Carlton, Amber - Trinity Magic (Siren Publishing Romance)

by Amber Carlton

  “You’re vile, Cameron.”

  He laughed. “You have a way about you, lassie, and men will pay anything to feel the passion inside of you. The broker knew that and set his price accordingly. On paper, you’re worth more than five women. I know from personal experience that’s a real bargain for someone like you. Such beauty. Such fire. I remember the taste of your skin, Leanan sidhe. I remember the fire inside you.”

  Flynn smiled, and when he reached out and cupped her breast, she smacked at his hand.

  “You’re—”

  “Aye, vile, I know, you’ve said that.”

  “So you loaned Stephen the money to purchase my indenture?”

  Flynn sighed. “Aye. Such a determined man I’d never seen. I wanted you myself, but with Caindale jumping so easily into my pocket, I could hardly refuse his request. You’re worth a damned fortune in this hellish colony, Arleigh.” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “But that’s still not as much as I’m willing to pay for you.”

  Her pulse quickened and the ground seemed to shift beneath her feet. Arleigh shook her head, her fists opening and closing, trying to regain control.

  “You can’t do that,” she whispered.

  “Oh, I can do anything I like. The council is considering my proposal. I am willing to pay all of Caindale’s debts in exchange for your indenture papers. To be extended, of course.”

  “They won’t allow you to buy me!”

  “I think they will. There are three lives at stake. Stephen held some respect here, and you, my love, are nothing but an indentured servant with a questionable past and a history of violence. You mustn’t forget you were sent here for a reason. To be punished. There was a dead man, love, or have you forgotten?”

  “I’ll go to them. I’ll explain, I’ll—”

  “Protest all you like, darlin’, but they don’t care what happens to you. For some reason they do care what happens to Caindale’s daughters. I don’t understand it, but that’s the way it is.” Flynn gathered her against him. “Are you totally oblivious to what happens around you? Open your eyes. You’re a smart girl. Would it be so bad being my lover again?”

  “I was ne’er your lover,” she snarled.

  “No? I distinctly remember fucking you, Leanan sidhe. I’m fairly certain that made us lovers.”

  “You ne’er touched me,” Arleigh said.

  “Perhaps not in this incarnation, but we will remedy that soon enough. Look at you, dressed in this rag. Your beauty is wasted here. I can give you a better life, at least for awhile. It will certainly be better than taking care of a pack of brats and working yourself to the bone. Of course I will expect certain things from you. Undying love, unending passion. Eventually, your life. It’s a small price you will pay willingly, but I can keep you alive for a very long while.”

  “I will ne’er let you have my soul,” Arleigh said.

  He tipped her chin up. “You keep forgetting the very real truth between us, love. The Leanan sidhe exists no longer, and the choice does not lie with you. Have you forgotten what I am?”

  “No,” she whispered, “you be the Ganconor.”

  “So the choice lies with me. You chose me once. To love, to torture, to kill. I choose you now.”

  She pushed at his chest. “The choice to kill was ne’er mine. ’Twas survival.”

  “I never had a choice, either.” His face moved closer, and while he searched her eyes, she saw confusion in his. “You’ve haunted my thoughts for centuries, and still I find the choice doesn’t belong to me. What kind of power do you still possess?”

  “’Tis no power now. I am mortal.”

  “If you were mortal, you would have begged me to take you by now. My essence is strong, and it takes no effort to capture a soul. And yet somehow you’re resisting me. How is that possible?”

  “I’ll not be knowing the answer to that. Forget about me, Cameron.” Arleigh gathered her courage and pushed him away. “I should mean nothing to you. ‘Tis not possible.”

  “How would you know what is possible?” Flynn said.

  Arleigh spread her arms. “Am I to teach you now? You’ve lived centuries as the Ganconor and don’t know what the life of fey is? Why are you living as a mortal man, in the entrapments of humanity? You could be anywhere in the world, in any plane of existence. Why are you living in this godforsaken place?”

  Flynn stared out over the water, refusing to look at her. “Jamestown has suited me. It has been fresh, exciting. There were possibilities here, though I must admit now, I am beginning to see changes. I don’t like the tide of progress, but I can do nothing to stop it.”

