by Donna Grant
He spun her around so she had to grab hold of the side of the tub. Then he came up behind her. Synne moaned when the blunt head of his cock found her entrance. The moment he filled her, her body throbbed, waiting for the pleasure she knew was coming. And she didn’t have long to wait.
Lachlan reached around and slowly twirled his finger around her swollen, aching clit while thrusting his hips. Every pump sent her higher, made her body crave more. He kept the tempo slow, and each time she tried to increase it, he’d stop moving.
“Please,” she begged.
His mouth was close to her ear, his breath fanning her cheek as he asked, “What do you want?”
Didn’t he know? Couldn’t he tell? “You.”
Warm lips wrapped around her earlobe as his tongue licked it while he continued thrusting with agonizing leisure. “How do you want me?”
She turned her head to the side so her lips were near his. “Everywhere. Anyway. Always. Forever.”
A heartbeat passed where Lachlan didn’t move. When he did, it was in a frenzy of need and desire that made her stomach clutch with excitement. He held her hip with one hand while his other moved to her breast to roll a nipple between his fingers. He kissed her while driving into her hard and fast.
Water sloshed over the sides of the tub to splatter on the floor. Synne closed her eyes in ecstasy as Lachlan’s mouth traveled down her neck. His hips moved faster and faster, driving harder, deeper.
“Synne,” he whispered in a strangled voice.
She understood because she too was close to release. The sound of her name on his lips tipped her over. Then she was falling, the pleasure enveloping her. Lachlan gave a shout and joined her. This time, he remained inside her, filling her with his seed.
It was a long while before either of them moved. Synne opened her eyes to look at the fire and smiled. She had never been so happy before, and she never wanted it to end. Lachlan pulled out of her and reached for the soap. He lathered his hands and turned her toward him. He was gentle and seductive as he washed every inch of her body, then turned to her hair.
When she was clean, Synne took the soap from him and washed him. She had never touched a man like this before, and she liked it. By the contented look on his face, so did Lachlan. After his hair and body had been cleaned and rinsed, they rose together from the tub and dried off.
Synne sat before the fire and combed her hair. She looked away from the flames to find Lachlan watching her as he reclined on his elbow. “What?” she asked.
“I’m enjoying watching you,” he said. “What are you thinking about?”
She smiled. “You.”
“Oh?” he asked, his brows raised on his forehead.
“When I woke with Elin, I knew who I was, but I had no memory of recent events. Worse, I couldn’t move.”
Lachlan’s smile vanished, replaced by a frown. “You didna say.”
She shrugged. “There wasn’t time to tell the story. My memories returned soon enough, especially the ones about you. As I lay there, trying to get my body to move, I kept thinking about all the events that had to happen for us to meet.”
“Aye. So many things had to go just so. Otherwise, I wouldna have been there that day.”
“Some would call it destiny.”
“I think it is.”
Synne nodded slowly as she smiled. “Me, too. That means you and I were supposed to meet.”
“Aye, lass. Just as we were supposed to fall in love.”
“And be together for the rest of our lives.”
He sat up and moved to her. “Exactly. I doona want to live without you.”
“And I don’t want to live without you.”
“Then it’s settled.”
She stopped combing her hair. “Is it? I’m a Hunter. I can’t just stop doing this.”
“And I’m to be laird of my clan. I can no’ just stop doing that. Can you no’ be a Hunter in Scotland?”
“I’m not sure I could survive the cold.”
“I”d be there to warm you,” he said with a wink.
Synne licked her lips. “You would let me Hunt?”
He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you, it’s that no one tells you what to do. You’re your own woman, Synne.”
“I don’t want either of us telling the other what to do. I want us to have a partnership.”
“I like that idea. I’d also like the women in my clan to have the option of learning a weapon if they so desire.”
That shocked Synne. “You mean you’d allow them to train with me?”
“Actually, I thought my clan could be one of many places that others could come to be trained to be a Hunter. If we win this war, that doesna mean the Coven will disband. There will always be witches out there who wish to do others harm. Who better to train the next group than one of the original Hunters?”
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
Lachlan smiled as he stood and pulled her up with him. “How about we think about this later. There’s something I’d rather be doing now.”
“What’s that?”
“How about I show you,” he said as he brought her to the bed.
Before she knew it, she was on her back with Lachlan between her legs. Synne forgot about Hunters and training and Scotland as his tongue licked her sex.
Synne rolled over, seeking Lachlan’s warmth. They’d spent the day making love, talking, and eating. It had been glorious. When only cool sheets met her hands, Synne opened her eyes to find an empty bed.
“Lachlan?” she called.
When he didn’t answer, she sat up and rubbed her eyes while yawning. With half-opened lids, she scanned the room. The moment she saw Lachlan lying on the floor before the hearth with an arrow in his chest, she came instantly awake. Synne threw back the covers and started toward Lachlan.
“Stay where you are.”
The sound of her own voice drew her up short. Synne looked over to find…herself…walking from the shadows. “Avis.”
The witch drew out another bolt from the quiver slung across her body. She casually strolled toward Lachlan while nocking the arrow. “I can see why you like this weapon.”
