Prince of Passion

by Donna Grant

  Gods, how can I live without her?

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  Chapter Nine

  For two days Keiran sat beside Gwyn, refusing to eat or leave her side. The entire kingdom mourned the loss of their future queen, but none mourned her more than Keiran.

  He had talked to her, yelled at her and begged her to wake, but she never moved. Not even a flinch to let him know she heard him.

  It was the worse kind of torture imaginable.

  Movement behind him drew his attention. When he looked over his shoulder it was to find all three of his brothers standing shoulder to shoulder.

  They were good men, his brothers. Good, strong, loyal and the best warriors he knew.

  "I cannot lead Drahcir without her,” he finally spoke into the quiet.

  He'd been thinking about it for the past two days actually. Already he'd spoken to his parents. They didn't agree with his decision, but they stood by him nonetheless.

  "I'm abdicating the throne tomorrow. Lucian, as the next oldest, you'll be heir."

  Lucian shook his head. “I don't want it, Keiran. It's yours. You are meant to be king of Drahcir."

  "I'm meant to be king with my queen beside me. If I can't have Gwyn, what good would I be to our people? It's for the best, Lucian. Trust me in this."

  Elric's shoulders sagged as he let out a sigh. “I understand why you think you cannot rule, but I think you can. What would Gwyn want you to do?"

  Keiran looked to his mate and fingered a lock of her honey curls. He felt the stirrings of a smile for he knew exactly what she would say. “She'd tell me to do my duty, regardless."

  As quickly as the grin began, it disappeared. He turned to his brothers. “I pray that none of you has your mate taken. The pain is ... unbearable."

  Sorin elbowed his brothers and walked from the room as soon as Keiran had focused once more on his mate. Sorin turned to his brothers when the door closed behind Elric.

  "What is it?” Lucian asked.

  Sorin crossed his arms over his chest. “Katrina and I have been up most of the last two nights trying to think of a way the spell can be undone."

  "I've already looked into it,” Elric admitted as he leaned against the wall. “Only the Fae who put the spell on can remove it."

  Lucian snorted. “Wonderful. What does that leave us now? I'll lead if I must, but Keiran was born to that position. It's his."

  "He's already set things in motion though,” Sorin said. He turned and walked to one of the arched windows in the hallway that overlooked their kingdom. “All we ever wanted was for each of us to return with our mates."

  "We thought that would be enough,” Elric admitted softly. “I cannot imagine losing Marin."

  "Nor I Isabelle,” Lucian agreed. “Has Aimery found Saynarra yet?"

  Sorin shook his head. “Nay. I wanted to go looking for her, but Aimery said if she could elude the Fae, I would be useless."

  "He's right,” Lucian said with a chuckle.

  Sorin threw him a black look, but ruined it with a grin that soon faded. “If we could find Saynarra, we might be able to talk her into releasing Gwyn."

  Elric pushed away from the wall. “It won't happen. Even if Aimery and his army find her, she's to be sentenced in their realm immediately. There won't be time for her to aide us."

  "Shite,” Lucian cursed.

  Sorin couldn't agree more.

  * * * *

  Keiran was surprised to find night had fallen. The last time he had noticed the sky out the many windows of the chamber it had been day. How had he lost so many hours?

  He'd relived every second of every moment he and Gwyn had been together. If only he'd known then what he knew now, he would never have stopped at the cottage.

  When Aimery had told him of the trick Saynarra had played on them, Keiran's stomach rolled in disgust. He knew it had been odd to have a cottage on such a mountain, but he had been so relieved to see it he hadn't thought more about it. Now he knew why.

  "I'm so sorry, Gwyn,” he said and entwined his fingers with hers. “I was supposed to protect you. I failed, love."

  "Do you love her?"

  Keiran spun around at the sound of Saynarra's voice to find the Fae standing behind him. He thought about calling out to his brothers or Aimery but couldn't work up the notion.

  He sighed and turned to Gwyn. “Aye, I love her."

  Maybe it was when he'd realised she had been taken from that he'd known the emotions inside of him were love, not just lust. Gwyn was his everything, the other part of his soul. Without her, he was nothing.

  "You should have just killed her,” Keiran said as the rage began to build inside him once more. He released Gwyn's hand and stood to face the Fae. “What you've done to her, to me, is needlessly cruel. It wasn't us that damaged your pride. You have bespelled someone so beautiful, so good that our entire kingdom mourns her loss."

  Saynarra's calm features never moved. “As you mourn her?"

  He threw up his hands in defeat. He didn't know why he was talking to her. Nothing would change what she had done. “Of course, I mourn my mate."

  "Word has spread that you are abdicating as heir and passing it on to Lucian."

  His gaze narrowed. “I have. I'm worthless to Drahcir without Gwyn by my side. She still lives, so I cannot die, but I'm dead inside."

  "A mate will die without the other?"

  "Aye,” he said and turned his back on Saynarra. He couldn't look at her stunning Fae features without seeing the Tnarg. It disgusted him.

  Though he should probably be on his knees begging for Gwyn's freedom, Saynarra had shown her true self. She cared for nothing other than herself. She couldn't comprehend the extent of his pain, and to try to make her understand would be fruitless.

