Barely getting a breath before the Celtic god snapped his fingers and an iron shackle snapped tight around her neck and into the rock slab. Walking towards her, a look of satisfaction on his face, Cernunnos stopped at the edge of the altar and grabbed her face. With his blunt nails digging into her cheeks, he leaned forward until their noses touched and in a low, satisfied tone, boasted, “Babble away, little Witch. It matters not. With the power I can draw from the animals in the forest around us, the Hellmouth beneath this castle and the Sùdrach magic flowing through your veins I no longer have to wait until the third quarter moon.”
He shoved so hard that her head bounced off the stone altar and flashes of light and black spots danced before her eyes. Slamming his lips to hers, he kissed with such aggression that she tasted her own blood and felt its warmth as it dribbled down her chin.
Standing up he cackled like a madman as he threw back his head and victoriously bellowed, “As the moon reaches its darkest point and the hands of the clock are together at the top of the face, then I shall utter the words that will tie not only your soul but more importantly your magic, will be irrevocably bound to mine.”
Rolling her eyes, even though her heart was pounding and sweat poured down her back, Kallie waited until Cernunnos was once again looking at her and gave a shrug. Pretending to yawn, she sighed, “Yeah, I’m sure you’re gonna...”
Never getting to finish what she immediately feared would be her last smart-ass remark ever , Kalliope fought to breath as Cernunnos fisted the hair on either side of her head and as he pounded her skull against the granite dais shrieked, “You will be mine. Your magic will be mine. You will do as I say. You will yield to my…”
Thankfully, she blacked out, her last vision being of Murdock racing across a moonlit pasture as he roared, “NO!”
Chapter Fourteen
Searing, white-ho t , shards of pain sliced at the back of his head. His vision blurred. His steps faltered and then like a gift from the Universe, Murdock caught sight of the image of Kalliope – still alive, but very much in need of his help.
Reaching for her through their ever-growing Mating bond, he tried to push healing magic into her badly battered body only to have it bounce right back to him. Calling her name, pleading for her to answer, he finally let his anguished scream of denial echo across the countryside as his one, and only mate lost consciousness.
Launching himself over the seven-foot rock wall surrounding Tantallon Castle, a stronghold with one of the bloodiest histories in all of Scotland, Murdock had to stop, tighten the reins on his fury and attempt to think clearly and strategically. He was, after all, charging into battle a god and save his one and only mate. There could be no mistakes. He would save Kalliope or die trying.
Scaling the wall of Douglas Tower, using the misshapen rocks and holes left from battles long ago, Murdock followed the scent of Kalliope’s blood, thankfully Cernunnos had unconsciously let his blanket of magic fall away. Once atop the nearly fifty-foot high curtain wall, he carefully maneuvered the narrow edge until he could feel the malevolent magic of the Hellmouth seething just under what used to be the castle’s prison.
Ghostly apparitions of the men who’d fought and died, been tortured to death or simply perished from neglect called out to Murdock, begging that he use his Dragon magic to banish them from their ungodly existence. It was hard to ignore but something he must do. There simply was no time. Cernunnos’ magic was ramping up. The Celtic god was pulling power from every possible portal, both living and dead, holy and unholy, that he could tap.
Racing through the endless maze of corridors and secret passages, letting his preternaturally sharp night vision and sense of smell guide him, Murdock knew the moment that Cernunnos opened the Hellmouth. Tortured wails beat at his consciousness, reverberating off every wall and stone as the spirits relinquished to Purgatory begged to be saved from the never-ending torment of the Underworld.
Speeding past the crumbling walls, bent and broken iron bars and rusted chains of what was left of the notorious prison, the Guardsman stopped just outside the largest chamber, one known as the Executioner’s Den. Ducking behind what was left of the two-foot thick wooden door, Murdock’s eyes immediately landed on Kalliope’s lifeless body and the blood freely flowing off the edge of the altar she was chained to.
Holding the raging Raibert back by the thinnest of mental threads, he begged the Dragon King, “We need tae tak' th' bastard by surprise if we ur tae rescue our mate.”
