.
Frowning, I touched my temple at a burst of memory. Didn’t I do that?
I used my power to staunch the flow of magics escaping the Source. Cael punched a hole through it before Lochlann defeated him, using the Wyld Heart as a magnet to saturate the atmosphere with more energy than it could contain.
He wanted to set fire to everything. I’d stopped that.
Why am I here?
My last moments weren’t easy, but they’d been peaceful. Breandan held me, and his tears had fallen hot on my skin. His lips trembled as they kissed my cheeks, voice breaking as he begged me not to die.
My feet stalled as the answer came to me. I pressed my eyes closed and shook my head, the movement slow as if I struggled to turn under water.
Our gazes collided as he already studied me.
Breandan’s shoulders looked larger than I remembered. His neck and arms as well. Muscle rolled under the pale sheathes of skin, creating swales and hollows. The smooth tension of his movement flexed the hard contours and deepened the shadows at the strong cuts defining his musculature. His black tattoos faded to silvery gray under the luminance of his skin, and his wings were tucked tightly to his back, his tail relaxed.
I hunched my shoulders. Spun so fast to give him my back I got faint. Thunder loud, my heart raced, uneven and panicked.
Nothing scared me anymore? He made me a liar.
I clutched at my chest, forced myself to relax then patted it soothingly.
Breandan made me feel, far too keenly after the numbness he’d liberated me from. It hurt to behold him, and feel as I did after floating in nothingness.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Silver light haloed him in a nimbus and darkened closer to his skin. Tempting. Liquid and limber, his gait hinted at repressed aggression as he defiantly crossed the space I’d put between us.
My thoughts muddled the closer he prowled. He made it hard to think, to draw breath.
What to do?
What do I say?
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
Turning to face him, I shifted my gaze to past his pointed ear whilst his roamed possessively. I fidgeted. The bluish pools would mesmerize me if I looked into them. They needed to catch me first.
“Rae-love?” Breandan waited on my reply. Sighed. “I know this must be overwhelming, but please, talk to me.”
“Why am I here?”
“A misunderstanding.”
“I don’t get what you mean.”
“At what point did I say you should?” Anger and amusement warred in Breandan’s tone. “I told you over and over. My actions spoke louder than words. My intentions were clear. I will never let you go. Still you did not hear me. Is there no trust between us?”
No trust?
I turned my head to glare.
“Why are you not talking?” he asked.
“I am.”
“To the others it appears we stare at each other.”
“What can I say to them?” I grabbed a hank of my hair and tugged. “Hai. You unleashed godly spirits whilst bringing me back and undid the sacrifice of my life. You’ve shoved the balance out of whack. Again. Oh, and the Vodoun these wrathful gods possessed gives their intangible essences unimaginable power.” I paused. “Shall I say this before or after I ask them how they’re doing?”
Discomfited, he rubbed the faint scar marking his jaw. “You hate me.”
“If I hated you, we wouldn’t be talking. I’d ignore you.”
“This is not you.”
“Allowing an irresponsible ritual isn’t you.” Our gazes locked. “You’re not reckless. What the hell were you thinking?”
“You died,” he bellowed. “You left me here. Your love made me immortal then you died. Imagine how inconceivable that is. I told you our future together was it for me, all I wanted and you–” He gritted his teeth, and turned red. “There was no thinking. I acted on inst
inct, and my instinct told me to find, and protect you. Can you say you would not do the same if you were me?”
“I’m ashamed to admit what I’d do to bring you back.” The admission was quiet with sincerity. My heart thumped painfully at the thought of Breandan dying. “I’d commit the same wrong and feel none of the guilt I know burdens you.” I balled up a fist and pounded my stomach, overwrought, and hurting for him. “The reality is that such action is wrong, and against nature. Nature that is my birthright to defend not defile.”
Stiff-necked, he nodded. “That is why there are consequences. I accepted them willingly. We all did.”
I thumbed the scar over my heart where he’d stabbed me. “What did you agree to?” The words escaped garbled. “What was your consequence?”
A tremor wracked his frame. “I live.”