  "Why did you come here?” he asked. When there wasn't an answer he looked over his shoulder to find her gone.

  Keiran shrugged and resumed his seat next to the bed and once more took Gwyn's hand in his. He scratched his whiskered jaw and laid his head upon the bed, letting exhaustion take hold of him.

  * * * *

  Saynarra gazed down at Keiran and Gwyn much as she had done when they had been at the cottage. Her all consuming need to hurt someone as she had been hurt had led her down a path that was as far from the Fae way of life as any. The Fae were supposed to watch over the humans and aide them not injure them.

  She felt Aimery's presence before she saw him. She was tired of running, tired of hiding from the Fae that had hunted her for centuries. It had been two thousand years since she had seen her own realm.

  The Fae drew their magic from their realm, but she had been able to feed her magic with her hatred. And any Fae knew that would turn one evil.

  "I didn't expect to find you here,” Aimery said softly.

  She shrugged and glanced at the handsome Fae commander. Aimery had a long list of admirers, but he had yet to find his mate as far as she knew.

  "When I was younger, I used to dream about the day I would fall in love, of the family that would soon follow and the years of happiness ahead,” she confessed. She wasn't sure why she told him such a secret when she hadn't shared it with anyone before.

  Aimery regarded her with his swirling blue eyes. “What happened?"

  "I never expected to fall in love with a human."

  They grew quiet as they both stared at the sleeping couple.

  "Did you ever find your mate, Aimery?"

  He hesitated for so long she thought he might not answer. “Nay,” he finally said.

  "Do you think you will?"

  "In time,” he answered.

  She took a deep breath and faced him. “I'm ready."

  "So be it,” he said and grasped her wrist a moment before they transported to the Realm of the Fae.

  * * * *

  Aimery wanted to hit something. Hard. He couldn't believe that even when he begged before Saynarra had been put to death, she still wouldn't release Gwyn from the spell.

 
And now he had to tell Keiran all hope was lost.

  After everything ... he had failed. It wasn't something he did, ever, and he didn't like the feeling that threatened to choke him.

  If only he had known what Saynarra had become. If only he had been there to warn Keiran and Gwyn beforehand, none of this would have happened. The curse might now be lifted, but Keiran's pain was Drahcir's pain.

  * * * *

  Keiran opened his eyes to see a wren sitting on the window. He lifted his head and the bird flew off into the new day. Keiran shielded his eyes from the bright sun and yawned.

  He stilled when Gwyn's fingers moved against his.

  His gaze jerked to her face. Beneath her lids, he saw her eyes moving.

  "Gwyn? Love, come back to me,” he begged. “Please, Gwyn."

  A half laugh, half sob burst from his lips when her eyes fluttered open, and she took a deep breath. He held his breath until her gaze met his.

  "Keiran?"

  He smiled. “Aye, love. ‘Tis me."

  "You look awful. What...” Her words trailed off as her eyes widened as she began to recall what had taken place. “How?"

  "I don't know, and I don't care,” he said and brought her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed all over her face. “I'm just glad to have you back."

  When she wound her arms about him and nuzzled his neck, Keiran knew true bliss. He leaned back enough to claim her lips in a kiss that began gentle and soft but soon turned heated and passionate as their desires soared.

  Though he wanted to lay her down and pleasure her body for hours, it would have to wait. He ended the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.

  "We're in Drahcir,” he told her.

  She grinned, her eyes round. “Truly? You did it, Keiran. Just as I knew you would."

  "Nay, love. You did. You ended the curse."

  She glanced away. “It was the hardest thing I've ever done, leaving you. She had bespelled you to sleep through our conversation, but she swore you wouldn't remember me."

  "I didn't at first. Aimery helped me realise that I had found you, and once I remembered you, it broke the pact you and Saynarra had. You returned to me, but she had used her magic to make you sleep for eternity, never waking."

  "She's the Tnarg,” Gwyn said.

  Keiran nodded. “She showed all of Drahcir that. Aimery caught her and brought her back to their realm for trial. She was put to death for her deeds against humans."

  Gwyn bit her lip. “Is that what broke the spell?"

  "Nay,” said a voice behind them.

  Keiran glanced over his shoulder to find Aimery. “Then what broke the spell?"

  "Saynarra did it,” Aimery said. “I begged her to lift it, but she refused to answer me. I think she had already removed the spell before I asked."

  "Had she agreed, would it have saved her life?” Gwyn asked.

  "Aye."

  Keiran frowned. “Then why didn't she admit it?"

  "I think she wanted to die,” Aimery said and walked to a window. “She had turned from our ways. Evil had sunk into her soul, and she was tired of it. She wanted freedom. The only way to do that is death."

  Keiran wrapped his arm around Gwyn. “I'm sorry she's dead, but I'm glad she released Gwyn."

  Aimery turned to them and smiled, his hands clasped behind his back. “I suppose this means you'll be keeping the crown?"

  Keiran chuckled at Gwyn's furrowed brow. “Aye, I will."