“Aye,” the Dragon snarled. “But dinnae mistake me fur weak. Ah will crush his bones and eat his liver, god or no.”
“Aye, and I shall let ye.”
Slowly pulling his broadsword from the leather scabbard riding his spine, the Guardsman waited until Cernunnos’ back was turned and his fool-hearted followers had exited the chamber. Creeping out from behind the cover of the door, Murdock stalked into the stone room on silent feet, raised his blade over his head and was just about to strike through the heart of the Celtic god of Fertility when monstrous flames of hellfire, dark plumes of acrid smoke and balls of ash and soot spewed from the portal to Hell.
Dropping his blade just in time to block a bolt of magic from Cernunnos’ brass torc, Murdock fell back against the wall from the backlash of godly magic mere seconds before Arawn, the Celtic King of the Underworld rode in upon a pair of his Hounds of Annwn. Gawking at the humungous, snow-white Celtic hounds, their ears as red as the fire in the pits of Hell and their red eyes glowing with the unearthly madness of the Wild Hunt.
“Praise be our Great King, Arawn,” Cernunnos roared, drawing Murdock’s attention as he fell to his knees, bowing his head in reverence.
“Ye dae thes in mah honur, Cernunnos?” The God of the Underworld’s voice was so deep, so incredibly low, so full of power and his brogue so thick that it was as if his words had a life of their own, swirling around the cavern, leaving an oily malevolence in their path.
“Aye, Mi Lord, tis in your honor I do all.” Cernunnos sounded like a giddy child taking his first glance of his hero. “Please show favor upon this ritual, and I shall use my newfound powers to only glorify you.”
Pulling the ebony, horned, iron great helm from his head, Arawn furrowed his brow as his long mane of thick bright red hair flowed down his back. Staring with an intensity that made Murdock’s heart pound against the confines of his chest, the god shook his head, obviously ready to give some proclamation, but his words were never heard as his hounds threw back their heads filling the cave with an unearthly howl.
Thunder roared in the skies overhead as lightning continually struck the ground above the prison, its spidery currents of electricity skittering through the air of the cavern, striking at Kalliope’s cuffs. Gale force winds, stronger than any hurricane or tidal wave Murdock had ever experienced blasted through the cave, throwing the Guardsman, along with Cernunnos across the stone floor and into the far wall.
Keeping his eyes on Kalliope, relieved that she was still chained to the altar and not being thrown around like he was Murdock was momentarily blinded as a burst of light, as bright as the sun joined the wind, flooding the cave with a burning heat that made even Arawn’s hounds screech in pain. Unable to move, plastered against the rock wall, the Guardsman was sure he and Kalliope would be entering the Heavens hand-in-hand when the millions of ghosts haunting the great castle flew in from every crevice, hole and crack.
Fighting to get to his mate, Murdock summoned every ounce of strength and magic he and Raibert had and placing one foot in front of the other got close enough to Kalliope to throw himself over her lifeless body. Turning his head to the side as a voice he’d heard before summoned, “Murdock, Guardsman of Land and Sea, fear not. We come only to free your mate and punish those responsible for her pain,” Murdock was finally able to see through the debilitating light and see Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun and Kayne’s father.
Beside Lugh, stood a tall, thin woman with dark hair that hung to her ankles and a snake around
her neck. Getting more and more of his sight back as Lugh pointed a golden shield at Arawn and the point of his staff at Cernunnos, Murdock saw that on either side of her head was another face, more ghostly in appearance but no less inspiring in their countenance.
“Hecate,” he whispered.
Nodding, the Greek goddess, all three personas, motioned towards the army of ghosts, using her power of necromancy to command them in their attack on Cernunnos. Bloodcurdling screams filled the cavern as the spirits tore at the Celtic god, forcing him towards Arawn and the gaping Hellmouth.
Raising her gleaming dagger, made with the metal of the gods and fired by Hephaestus, Hecate commanded, “Arawn, Celtic King of the Underworld, return to the depths from whence you came and take the traitor with you. See that he is punished for no less than a millennium for the crimes he has committed against those under not only my protection but that of the Almighty Universe. Never again shall you enter the Earthly Realm with ill intent, lest you be given to Hades to toil in the Pits for all eternity.”