“What do you want?” Synne demanded as she glanced at Lachlan.
He was alive, his gaze on her as blood slid down his chest to pool in the rug. Pain contorted his features as he struggled to breathe.
Avis laughed and swung the bow to Synne. “Your death. Had my sister not interfered, everything would’ve gone as planned.”
“If you think Lachlan wouldn’t have guessed the truth, you’re wrong.”
The witch shrugged. “I would’ve gotten into this city regardless. I was only supposed to kill you, but then I thought…why not find the Varroki city and destroy those within?”
“You’re taking credit for something that hasn’t happened yet.”
“How would you know? The two of you barely even knew I was here, you were so wrapped up in each other.”
Synne wanted to go to Lachlan, but she knew if she tried, Avis would either shoot her or Lachlan. Then it hit her. “You came here first. You’ve not tried to take out any Varroki.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that,” Avis replied with a smile. “I had to get free somehow.”
Synne refused to believe that any of the Varroki would betray one of their own. The only outsiders besides Avis were Synne, Lachlan, and Elin.
“Oh, you’re trying to figure out who released me,” Avis said with a laugh. She lowered the bow and smirked. “The Varroki are so worried about the magic they used to keep others out that they never thought to use magic within their gates.”
Synne didn’t believe that for a moment. Malene was too smart for that. Besides, Armir would’ve thought of that, as well. “You might kill us. You might even take out a few Varroki, but you’ll never get to them all. You’ll be dead yourself before Sybbyl gets here.”
“You got one thing right. I’m going to k
ill you and Lachlan. Everyone still believes I’m imprisoned. I’ll hide your body and take over as you just as I intended. I’ll tell the others that Lachlan turned on me, and I had no choice but to kill him. I’ll claim he gave me his sword to watch over with his dying breath.”
Synne tried to see if the weapon was on the other side of the bed where Lachlan had put it, but she couldn’t see it. “And when someone goes to check on you in your prison?”
“I’ve seen no one since I was put in that prison,” she stated angrily.
Lachlan coughed, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Synne slowly climbed out of bed. Avis had the bow raised before Synne’s foot hit the floor. She didn’t like the fact that her own weapon had been used to hurt Lachlan—or that it was now pointed in her direction.
“You think to battle with me again?” Avis asked with another laugh.
Synne couldn’t believe how calm she felt. Maybe it was the fact that the odds were stacked so high against her that she had nothing to lose. Perhaps it was because she knew there was only one option open to her—win. Or, maybe it was because Lachlan lay dying at her feet, and both their lives depended on her. Whatever the reason, she had never been more focused, had never felt so sure of her abilities.
She quirked a brow at the witch. It was weird staring into her own face. “Afraid of fighting me again?”
“Afraid?” Avis snorted loudly. “I’ve not been afraid in a very long time.”
“But that isn’t true, is it? You’re afraid of Sybbyl.”
Avis’s eyes narrowed at her. “I’m not afraid of Sybbyl. I respect her power.”
“Let’s be honest. You’re terrified of her. You recognize the power the Staff of the Eternal gives her, and you know you’ll never be able to best her to rule the Coven.” Synne had no idea where the words had come from, but once said, they made perfect sense.
“Sybbyl can’t live forever. She’ll name an heir.”
Synne took a step toward the witch. “There’s so much you don’t know about the bones. But more than that, Sybbyl won’t share any kind of power. The moment she thinks someone is gaining too much of it, she’ll kill them.”
Avis’s cocky smile slipped. “You know nothing of us witches.”
“I’ve spent my life learning how to protect the innocent and kill witches like you and Sybbyl. The power struggle within the Coven isn’t any different than anything else in life. Just because you have magic doesn’t make you better.”
“I disagree. You need a weapon to protect yourself. I use magic,” Avis replied with a lift of her chin.
Synne took another step toward her. “That’s still a weapon. Call it what you want, but it is what it is.”
“If you think your talk is going to stop me from killing Lachlan, you’re wrong.”
“I’m just stating facts.”
Avis gave her a hard look. “Then what’s your answer to this?”
Synne knew the instant Avis released the arrow that it was for Lachlan. Synne wanted to go to Lachlan, but to save them both, she had to take out Avis. When the arrow was fired, Synne used every bit of speed she had to race toward the witch. She knocked her bow out of Avis’s hand as she flipped over the witch’s head and landed behind her.
As Synne spun around, she dropped to her knee and swung out her other leg, knocking Avis to her back. Synne tucked her head and rolled away just as a blast of magic came at her. Avis released a scream of rage as she got to her feet. Synne’s gaze locked on the arrows that had fallen from the quiver.
Synne had to get to them. She rolled again, coming up to stand behind Avis once more, slamming her foot into the back of the witch’s knee, knocking her to the floor again. Synne used that time to gather two of the arrows, but she wasn’t quick enough. Magic grazed her left arm, causing pain to shoot through her body.
She then started running toward Lachlan. At the last minute, she turned and threw the arrows at Avis. Just before they were about to find their mark, the witch vanished. Synne landed heavily. She took a moment to make sure that Avis wouldn’t return, then she went to Lachlan. The second arrow had landed in his right thigh. She leaned over him, tears coursing down her face when she found his eyes closed.
