by Donna Grant
“We can both go,” she said as she turned to face him.
He studied her face a moment before he said, “Are you rested enough?”
“Aye. I’m anxious to get to the gateway.”
“Then let us be off,” he said as he walked to the black.
Ahryn watched as he untied the horse and gave the big black beast a pat on the neck as he spoke hushed words into the horse’s ear. She desperately wanted to know what words he shared with the black, but she knew she would never know.
“Come,” Lugus said and held out his hand.
Ahryn shook her head. “I would like to stretch my legs for a bit this morning. Besides, we need to save the horse for later.”
She knew Lugus wondered at her logic by the way he stared at her, but he didn’t question her. The truth was, Ahryn needed to think over Tane’s visit and she couldn’t do that with her arms wrapped around Lugus’s muscular abdomen.
“You are quiet this morning,” Lugus said after awhile.
Ahryn shrugged. “It’s just that I’m so close to home now.”
He nodded. “I understand. We could have slept longer. I had intended to rest most of the day and travel at night.”
“Why not travel when we can? We both were rested this morning, and it’s only a little after noon. We’ll travel slowly until dark.”
Lugus stopped walking and reached out to halt Ahryn. “What is going on?” he asked. She had been different as soon as he had opened his eyes. In truth, she looked...apprehensive...as though she had much to think about.
Her mystical blue eyes met his, and he nearly came undone by the fear and sadness in their depths. “Ahryn?”
She stepped away from him and lowered her eyes. “I just want to return home, Lugus.”
He let her lie. Again. When she began walking, he let her have a slight lead while he hung back and led the black. They had gone another ten minutes or so when Lugus spotted the small cottage.
When he started to hand the reins to Ahryn so he could bargain for some food and water, she shook her head.
“Let me,” she said.
He was hesitant, but agreed. “All right.”
As he watched her walk to the cottage, he fingered his dagger, praying he wouldn’t need it.
She reached the door and knocked. An older woman answered and smiled at Ahryn. Though Lugus strained, he couldn’t make out the words they exchanged, but it wasn’t long before the woman handed Ahryn a basket and a water skin.
Ahryn had a wide smile as she made her way back to him. “Hungry?” she asked as she lifted the basket that was laden with food.
“Starved,” he admitted and reached into the basket.
He waited until she had gotten a piece of bread and cheese before he asked, “What did you tell her?”
Ahryn grinned and started walking. “I told the truth, that we were on a journey and asked if she had any food to spare.”
“Amazing,” he said as he caught up with her. “I think from now on I’ll let you get our food.”
She laughed and threw him a knowing look. “I’m up to the challenge.”
Lugus quickly finished his meal and took a long drink of water. He knew he needed to find them some fresh water to refill the water skin, not to mention he would like a bath. The last bath, if he could call it that, which had taken place on board the ship, was just a bowl of water he washed with.
He cast a glance at Ahryn and saw her steps start to slow. Without asking, he reached over and lifted her atop the black. She gave him a small smile and took hold of the horse’s mane in one hand while she held onto the basket with the other.
They traveled in silence for hours, and it was during that time that Lugus realized he had slept without dreaming again. Twice now he had done that, and it worried him. Not only had he slept hard, but he hadn’t dreamed. Of anything.
He glanced up at Ahryn and found her deep in thought. It wasn’t Ahryn. She couldn’t use her magic with the bracelet on, but then who could it be?
He had no answers. But he did know magic was used. On him.
But for what purpose?
Chapter Fourteen
Ahryn closed her eyes and tried to imagine the grace and beauty that was the Fae realm. The bright blue sky, clean air, powerful waterfalls, mountains that reached nearly to the heavens, and dragons.
She missed the commanding swish of the dragons’ wings as they glided through the sky. She even missed the sound of their roar in the fading light of the day when they returned to their nests.
For years she had taken the dragons for granted, but on the Earth realm where there weren’t any dragons, she discovered just how much she missed them. She found herself eager to look up into the sky and see a great red dragon or a small green dragon soar through the air.
“Everything all right?” Lugus asked her softly.
She opened her eyes and turned her gaze to him. “I miss the dragons.”
He looked away quickly but not before she had seen the anguish in his eyes. He missed them, too.
“Which were your favorite?” she asked.
One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “I loved to watch all of them, but I have to say my favorite was the dark blue dragons.”
“Ah,” she said as she recalled seeing them only once in her life. “They are magnificent and rare. So large and graceful.”
“And powerful,” he added.
“Do you know why there are so few of them?”
He shrugged his massive shoulders. “I suppose they are like most creatures in that some of them survive and prosper while others find it difficult to produce offspring.”
“I suppose,” she said. “I’ve only seen them once, but I plan to seek them out when I return.”
He glanced at her and smiled. “You will have to travel far.”
“I don’t care.”
“After this journey, you’ll have no problem finding them, Ahryn.” “Care to join me in my search?” She wasn’t sure what prompted her to ask, but she knew she desperately wanted him with her.
He looked away and sighed. “You know I cannot.”
