He'd pushed away from her, one hand going through his hair in agitation and her heart clenched at the pain in every line of his body, even as the hot poker of jealousy stabbed at her insides. He must have loved his wife to distraction.
"What happened?" Coralie's soft question had him reaching for the old whisky on the side cabinet of the impressive library his cottage also sported. He poured himself an overgenerous measure and swallowed. Coralie watched the movement of his throat, every fiber of her being yearning to go to him and offer comfort any which way she could, but she stayed put waiting for him to speak.
When Lucas finally did, his voice was rough and he had to clear his throat several times.
"Melisande and I married young, against the wishes of both our families. My father never accepted her. Her family was poor, peasants, and my father was the liege." Lucas smiled grimly and stared out of the window, seemingly lost in the past. "I was hotheaded and foolish. I thought all that mattered was that we loved each other. We sat up home together and we were happy for a while. But Melisande was a witch and her family cast her out when she eloped with me. Even back then, the ancient bloodlines had begun diluting. As one of the originals it was expected of her to marry into another ancient family, not get herself hitched to a hot-headed youngster like me. I learned very quickly that witches don't fare that well on their own." He paused and threw a searching glance towards Coralie. Her toes curled under at the intensity in his emerald eyes and a cold shiver went up her spine. She wasn't seeing Lucas anymore, but a young Melisande running away from a jeering crowd, dodging the stones flying her way. Melisande crying on her cot, clutching her tummy, keening her loss at the baby she had been carrying. Lucas, hurt and confused, bitter rows and hot sex. More pain and heartache—God, so much pain. Melisande summoning Jacomo in her despair, but instead of helping Lucas's wife he'd fed on her and left her without her powers, unable to heal or call for help.
Tears streamed down Coralie's face unheeded, as the horrific images played out in her mind, until Lucas's voice finally broke through, dispelling the last image of Melisande. The young witch smiled and put one finger up to her lips. Coralie too smiled through her tears, even as her neck hurt where Lucas was shaking her so violently her head was lolling about like a rag doll and her teeth clanged together.
She opened her eyes and put her hands on his chest, her smile deepening at his worry flooding her mind, worry for her. His eyes bore into hers and he let her go.
"Merde, don't do that. I never know whether you'll get back here."
"I'm sorry, Lucas. But she doesn't blame you, you know. You made her happy. If she had to do it all over again she would. Not the Jacomo bit, naturally, but marrying you. She loved you, Lucas."
Lucas had taken a few steps back, shaking his head repeatedly, goose bumps visible on his naked torso and without thinking Coralie had flicked her hand and the fireplace in the room had roared to life, making them both jump. The dancing flames had illuminated the growing darkness in the room and Coralie had grown self-conscious under Lucas's steady regard.
"Does that mean you've made your decision?"
"What? No…I…" Coralie had looked up at him and his face had fallen at whatever he saw in her expression. He'd turned away, leaving Coralie feeling as though she'd let him down somehow.
Coralie shivered again. The sun had disappeared almost completely and there was a cold breeze coming up from the sea. It carried change with it and the promise of rain—the perfect time of day for Coralie to accept her destiny. She could only hope that Lucas would still want her. That he desired her physically, she didn't doubt for one minute. But he kept his mind too well shielded to ascertain his emotions. Not that she could bring herself to delve that deeply.
The guilt he exhibited about turning her had been bad enough. They'd come across a young family during one of their early evening walks. The toddler's shrill screams of frustration at being carried off the beach as the sun was slipping past the horizon had made Coralie smile at his harassed father.
Lucas quietly translated the rapid French conversation that followed. The boy's father had apologized profusely for still being on Lucas's beach at that time, but Lucas waved the apology off. He'd seemed lost in thought, a slight flush on his high cheekbones, when Coralie asked, "Why are you letting them use your beach? I'd have thought you'd value your privacy too much."
Lucas hadn't looked at her and simply shrugged his shoulders.