“Lachlan?” she whispered.
She heard sounds outside her door. In an instant, Synne was on her feet with her bow in hand, and three arrows nocked. When the door was thrown open, she found herself staring into Malene’s face with Armir and Jarin behind her.
36
Fear had never held her so firmly in its grip before. Synne could only watch in shock as her friends rallied around Lachlan to save his life. She stood there, numb and gutted to see the man that she loved fighting for his life.
“Synne.”
She heard someone calling for her, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from Lachlan, lying so still upon the floor. He was a warrior full of life. A man who stood up to anyone who dared threaten his family or clan. It wasn’t right that he was so…still.
“Synne.”
This time, someone shook her. Synne looked to find Helena standing before her with concern in her eyes.
Helena refused to let her look away. “Malene is doing everything she can. I need you to get dressed.”
Dressed? Synne glanced down to find that she was still naked. She hadn’t even thought about that as the others rushed into the chamber. Synne took the clothes Helena held out for her and began to put them on. But her gaze returned to Lachlan. She struggled to hear the words Malene and Armir exchanged, but she couldn’t make them out.
“Tell me what happened?” Helena urged.
Synne shrugged. “I woke to find the bed empty. Then I saw Avis. Well, she still looked like me, but she was standing in the room.”
“That can’t be possible,” Jarin said from his position guarding the door. “She was imprisoned.”
Synne shook her head helplessly. “She said something about someone freeing her.”
Armir’s head jerked to Jarin. No words were exchanged in that heartbeat. Jarin bowed his head, and with a glance at Helena, the warrior quietly left the chamber. Synne was torn. She wanted to go with Jarin so she could do something instead of standing there powerless to do anything but watch. But the idea of leaving Lachlan made her physically ill.
“Go on,” Helena said.
Synne wanted to refuse, to tell the witch to leave her alone, but Synne also knew that everyone needed information, down to the tiniest detail that could unravel this current mystery. She swallowed and drew in a deep breath while she closed her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was relive everything that had happened, but she didn’t have a choice.
“Lachlan and I spent the day alone. We fell asleep in each other’s arms, but something woke me. I reached for him because I was cold. When I couldn’t feel him, I opened my eyes to find the bed empty. I sat up to look for him and saw him lying there.” Her eyes opened, remembering how he had looked at her with steady eyes filled with pain—but conviction, as well. “I saw the arrow sticking out of his chest and started to go to him. That’s when Avis stepped out of the shadows and told me to remain where I was.”
Helena took Synne’s hands in hers. “You’re doing good. I know this is hard.”
With as much detail as possible, Synne recounted the rest of the story, right up until the door had opened to reveal the others.
“None of this makes sense,” Helena said, more to herself than anyone else. “How could Avis just disappear? From Blackglade?”
Synne pulled her hands from Helena’s and walked toward Lachlan. Malene sat on her haunches with her hands over Lachlan with the blue radiance glowing from both hands. Still, Lachlan didn’t move.
Synne wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold to her very bones. “Why isn’t he opening his eyes?”
“We’re working,” Armir said.
Malene blew out a breath and lowered her hands to her thighs, then looked at Synne. “Avis used arrows to strike Lachlan
, which made me believe it was a simple matter of removing them and healing the wounds.”
“Avis used magic, as well,” Synne guessed.
Malene nodded once. “She took Edra’s magic that was meant to kill witches and altered it before adding her own.”
“Altered it how?”
“To kill someone without magic. Specifically, Lachlan,” Armir answered.
Synne’s knees buckled as she crumpled to the floor next to her love. This couldn’t be happening. He was the wielder of a sword that held a bone of the First Witch. He was in Blackglade, protected from anyone from the Coven. They were safe.
Her throat clogged with emotion, and it took her three tries before she was able to get any words out. “Can you save him?” she asked Malene.
“Nothing I’m doing is making a dent. The magic within him is acting like a poison, infecting his blood, bones, and organs.”
In other words, he was slowly dying, and there wasn’t a damn thing Synne could do about it.
Or was there?
Synne jumped to her feet and went to the other side of the bed where Lachlan had set his sword. When she didn’t find it, she began tearing apart the room.
“What are you doing?” Armir asked.
She ripped the linens from the bed and lifted the mattress. “Looking for Lachlan’s sword.”
In less than a second, Armir joined her as Helena went to Malene and helped her. It didn’t take long for Synne and Armir to realize that, somehow, Avis had gotten the sword, as well.
Fury replaced Synne’s fear. Someone within Blackglade’s walls had not only freed Avis but had also allowed the witch to get Lachlan’s sword. And Synne was going to find out who it was.
She turned to Armir, but before she could even get any words out, the Commander said, “I know. You don’t need to say it. I’m going to find out who freed Avis.”
“You should find Elin. She might know what kind of magic her sister used. It could stop whatever’s happening to Lachlan,” Helena said.
Malene pinned Armir with a steely look. “Bring Elin to me. I’d like to question her.”