  “Then leave.”

  “Oh, I may.” He turned to face her. “I’ve been waiting for the right time, lass. There have been many women in my life, but you’re the only one I ever wanted to keep.”

  “’Twas enchantment!” Arleigh cried. “You were incapable of love when I met you as a human. I wrapped you in a spell, Cameron. I wove it around you like a blanket of lies, and you slept in my arms and believed all my words. You didn’t choose to love me. You were forced to love me.”

  “It may have started that way,” Flynn said, “but that’s not how it ended. When you betrayed me with Remy Caindale, I hurt. I tried to kill for you. Why would I do that?”

  “Jealousy. Anger. Revenge. Imagining what goes through your twisted mind is beyond me, but you should not have been hurt. You were unraveling and half-dead when I left and should have continued to wither. ’Twas a sorry mistake I made in Ireland that year. I walked away without being sure you would die, and the Caindale family paid for it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about that bloody family.” Flynn looked at her curiously. “You found love with Remy Caindale. A love true enough you were punished for it.” She lowered her head and ran her hands across her eyes. “So perhaps my feelings are real.”

  She sighed and forced herself to look at him. “Real feelings come with belief and purpose, with care for others, with passion that gives life but does not take it, but you ne’er had any of that as a human. And even if you had, it wouldn’t change how I feel.”

  He came toward her, his arms spread. Her arm shot out, grabbing the knife that hung on his belt. She pointed it toward him, and it trembled in her hand. A surprised smile spread across his face, and he laughed.

  “I’m immortal, love. I may not have lived thousands of years of faery life, lassie, but I’m fairly clear on that.”

  “’Tis on myself I’ll be using it.” She brought it near her throat. “I don’t love you. No matter what you do, I will ne’er love you.”

  “That presents a problem, then. I had decided to leave the Caindale maids alone if you came with me of your free will. I’m trying to be the kind of man you might want. I wanted you to remember, to love me again.”

  “’Twas ne’er love! ’Twas a trick, magic, deception. You didn’t give your love to me. I stole it so I could exist. But the Leanan sidhe exists no longer. I’m Arleigh Donovan now, a real woman living in the real world. Why are you so desperate to be part of the real world when you could have the worlds of many? Why don’t you leave here and go where you belong and forget I exist?”

  Her body shook with tremors. The knife in her fingers slipped and nicked against her skin. A drop of blood trickled down her throat. His eyes widened, and he snatched her wrist, twisting it. Arleigh cried out, and the knife dropped from her fingers. His face came very close to hers, so beautiful she wanted to kill him.

  “You won’t kill yourself,” he said. “You’re stronger than that, and it won’t save the Caindales. I will have my revenge on them now whether you are in this world or not.”

  He bent and picked up the knife, stuffing it back in the sheath.

  “You weren’t worthy of love as a mortal man,” she snarled, “and as the Ganconor, you’re incapable of giving it. If you want my love, you will have to take it.”

  Flynn shrugged. “Not a problem. It’s what I do best. We can play it tha
t way, but there will be destruction and pain, and eventually death. Is that what you want?”

  “’Tis the way of my life,” Arleigh said.

  “Then prepare yourself, darlin’. You are mortal now. You cannot win against me.”

  He grabbed her hips and yanked her body roughly, lifting her against his pelvis. His cock pressed through the thin fabric of her nightdress. His hand swept around and splayed across her bottom, pulling her closer.

  “Power, lover,” he said. “It belongs to me now, and you are the one who bleeds. You’ve already paid the price once. Can you stand it again?”

  His mouth fell on hers, forcing her lips apart. His tongue raped her mouth and her head spun. Though every ounce of will in her body fought against it, her body stirred by the feel of his. Such power moved through this man. When he finished toying with her and decided to use it against her, it would be hopeless. She would never be able to withstand the assault if he used his magic, and she knew the Between Times would kill her. His hand roamed again, lower still, moving between her legs, pulling her up, and cupping the part of her that throbbed. She moaned, and her knees buckled beneath her.