"It's the best bit of beach around here, and the safest for children. I can't use it during the day, so why should I deprive the local kids? As long as they're gone come nightfall, there's no harm done. Children have a right to play in the sun."
The words carried a depth of pain Coralie recognized all too well. She'd blinked the tears away and Lucas had pulled her into his arms with a growled apology.
"I'm so sorry, Coralie. I took all that away from you."
She'd pushed against his chest and he'd let her go. The pain in his eyes made Coralie reach out to him with a tremulous smile.
"Lucas, you didn't take having children away from me. Life did that when I was sixteen. My good-for-nothing boyfriend up and left the minute he found out that I was pregnant." She had to smile at his furious growl in response and ran a finger over his emerging fangs. "No, you can't drain him. He's not worth it, and besides, he wasn't much older than me. Guess he didn't know what to do."
"What happened, Chere?"
He'd pulled her back into his comforting arms, as the tears fell in earnest.
"I had a fall, when I was seven months pregnant. There were complications. I lost a lot of blood. They couldn't stop the bleeding, so they had to take away my womb." His arms had tightened around her and he'd kissed her tears away. Her heart had beaten faster at the tenderness he displayed and the comfort he offered. "So, you see. I never could have children anyway, so if you feel guilty about that, then don't. Guess that's why I spoil Suz as much as I can. Same as you do with Lando. To think I once thought he was yours. Marnie put me straight, of course."
He'd harrumphed at that and they'd laughed, the sudden tension between them cleared away.
They'd stood watching until darkness had fallen and Coralie had known there was only one decision she could make, only one way to free Lucas of his guilt and keep the people she loved safe.
Coralie shut her eyes and spread her hands, letting the power of the elements flow through her. The wind increased, whipping her hair around her face as the rain hit. A crack of thunder tore through the air and lightning forked across the sky. Electricity darted through her fingertips and the storm increased, when Coralie started to chant.
****
Lucas woke up to the crack of thunder. The ground shook with the force of the storm battering his cottage at the edge of the cliff. The fine hair on the back of his neck stood up. This was no ordinary storm. Stopping only to pull on some jeans, he went in search of Coralie, his heart beating an unsteady rhythm in his chest. She'd made her decision, then. Peace flooded his mind through their connection and he stopped dead when he spotted her at the edge of the cliff.
Arms spread wide, her hair floated in the air like a raven's wings. She hovered several inches above the ground, her whole body glowing with the forces she was channeling. Ancient words carried over to him on the breeze and he smiled. She had studied the books well. Summoning protection for those she loved, she called on the forces of the elements to set Suzanne free in exchange for Coralie's acceptance of her role, giving herself up to the ancient powers. His gut clenched anew and wonder filled him at hearing her fervent prayer for himself. As he listened to the words, a peace rolled through him in ever-increasing waves and he saw Melisande beckoning to him, her melodic voice carrying clearly over the roaring of his heartbeat, the pelting of the rain and the cracks of thunder.
"Live your life, Lucas. Be happy, forever. My gift to you."
He reached out to touch her but the image faded and the storm slowly abated, as Coralie's chanting stopped
and she floated back to earth and her legs buckled. He was next to her in an instant, stopping her from falling.
"I've got you."
Coralie smiled up at him and his heart soared when she whispered.
"I love you."
"Are you sure, mon coeur?" He had to ask. He had to be sure she knew what she was doing, because once she agreed to be his, he would never be able to let her go again. Coralie turned in his arms and framed his face in her hands. Warmth seeped through her fingers and joy leapt into his soul, replacing centuries of guilt, as their minds fused and he read the depths of her feelings.
"Je t'aime de tout mon coeur, Coralie. Forever."
Coralie sighed her contentment and snuggled close. Her mouth sought his and he kissed her deeply.
"Forever."
The End
www.dorisoconnor.com
Other Books by Doris O’Connor:
Lure of the Blood
Too Hot to Handle
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Lure of Forever Page 15