“No one will know you are in the realm.”
“Theron will.”
Ahryn looked down at him from atop the black and thought over Tane’s words. She would do everything she could to ensure Lugus did indeed return to the Realm of the Fae with her. He belonged there, even if he didn’t want to acknowledge it. And if she had to seek King Theron and Queen Rufina out herself to plead his case, she most certainly would do that. He didn’t deserve to be banished.
But what if he really does deserve his punishment?
Ahryn refused to believe that. Lugus was a good man and whatever he did couldn’t have been so terrible that he wasn’t allowed to live with his own people. He was a Fae, with or without his immortality.
She would keep her word to Tane, but if there ever came a time when Lugus’ life was in danger or he would be hurt in any way, she would make sure Tane was hunted down and punished.
Whatever Lugus might be, he was her savior, and that was enough for her.
Is it really? Would you still think that if you knew the whispered rumors the elders passed regarding him?
Ahryn wanted to think she would, but it was hard to say. She tried to imagine the worst and that involved innocents being killed, something she knew Lugus would never do. Lugus wasn’t a killer.
But she had doubts about Caer Rhoemyr’s destruction. The city of kings was a sacred place, and for someone to try and destroy it would very well have resulted in their banishment.
She made up her mind then that once they reached the Fae realm she would discover exactly what Lugus had done and decide for herself. He had made it plain he would never tell her, but she knew one person that would--her grandfather.
She was so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed Lugus take them off the coast and head inland until he stopped the black and she found herself staring at a small loch.
When she glanced
at Lugus, he shrugged. “I need a bath,” was his only explanation as he dismounted. He set the basket on the ground, then reached for her.
Her hands gripped his shoulders as she slid from the horse. His large hands nearly spanned her waist, and she found the heat of him exhilarating and addictive. Before she made a fool of herself, she stepped away from him with her head down and turned to look at the water.
“You may bathe first,” she said as she hurried away to the grove of trees. There was something about Lugus that made her yearn for his kisses, his touch. Something that made her want to throw caution to the wind and see where it would lead her.
But she knew exactly where it would lead her--into Lugus’ arms. It was exactly what she wanted, but she knew he didn’t really want her. His body may want a woman to slake his needs, but his heart wanted...Moira.
Ahryn found herself hating Moira. Who was this woman that had such a tight hold of Lugus, and why wasn’t she with him?
As Ahryn leaned against a tree and stared at the sea, she knew no one would answer her questions. If she ever encountered Moira, she would find out the truth.
She heard a splash and knew Lugus had dove into the water. She could easily envision his hard, lean body gliding through the dark water until his head crested the surface. Just that image alone had her heart racing and her breathing coming in great gulps.
Her body urged her to go to the water and see him for herself, yet her mind halted her. For a moment. The idea that she might indeed glimpse his glorious naked body had her nearly running to the loch.
When she arrived, she made sure to hide behind a nearby tree as her eyes feasted on the hard planes of his chest as he raised his arms to wash. Water glistened on his wide shoulders and then rolled down to his chest to merge with the loch.
He turned, and she watched as he lifted his long length of hair and began to wash it as the muscles in his back, shoulders and arms glistened in the fading light of day with each movement.
She tried to swallow but found her mouth dry as he dove under and she glimpsed his tight bottom before he disappeared under the waters.
Her body hummed with untold and untried desire. She wanted him like a body wanted breath. Her body pulsed, her breasts ached and her nipples hardened. The desire was so strong she couldn’t fight it. She slowly stood and walked to the edge of the loch as he surfaced and faced her.
Their eyes connected and locked.
In an instant she recalled his kiss. A kiss that had branded her, a kiss that had awoken her. A kiss that had yet to be answered.
The water swirled and moved as Lugus walked toward her. She let her eyes roam down his sculpted form from his wide shoulders to his tight abdomen and then to his narrow hips and....
She raised her gaze to his when he stopped. His eyes never left her face, and she knew he waited to see what she would do. Too many times she had offered what he didn’t want, and though it was difficult she could no longer offer it to him knowing he didn’t want her.
Ahryn felt tears sting her eyes as she turned her back to Lugus and went to the horse. She ran her hands down the black’s smooth coat while envisioning her hands running down Lugus’ body.
“Ahryn?”
She heard the worry in his voice but refused to let him know just how much he affected her. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your bath. Please continue.”
Her hands shook as she intertwined her fingers in the black’s mane. She hated how her body betrayed her with just a glimpse from Lugus, and no matter how much she told herself he didn’t want her, her body wouldn’t listen.
“I’m finished,” Lugus said, fastening his breeches as he stopped a hairsbreadth from her, his warm breath fanning her neck.
She wasn’t able to control the shiver that ran through her as she turned to face him. Water still dripped from the ends of his flaxen hair to run down his chest into the waist of his pants.
With a force of will she didn’t know she had, Ahryn kept her hands to herself and raised her gaze to his face. “Is the water nice?” She couldn’t believe her voice sounded as calm as it did when she was aflutter inside.