With only a bow of his head, Arawn returned his helmet to his head, gave a sharp whistle to his hounds and disappeared back into the Hellmouth, dragging a still screaming Cernunnos with him. Unable to believe his eyes, Murdock watched as Hecate thanked the ghosts for their help and granted the ones whose penance had been paid release into the Heavens.
“Rise, Murdock,” the goddess motioned with her outstretched hand as she moved to the opposite side of the altar Kalliope was still chained to.
Waving her hand over his mate’s body, she smiled down at Kalliope as the shackles and chains fell away, and her wounds were healed. Leaning forward, all three of the faces of Hecate kissed Kalliope’s forehead before stepping back and allowing Lugh to approach.
Reaching across Murdock’s mate’ torso, Lugh waited until the Guardsman placed his hand in his before firmly shaking it and speaking in low, even baritone. “I received your call from my son and notified Hecate of Cernunnos’s betrayal. Please know that I am always available should you have need of my help.”
Overwhelmed and unsure what to say, Murdock could only mumble, “Thank you, Sir.”
“Take your mate and leave this place,” Hecate ordered from her place near the Hellmouth. “Lugh and I shall close this portal and then return to our Courts.”
Doing as he was told, Murdock gently slid his hands under Kalliope’s legs and back and cuddled her close to his chest. Following the pathway the god and goddess had used, he felt it necessary to stop, turn towards the deities and after finally finding his voice, reiterate, “Most gracious Hecate and glorious Lugh, thank you for all you have done for Kalliope and for me.”
Nodding as only deities could do, Hecate and Lugh answered in unison, their godly voices filling the Guardsman with light and hope, “You are most welcome, Murdock, Guardsman and Dragon of Sea and Sky. May you and your mate live long with the Blessing of the Gods and Goddesses both Greek and Celtic.”
Bowing his head, he felt the infusion of their blessing not only in his soul but also in Kalliope’s. Walking to the edge of the cliffs, Murdock sat down, his mate safely in his arms and gazed at the moon descending in the West as the light of the sun barely shone over the horizon to the East.
Kissing Kalliope on the head, feeling the healing magic of the god and goddess within her, whispered, “Today, Ah give thanks tae the Moon and the Sun fur savin’ yur life, fur without ye, mo ghrá , Ah wooud surely be lost.”
Chapter Fifteen
Waking up in Murdock’s arm with the sun rising over the soft waves of the morning sea was the singularly most amazing moment of Kalliope’s life, and then he began to explain what she’d missed, and she simply could not believe her ears. “You have got to be kidding me,” she gasped. “There were three gods and a goddess in the same place, and I was down for the count? Doesn’t that just figure?”
Pulling her close, she could tell her Dragon wasn’t completely comfortable with affection but had no doubts she could show him the way. Cuddling into his chest, she let the love she could feel coming through their Mating bond settle over her and then, like an iron skillet to the back of the head, she remembered her runaway spell.’
Her head popped up, and she looked right at Murdock as she blurted out, “Did Calysta reverse Grams’ True Love Spell. Is she mad? Am I gonna lose my wand, or my magic or Goddess forbid, my head?”
Smiling the most glorious smile she’d ever seen in her life, her incredibly handsome Dragon laughed, “It is all taken care of, mo ghrá .” Kissing the tip of her nose, he leaned back and went on, “It wasn’t your fault at all. It was just more of Cernunnos evil doing. He used it as a diversion to get to you.”
What a dickhead,” she spat, immediately slapping her hand over her mouth and apologizing, “I’m so sorry.” Lowering her hand as her mate laughed out loud, she shrugged, “Did I mention that I have a mouth like a sailor.”
Leaning forward, Murdock laid his lips to hers and he kissed her with more love and adoration than she’d ever imagined, whispered directly into her mind, “I absolutely love your mouth. Let me show you exactly how much.”
Needless to say, it was nearly dinner time by the time they finally made it back to the cottage where Murdock was staying in the Lair of the Blue Dragons, and no sooner had he opened the door then a mob of people yelled, “Welcome home, Kalliope and Murdock.”