  “Hey! Get your fucking hands off her!”

  At the sound, Flynn smiled against her lips. His fingers pressed against the fabric of her nightdress and smeared the moisture dripping from her body across her soft folds. That he should stir any desire in her body foretold serious trouble. He released her, and she lost her balance.

  “Your body responds, Arleigh. You can protest all you want, but you want to fuck me.”

  Trembling, Arleigh wiped her hand across her mouth and watched as Ryder Kendall barreled across the grass toward them. Her day continued to go from bad to worse.

  Chapter 9

  Angry voices assaulted him the moment he stepped out of the cottage. Arleigh argued with a bearded man, the dark, brooding type packaged in a physique even the best trainer couldn’t mold. Clad in black, skin-tight breeches, stockings that looked painted on, and a leather doublet stolen out of a superhero’s closet, the clothes accented every ripple of muscle and every line of his body. The scarlet cloak tossed casually over his shoulder reeked of power and money, and the sword at his hip was a little daunting.

  Christ Almighty, how could he compete with that? Obviously, Arleigh was frustrated with the stranger, perhaps even borderline murderous, but no woman would let a man like that get away without a serious reason. Ryder knew women and every woman’s tall, dark and handsome fantasy had merged into this man.

  When the stranger wrestled the knife from Arleigh’s hand, Ryder silently thanked the man and, for a brief moment, thought he might have an ally. But the stranger clutched Arleigh against him, and the situation went downhill fast. The kiss was way too much, and when the man’s hands began to run intimately over her body, Ryder went over the edge. The stranger touched her in places that made Ryder’s body tighten and harden, made his stomach twist in a jealous knot, and one thought reverberated through his head: Arleigh would be his, and the man needed to know it. He edged closer to madness with every moment he stayed in this place.

  As Ryder stormed toward the river, the man proved a formidable rival. Unperturbed and expressing a curious interest, the stranger took several steps forward, hauling Arleigh with him. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and Ryder wanted to deck him on the spot, but the man’s eyes were hard, a brilliant blue fire.

  Ryder kept moving, coming up less than a yard in front of the man. “Are you deaf, buddy? I told you to get your fucking hands off the lady. I want to know who the hell you are.”

  The man laughed and glanced at Arleigh. “A lover so soon, Leanan sidhe? Have you no shame at all? I thought you were in mourning. Where did you find this strapping boy?”

  “Arleigh, go to the cottage,” Ryder said. “I’ll handle this intruder.”

  The man tightened his grip. His gaze slid across Ryder with disgust, and a puzzled look creased his brow while he inspected Ryder’s clothes.

  “If anyone is intruding here, my ragtag friend, it’s you. The lassie and I have business and personal issues to discuss.”

  “Your discussion is over. I asked for a fucking name.”

  “Flynn,” the man said. “Cameron Flynn.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me? Your name keeps popping up in conversation and not in a good way. So you’re the infamous boyfriend?”

  Flynn’s dark brows drew down. “Boyfriend?”

  “Lover, then. Whatever you call them here.”

  Arleigh screeched.

  Flynn laughed. “You look familiar. Who are you?”

  “Ryder Kendall, Stephen’s brother. So, you can probably guess, you’re not welcome here.”

  “Another Caindale? How did I get so lucky?”

  “It’s Kendall,” Ryder growled.

  “I see you’re taking advantage of everything your inheritance has to offer, Master Kendall. I assume the wench here is included in that?” His hand swept down Arleigh’s body and cupped her bottom possessively. Arleigh jerked under his questing hand. “She’s a magnificent lay, isn’t she?”

  “Now, that,” Ryder said, “was the wrong thing to say.”

  In one stride, he shoved Arleigh away and plowed his fist towards Flynn’s face, catching him on the jaw. Flynn rocked on his feet but barely flinched and, much to Ryder’s disgust, he didn’t drop. Arleigh, however, flew backwards and landed on her ass.

  Flynn burst into hearty laughter. “A knight in shining armor?” His glance darted toward the sprawled woman but only grazed her. The hard stare locked on Ryder with an undeniable challenge. “Arleigh, did you find yourself a champion?”