“I can’t believe you. There was balance, and it’s ruined again. Ruined.” My voice was hoarse. I hated rebuking him for a wrongdoing I’d do in a heartbeat if our roles reversed. “Do you know how badly I wanted to run away? Don’t you understand that I stayed and damned the Source for you? I suffered for nothing. And they expect me to do it again.” I scrubbed tears from my flushed cheeks. “You were wrong, and selfish.”
Breandan reared back. His lips twisted, and he leaned until he loomed. “Forcing me to live, undying, without you was selfish.” His eyes burned. “You gave me no choice.”
My eyes bounced from his to glare at the middle distance. The guilt from his actions and mine was suffocating. “I did what I thought best.”
“You did what was easy.”
“Dying isn’t easy.”
“Neither would living like this alone be.” Breandan’s head jerked. “I–I am–” He stuttered and rubbed his jaw, eyes narrowed. “I am not a fairy anymore.”
“I know.” Strange how this saddens me. “Neither am I.”
“They fear me. My brother looks at me as if….”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. With us.”
“Something is wrong. The resurrection did something.”
The air stirred as he tried to touch me. Losing his nerve, he stroked the star shaped flower at my hip. The bloom shrivelled and died as his fingertip brushed the velvety petals. They turned brown and crispy.
Breandan choked a harsh sound and hurriedly withdrew.
The conflicting desires to hold yet protect me reached through my miasma and shook me to the core. His pain was earthly to me, an enemy I felt compelled to defeat.
I grabbed his hand.
He froze. “I’m scared, Rae. I need you.”
Entwining our fingers, I cupped his cheek. My acknowledgement of his worries ignited hope beneath the sadness misting his eyes. He stared at our joined hands in wonder, and I felt relieved it chased away the horror, an emotion rarely seen darkening his expression.
Gentle despite his physical urgency, he pulled me into his arms.
Tilting my head, I didn’t hesitate to lean into his strength, accepting whatever he felt able to give at so impossible a reunion.
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
Brow furrowed, gaze fixed on an end no further than his lips mating mine, Breandan lowered his head.
His mouth covered my own, a glancing contact.
Left in its wake was a pang of dissatisfaction I struggled to hide since his eyes were open. We stared at each other. Measuring our reactions with inept curiosity.
Fire heated his gaze until my cheeks flushed.
Placing my palms on the wider backs of Breandan’s hands, I moved them lightly up his bared forearms, pausing to rub the edges of the leather cuffs encircling his wrists. He tensed. I traced the contours of his elbows. The skin beneath my hands tightened then broke into goose-bumps. I followed the curves defining his biceps. The smooth column of throat I peered at in fascination bobbed as he swallowed. Breathing was difficult when I finished this thrilling study of flesh by smoothing my palms over the unyielding roundness of his shoulders.
Lashes lowering, Breandan cursed.
I retreated half a step, vehemence at the intimate moment startling me.
Exhaling in a rush, he swooped in and caught me off guard with the intensity of his second kiss, a devastating crush of lips.
His arms tightened and pulled me against the firm resistance of his stomach and chest.
Tail wrapped around my waist, tugging me closer, his wings swept open and fanned out. Rather than a blinding beam of silver light, a soft iridescence bathed my skin. He explored. One hand travelled down the middle of my back, and the other ran up to cradle my head. His thumb rubbed behind my ear. The teasing, soft circles made me dizzy.
Short of breath, I gasped. Sank deeper as he came at me from a different angle, adjusting the positioning of his head until I tumbled into a chasm shaped by the shell of his body.
My wings and tail twitched. My emotions rioted too madly to get them under any semblance of control. My heels lifted to offer more body to consume, willing to sacrifice the lot to nourish desire’s blaze.
His lips sought my neck. Callused fingertips traced the edge of my collarbone then stroked the hollow of my throat. The corner of his mouth quirked as echoes of my erratic pulse pounded there. The trailing pecks along my shoulder stoked the fire burning me alive, and irrational as it was jealousy had me hating my own flesh for stealing his attention.
Heeding my silent plea for more, or appeasing his own urge, groaning, Breandan’s mouth ascended back to mine.
Spine arched, my hands cupped the clean cut of his jaw. I coveted. Grappled his fierceness with my own, and sighed gladness at the kiss’ return.