Getting down on one knee in front of not only her Priestess and her best friends but also a whole bunch of Dragons she knew she would be meeting, her Dragon took her left hand in his and smiled, “Kalliope Jane Sugarbaker, Ah know we haven’t known each other very long, but Ah knoow with every fiber of me bein’ that ye are the one and oonly woman in the entire world for me. Ah want to spend e’ery day of forever showing ye how very much Ah love ye. Wooud ye do me the honor of officially becoming me mate, before the Elders, me brethren and the Universe?”
Letting her head fall to the side, Kallie pretended to have to think about it and then dropped to her knees, chuckling at the look of shock on Murdock’s face. Placing her free hand over their combined hands, she winked, “Only if you’ll officially be my mate, in front of my Priestess, my friends and the Goddess of All.”
Pulling her into his arms, Murdock slammed his lips to hers, answering in the true way of mates, “Always and forever, mo chroí, Ah am yurs. Until the world stops turning, the sun stops shining, and the stars fall from the sky, I love ye as no Dragon has ever loved his mate.”
“Dammit all if I don’t love every sparkling scale on your hide, Murdock Deóireach. How soon can we do this whole official thing?”
“How’s tomorrow?”
“I love the way you think,” she sighed, falling into their kiss, not worried who saw or where they were.
Standing, pulling her along with him, Kalliope’s Dragon shook his head and winked as he turned to all their guests and announced, “She said yes. The ceremony will be tomorrow at noon on the beach.”
Looking her up and down with such a powerful look in his eyes that her body shook with its intensity she could only smile like a silly sap as Murdock sighed, “You are absolutely perfect.” Giving her a wink that she felt to the very bottom of her soul, he added, “I cannae wait to be alone with you,” directly into her mind.
“You are such a tease, Dragon Man…and I like it.”
The party she later found out was Calysta, Della, Alicia, Daphne and Meredith’s idea went until all hours of the night. It seemed that being healed by a god and a goddess trumped nearly dying, and everyone thought she could party right along with the rest of them, but sadly she fell asleep while the party was in full swing and barely remembered Murdock carrying her to bed when she woke up bright and early the next morning.
Wondering where her wonderful mate was, Kallie rolled over onto his side of the bed, letting the miraculous scent of salty sea air and sexy man fill her senses and saw a note with her name on it propped against the alarm clock. Reaching for the folded piece of cream-colored p
aper, she opened it up, smiling as she read, Dearest Kalliope, I have gone to take care of the preparations for our mating ceremony. Know that I will be thinking of you and cannot wait until I again lay eyes on you. All my love, always and forever, M~.
Swooning like a silly schoolgirl and not one iota ashamed of it, Kallie made her way towards the kitchen for a cup, stopping halfway down the hall as she heard the familiar bickering of Daphne and Meredith. Shaking her head, hurried forward, crossing the threshold she put her thumb and forefinger in her mouth, whistled as loud as she could and when her besties were quiet teased, “Seriously? You can’t even get along on my Mating day?”
“Nope,” they shook their heads in unison then Daphne added, “And you wouldn’t have us any other way.”
“Damn straight,” Kallie laughed out loud. “Now, get me a cup of coffee. It’s my day, and it’s your job to do as I say.”
“Oh, brother,” Meredith griped, rolling her eyes. “Miss High and Mighty sure is up on her pedestal today.” Busting out laughing, she added, “But, hey, I guess being kidnapped by a god, nearly killed and getting mated in less than forty-eight hours is a darned good excuse to be princess for the day.”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Kallie high-fived her friend as Meredith sat a steaming mug of coffee in front of her.
Taking her first sip, she moaned, “Oh my Goddess, I think that is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.”
“Yeah, well, you better get a move on. We’re under strict instructions from that Dragon of yours not to let you be late for the ceremony.” Pointing at the clock on the wall, Daphne added, “So, that means we’ve got less than three hours because someone slept in.”
Sinfully Delicious: Six Scintillating Stories of Sweets, Treats, and Happily Ever Afters Page 49