  With a nod Aimery walked to the door. “I'll inform both sets of parents. Prepare for an invasion of the family,” he said before he walked from the room.

  "You were going to give up your rightful place as heir?” Gwyn asked.

  He nodded and kissed her again. “Without you, I'm nothing,” he said between kisses.

  "Can this wait?” Lucian said as he strode into the room. “I saw Aimery in the corridor and he told me the news."

  Keiran groaned. “Can you come back in a bit?"

  "Nay,” Lucian said with a smile. “I want to meet my new sister-in-law and the future queen of Drahcir."

  Keiran rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up. Just the day before his life had been filled with despair, and now as he gazed at his beautiful mate, the future stretched ahead of them, leading them who knew where.

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  Epilogue

  Two weeks later...

  Gwyn's hands fisted in the covers, her back arched as she moaned. “Keiran, please,” she begged.

  He didn't lift his head from betwixt her legs as he continued to lick her sex, teasing her pearl until she was writhing and breathless. Every time she neared to peaking, he would stop and fondle her breasts or kiss her.

  "I need release,” she cried out.

  He chuckled, the sound vibrating against her sex and making her grind against him. His finger pushed inside of her, stroking her slowly at first then increasing his tempo as he added a second finger.

  "It's too much. Ah, gods, Keiran,” she moaned. She was so close to orgasm, the tension inside of her strung tight as a bow, aching for release.

  Just when she thought he might give in, he flipped her onto her stomach then lifted her to her hands and knees. His large hands rubbed over her bottom, cupping and spreading her cheeks as he rubbed his cock against her.

  "I love your bottom."

  Gwyn was beyond words. She tilted her hips, making her bottom rise in the air. When he moaned, she smiled, knowing he ached as she did.

  Finally, his cock rubbed against her damp sex before sliding into her. She cried out as he gripped her hips and buried himself to the root. He gave one hard, quick thrust that sent her blood to boiling.

  It was exactly what she needed. He began to pump inside of her, making her breasts sway as she closed her eyes and drowned in ecstasy.

  The faster he drove into her, the quicker her body rose. When her orgasm finally washed through her, she screamed his name and her body clenched around his rod.

  Yet, he continued to thrust, his fingers biting into her hips as he ground into her. She knew he was close by the way he quickened his tempo. After the pleasure he had given her, she wanted to return the favour so she began to move against him.

  "Gwyn,” he shouted as he plunged deep inside of her, touching her womb as he spilled his seed, his body jerking with his climax.

  Their ragged breathing filled the room as they fell as one onto the bed.

  "I think I'm done for,” Keiran whispered.

  Gwyn chuckled and wiped a strand of hair from her damp forehead. “You said that an hour ago."

  "Give me another hour then."

  She turned her head to look at him. “The ceremony was beautiful."

  "And long,” he said with a frown.

  The ceiling glittered with each movement of her hand from the beautiful yellow diamond he had given her that now caught the rays of the sun. “I love the ring."

  "It suits you,” he said and kissed her temple. “I don't think I'll have to wait another hour. My cock stirs for you again."

  Gwyn rolled over and grasped his hardening rod. “You are needy."

  "Only with you, love. We keep this up and you'll be swelling with child soon."

  "Hmmm. That would be nice."

  Keiran tossed her onto her back and rose up on his elbow while his other hand cupped her sex. “Shall we make sure of it, then?"

  "Oh, yes,” she moaned when he slipped a finger into her.

  "Never say I'm not willing to please."

  Gwyn knew for a fact he was most willing to please. And she was very glad of it.

  With the curse broken, the Sinclairs and Drahcir would remain hidden for all time. No more would the princes have to leave and battle the Tnarg. All was as it should be.

  She had found her mate, a man who would fill her days with love and light and laughter. Truly a dream come true.

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  About the Author

/>   Though I was born and raised in the second largest state in the US, I lived in a very small town where everyone knew everyone. The hours that weren't spent at the dance studio were spent reading and dreaming of far off lands that I would one day visit and explore. My parents helped feed my insatiable appetite for reading by continually supplying me with books.

  My plan was to be a professional dancer, and after making it to New York and performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I realised that though I had a passion for dancing, large cities weren't for me.

  On the verge of starting my own dance studio, I got derailed by love. I met my husband, and knew he was the one. It was with the help of my husband that I found my true passion—writing.

  Once I delved into writing, I found another love—Scotland. Scotland has a piece of my heart and soul. I've long had a fascination with the ancient land that has pulled me in with its legends and lore of Druids and Fae.

  Scotland's mist covered mountains, deep lochs of untold beauty, and forests filled with magic and mystery call to me and my characters who live in Medieval castles. ‘Tis the Medieval era where knights were feared and men died for honour, that my heroes and heroines, through trials and tribulations, find neverending love and vanquish evil.

  My husband, two young children, three cats, and one long haired Chihuahua still make our home in Texas. I don't mind the heat and humidity either since that's when I hide in my office and write stories set in castles and mysterious places in Scotland where my characters find adventure and love.

  Email: donna@donnagrant.com

  Donna loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at www.total-e-bound.com.

  Also by Donna Grant

  Highland Magic

  Prince of Love

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