His thigh thrust between my legs and took more of my weight. My feet left the ground. Body bowed taut, fast skidding to incoherency I clung to him. My hands slid back to grab fistfuls hair. Silky locks tickled my wrists. Curls he savagely cut as if beautiful hair wasn’t meant for him.
My senses engaged, stimulated to greatness only he engendered. Prism like lights danced behind my eyelids. And heat. It poured from his palms and seeped into my skin. Rolled across me in sweltering waves. Ebbing to gather strength then hunting unscathed flesh to scorch. The aroma of warm leather and chilly rain was heady, and mixed with a lower note of clean musk. I became giddy on it. I forced my panting to abide, and inhaled his unique scent. Blood rushed in my ears, snuffing all sound apart from his harsh breathing, and the rasp of teeth raking my bottom lip. An experience this sensually assaulting, an encompassment to the point of physical weakness was perilous. I was convinced. Succumbed. The danger of wandering lost in this kiss until the world stopped spinning was very real.
He took me to explosive magnitudes that left no doubts, not when his hands roved, and his lips roamed lyrical with love’s avowals.
Breandan was home, constant, a Source that would never fail me.
The hair on my nape lifted because sensation fluttered with claw-tipped wings in the pit of my stomach. My heartbeat marched all over the place. Need coiled until my fingers mimicked the raw feeling in action, curling into ropes of muscle cording Breandan’s back. I dug in, a hold to anchor me in the storm. Pleasure erupted from the inside and rattled my bones until I fairly quivered.
This ever-deepening embrace offered no reprieve, Breandan’s lips brutal in tender onslaught. Predatory. The pressure exerted by the solid length of his body grinding against me, and hips thrust into mine felt mystic.
He’d reached beyond the veil separating us and dragged me to safety.
I ached; I wanted; I needed him.
Our heartbeats raced to the pinnacle, charging until the thumping at my breast became so painful I stifled a whimper.
The kiss reached zenith when his tongue flicked wetly at the seam of my lips. Darted past their soft borders in a hard jab. He tasted rich, honeyed spices. I hummed my delight and stroked him in response.
I urged him with soft moans. Subjugated his control with questing hands and a wild tongue. Begging him to lose himself inside me, as I was lost in him.
r /> Achingly slow, his head lifted, and our lips broke apart. His arms released me. His ragged breathing turned into desperate gulps for air that racked his body with shudders.
The ground at my feet rocked.
My nature flared as I settled back into my body. The vague disconnection keeping me calm shattered under the forced awakening of Breandan’s kiss.
I noticed the lack of magics’ burden first, the changed bond. Less volatile, but no less powerful, the gut-wrenching tug I’d fought against then eagerly succumbed to at Temple transformed.
The bond no longer confined me, but I was shackled nevertheless.
The ferocity of my emotion scared me to the point of speechlessness. I was terrified to reveal how I cared. How deep I loved. I swayed, keenly reminded why I’d died for him. Why I’d be destroyed if he attempted the same in return.
A dazzling smile curved the lips that enslaved me. The smile died when his eyes dropped to the dead leaves and vines shrouding my trembling limbs.
The consequence.
Life wilted by his touch. Paradoxically, his touch revived me.
I stroked the vines and flowers until they were lush again.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
Pushing him away would leave him alone. I’d never do that. Nothing he’s done or will do could ever make me leave him. “You’ll be alright, Breandan. I’m here.”
Head bowed in shame, he averted his gaze. “There are three. Marinette, Malice and Damballah.”
“I know.”
Breandan stared at his palms. They clenched into white-knuckled fists. “Marinette is a necromancer. She summoned Tomas’ soul.”
Blinking back tears, I rubbed my tingling lips and nodded. “I know that too.”
The angst that tinged our kiss returned to torment him. Breandan pressed his fists to his forehead and breathed hard. Tension wound his body so tightly I feared a touch would shatter his control. “It wasn’t meant to be like this.”
Inhale. Blink. Exhale.
I wondered how he’d forgive me for giving up, for denying his choice to follow me to the Otherworld.
How will he survive the death touch foisted upon him?