  Ryder took his eyes off Flynn long enough to see Arleigh was fine. Muttering and cursing, she yanked her nightgown down her legs. She struggled to her feet, blowing out her breath in an exasperated sigh that made her hair fly around her face.

  “’Tis thanking you I am for the help, gentlemen. And for the record, Cameron, I didn’t find him. He found me.” She dusted off her nightgown and rubbed her hands across her bottom, feeling for dirt.

  “Would you like me to do that for you, love?” Flynn asked.

  “Keep your hands to yourself, Flynn,” Ryder snarled.

  “Well, Master Kendall, you’re getting a prize. Do you know the truth about this lovely woman?”

  “I barely know her yet, but I think I have more of a future with her than you do at this moment. She doesn’t seem too happy with you, Flynn.”

  Flynn turned to Arleigh. He cocked his head, tapping his finger against his lip. “Does he know what you are? Did you tell him what a lovely future lies ahead of him?”

  “I’m going to hit you again,” Ryder warned, “and the next time I can guarantee I’ll knock you to the ground. Why don’t you shut up while you’re still standing?”

  “Oh, I’m not here to spill secrets. They’ll all come out in time.”

  “I don’t give a shit about your secrets. It’s obvious the lady doesn’t want you here, and neither do I. You’re trespassing on private property.”

  “Aye, well, obviously I didn’t expect to find you here,” Flynn said. “Your timing couldn’t have been more inopportune, and your behavior…I find it baffling someone would actually care about her, considering her dubious past. But you’ll be sorry, my friend, when you discover all the secrets she’s keeping. I know them intimately. Arleigh and I have a rather intriguing history together. She’ll have to tell you the story one day.”

  “Looking forward to it,” Ryder said, “but for now, I’d say the lady has lost interest in you, Flynn. Can’t say I blame her after what I’ve seen here. Why don’t you do yourself a favor and leave before I have to do some damage.”

  “Damage? With your fists?”

  “If necessary,” Ryder said.

  Flynn backed up and raised his hands. “I have no interest in fighting with you, Kendall. At least not today. I came to Trinity for a little pleasant conversation with Mistress Donovan
.”

  “Grabbing her ass is considered pleasant conversation?” Ryder asked.

  “Let’s call it persuasion,” Flynn said.

  “She’s not persuaded. Get back in your boat.”

  “You’ve complicated things for me, Kendall. I hope you realize that.”

  “Glad I could be of service,” Ryder said. “Now get the fuck off my island.”

  He took Arleigh’s hand and pulled her back to the cottage. He pretended he didn’t see her glance over her shoulder at the perfect stranger.

  * * * *

  Ryder tried hard not to think of Cameron Flynn and tried even harder not to start an argument. Arleigh seemed very tense, and he suspected, if he broached the subject of her ex-boyfriend, she would fly at him with another kitchen utensil and this time it would be sharp. He stared into his bowl, concentrating on his breakfast. It looked like something out of a Dickens novel. He stirred the oatmeal, gruel, chum, whatever it was, with his wooden spoon. He thought he might be able to make it more appetizing, but it just got worse. He lifted some out of the bowl, and it plopped off his spoon and back into the dish with a dull splash.

  “What exactly is this? It looks like—”

  “Just eat it.”

  “You’re not a very good cook, are you? Faith is a terrible cook, and she’s never given me anything that looks like this. It’s hideous.”

  “Then I guess you won’t be staying for supper,” Arleigh said, spooning the concoction in her mouth. He couldn’t believe she actually managed to keep it down.

  “Supper? Jesus, I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “’Tis obvious you don’t think much at all,” Arleigh said. “I know you think you were helping me, but you’ve probably made things worse. I don’t think you realize…”

  She rambled on and on about Cameron Flynn. He had no interest in Mr. Perfect. Ryder didn’t care if Flynn was king of Jamestown. Arleigh had issues with her ex-lover, but he would find a way to deal with that if Flynn stayed away from them. He had already decided somewhere in his demented mind that Arleigh would be his. Flynn could go to hell.