His brow furrowed slightly before he took a small step back and nodded.
“Thank you,” she said and moved past him. As she kicked off her shoes, she looked over her shoulder to find him watching her. “Could you please turn around?”
Lugus clenched his jaw at her icy tone and put his back to her. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but suddenly Ahryn wanted no part of him. He should be relieved, but in truth, he was flummoxed. He had grown accustomed to her mystical blue eyes holding passion and desire when she looked at him, and her full dusky pink lips slightly parted as if she waited for his kiss.
For the life of him, he couldn’t understand his bewilderment or her change in attitude. But he wouldn’t question her. The sooner they reached the gateway, the sooner he could return to his old way of life.
He glanced over his shoulder to see Ahryn gliding gracefully across the water, and in a blink he envisioned her at the great waterfall near Caer Rhoemyr where he had swam as a child. The waterfall was a favorite of his, a place he had always wanted to bring his mate, a place he would never see again.
With a curse he turned away and tried to put Ahryn out of his mind. After the rest and some food, it would be time to get on their way again. They still had several hours of travel time before they slept.
Lugus rubbed the black down and whispered soothing words to it. When he was finished, he looked over to the water and didn’t see Ahryn. Thinking she had already finished and was dressing, he brought the black to the water to drink.
No sooner had the horse dipped his nose into the water to drink than Ahryn rose from the depths like a goddess with the water bubbling and churning around her. His eyes instantly noticed her bare breasts before she dipped back into the water so that only her head shown.
“I had thought you were done,” he said when she noticed him.
She wiped the water from her face. “I was underwater.”
“I noticed that.”
Tense silence stretched as the horse continued to drink. Finally, the black raised his head and Lugus led him away from the loch to give Ahryn some privacy.
He shifted and tried to relieve some of the pressure from his now throbbing rod. The need had nearly overtaken him again, just as it had when he had risen from the water to find Ahryn standing before him.
For just a moment he had been sure he had seen passion flare in her blue eyes as her gaze raked over him. He had stood motionless, unable to move for fear that she would leave. When he finally did move to her he had been surprised when she turned away.
If he was honest with himself, he would admit that he hadn’t known what he would have done had Ahryn not turned away. He knew his body needed release and he was more than attracted to her, but would he have taken her?
His eyes nearly rolled back into his head as he imagined himself driving deeply into her tight, wet sheath with her nails raking his skin as he brought her closer and closer to her climax.
The image was so vivid and real that for a moment Lugus couldn’t tell which was the fantasy and which was genuine. He blinked and found the black staring at him as if he knew what Lugus was going through.
“I know, lad,” he whispered as he scratched the horse’s head. “Something needs to be done. And quickly.”
Lugus grabbed some food from the basket and left the horse to graze while he went in search of Ahryn to break their fast. He found her sitting near a tree as she worked her fingers through the long, wet strands of her hair. Her eyes were closed and a small smile pulled at her lips, and he found himself wanting to know what could bring such a smile to her face.
“Tell me,” he whispered.
Her eyes jerked open in surprise, and her hands stilled. “Tell you what?”
“Tell me,” he said as he set the food down and knelt in front of her, “what you were thinking to bring such a smile.”
She g
rinned and lowered her eyes. Her fingers began to comb through her hair again. “I was recalling how my mother used to gripe as she combed out my hair. It was forever tangled, and I complained endlessly. She used to tell me that there would come a day when I would wish she were combing it for me.”
“And today is that day?” he asked, liking how she allowed him to glimpse into her past.
She laughed. “Oh, yes. It’s very difficult with a comb much less without.”
“Let me,” he offered.
Chapter Fifteen
“But there’s no comb.”
Lugus held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “I’ve got these and you could use a break.”
“All right,” she said and scooted around until her back was to him.
Lugus moved the food to the side and sat cross legged behind her.
“Start at the bottom and work your way up. It’s easier that way.”
He licked his lips and ran his fingers through the bottom of her hair, immediately encountering a knot.
She laughed and reached around for an oat cake. “See?” she said.
He tried to gently work the tangle free and was soon regretting that he offered.
“You need to be more aggressive with the tangle, or it will never unloosen. Besides, you won’t hurt me.”
He was unsure of the last part considering how big some of the tangles were, but he pulled a little hard and was rewarded when the knot gave way.
After that he tackled tangle after tangle until he was nearly to her neck. He ran his fingers from the hair at her neck all the way to the bottom and heard her moan softly.
He never imagined that a woman liked to have hands ran through her hair and just to be sure he had actually heard the moan, he did it again. He was rewarded with another soft moan.
Lugus smiled and continued working out the tangles. It didn’t take him long to work his way to her temples. By the time he was moving his fingers from the crown of her head to the ends, her head was thrown back and the ends brushed his legs.
Time after time he would use both hands to gently pull through the strands, and each time he could visibly see Ahryn relax. He watched as she inhaled sharply when he massaged her scalp, her lips parting and her breasts rising with each breath.
