Braen rose to his feet, his finger and thumb stroking his chin, his eyes piercing.
She put her hands behind her head, puzzled. What was he up to?
He turned on his heel and left.
Sitting up, she watched him walk away. “Where are you going?” Panic shot through her.
He stopped and winked at her. Then went to the corner with all her various materials. “Are these magical too?” He picked up a few bolts of cloth.
“Aye.”
“Good.” Rummaging through the material, he finally straightened, his back facing her. Drucilla heard a loud rip and she tried to peer around the pink bed curtains to see what he was doing.
He turned with an arm hiding behind his back. Every step he took closer to her caused a brighter purple energy to radiate from him. He stood, looking down at her with lust in his eyes. The iridescent light floated into her, revitalizing her soul with unquenchable desire.
“Lie down and close your eyes,” he ordered.
She grinned and obeyed, her mouth suddenly dry. The rustling of clothes came from the side of the bed, and she itched to peek at his glorious, hard body.
“Put your hands behind your head, the way you were before,” he ordered in a low, husky tone. “That’s it. I like to see your beautiful breasts raised up.”
She felt his weight lean on the bed, and then a moist tongue flick her nipple, sending millions of lightening bolts straight to her groin.
“Hmm, lovely,” he said, his voice washing over her like warm honey.
She went to open her eyes.
“Uh-uh. Keep them closed.”
Drucilla stretched her body; her skin tingled with increased anticipation, her breasts jiggled, her nipples raised wanting to be touched.
Unexpectedly, the smooth feel velvet fabric glided across her stomach along with the pressure of Braen’s warm fingertips. He made a trail up the side of her body and glided down the valley between her breasts. Passing over her abdomen, the sensual material seared a path down her leg until he finished at the tips of her toes. She sighed with the erotic, cool feel of the cloth against her body.
He ran his hand over every inch of her flesh, avoiding her most sensitive parts that ached for his attention.
Around the outside of her breasts, he circled with the velvet and blew hot breath across the erect peaks. His rough-skinned hands traced a path down her arm and entwined his hand with hers. He lightly kissed her lips—his tongue entered her mouth and danced with hers. His essence mingled with hers, hot and moist.
She arched against him, enjoying the different textures against her skin. Soft, hard, gentle and coarse, she craved for him to touch her swollen breasts, to touch her slippery loins. She rubbed her legs together, and her damp flesh pulsated with need, causing her to groan.
The soft velvet material wrapped around his hand ran over her nipples, back and forth, the feathery sensation engulfing her whole body. She twisted and writhed on the bed, wanting more, needing more.
His hand lowered to her mound, and she opened her legs as he dipped the material over her quivering bud. It felt deliciously unusual as it slid up and down her slit. She arched against his hand, moaning. He placed two fingers on her entrance, and she tipped her hips so he could enter her. In and out, his long fingers plunged, filling her aching core while he massaged the cloth onto her receptive center.
Blood rushed through her veins, her senses threatening to overflow with pleasure. His soft lips closed over her nipple, suckling it into his warm mouth.
Sheer ecstasy cascaded through her being. Taking a deep breath, she screamed, her insides pulsing with abandonment.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her in wonder.
“You are magnificent,” he said.
Releasing her hands from behind her head, she pushed him onto his back. He chuckled low in his throat and threw his hands up. The hard contours of his muscular length beckoned her appreciation.
“Your turn,” she said.
Excitement bubbled beneath her breasts when she twisted around and lay across his leg, her mouth only a breath away from his glorious erection. “I wanted to do this the first time I saw you naked at the inn.”
“Do what?” he urged, a knowing grin on his face.
Grabbing the base, she licked the length of his shaft all the way to the satin tip. He groaned and closed his eyes. The purple mist thickened in color, and she absorbed the energy as if she were the one pleasured.
God’s wounds that feels wondrous.
This time she opened her mouth and glided his member past her lips, filling her mouth. She sucked on the virile source of his masculinity, running her tongue around the smooth ridges. The erotic power she held over him sizzled within, along with the violet sexual energy dripping from his body while she pleasured his cock in her mouth.
She enjoyed watching his face squeeze and release, hearing his moans. With the black velvet still wrapped around his hand, he held it to his nose and inhaled. She groaned, aroused by his filthy mind.
Flicking the tip with her tongue, she rose and straddled his hips.
“Do you like my scent?” she asked, her gaze devouring his hooded eyes. His wispy brown hair fell over his brow making him look almost boyish and devilishly handsome.
“Aye,” he answered, “Delicious.”
She slowly lowered herself onto his long, engorged flesh. It filled her completely, merging their bodies together as one. Resisting the urge to writhe, she remained still, allowing the flow of their mutual sexual energy to satisfy her soul, enhancing her powers. She was speechless, never had she felt so complete—so emotional.
The muscles in his arms flexed when he placed his hands on her hips and rocked her back and forth. Each movement brought with it intolerable divine pleasure, driving her mind beyond this world and into a state of euphoria.
She gritted her teeth and braced herself for ultimate bliss.
“This is how a sorceress takes a wizard,” she growled in a primitive voice she did not recognize and grinded her hips down on him, possessively working his shaft with her slick inner core.
He tilted his head back and groaned. She thrashed about in torment, finding her final threshold while he shuddered and poured his seed into her.
They both released a sigh of satisfaction when she collapsed beside him. He opened his arms, and she snuggled to his side, resting her head on his chest.
Drucilla glanced outside the large arched windows. Darkness found its way into the chamber; the sun had rested for the day. She wanted to capture this moment forever, the musky scent of Braen and the contented feel of her body. It would be the only thing she held close to her heart when she traveled back to hell.
A single tear escaped her eye and traveled down her cheek to land on Braen’s chest. He tilted her chin up to face him and kissed her on the lips.
“The day has not yet ended,” he said with compassionate eyes.
She shied away from him. “’Tis no use.”
“Drucilla, I need to tell you why the ritual did not work.”
A black shadow creped along the walls, dousing the flame in the fireplace. Braen visibly shivered. “Why is it cold all of a sudden?”
Drucilla jerked her head up; her realization was as icy as the chamber. “Mother is here!”
Chapter Fourteen
“Where is she?” Braen asked as they both leaped up from the bed and hastily dressed.
“Judging by the thinness of the shadows, she is downstairs.” Drucilla bent down and placed her feet into soft slippers.
After strapping a sword to his side, Braen walked around the bed and grabbed both her shoulders. “Stay here.”
“My father is down there,” she said.
“Your brothers will protect him.”
“And who will protect you?”
He turned his head as if he did not want to answer. His brow crinkled in thought when he faced her. “Where is Merlin’s staff?”
“It was left in the solar
, but if you touch it, the palace will disappear along with everyone else in it.” She reached up on her toes and kissed his lips, endeared that he wanted to protect her. “Besides, she will not harm me. She needs me alive until the sun rises.”
Entwining his hands in hers, he nodded and they ran into the darkened hallway and down the long staircase. The extinguished wall candles left the palace in an eerie darkness.
They just arrived at the bottom of the stairs when she heard her father groan in pain.
“Father!” She ran to him and cradled his head. Drucilla could barely make out the blood that matted the blond hair on his forehead. She waved her hand and flames returned to the candles and fireplaces throughout the palace.
“I am all right,” he returned roughly, trying to get to his feet. “I shall kill that—”
“Father, you mustn’t anger her,” Drucilla pleaded. “She is too powerful.”
Braen ran ahead and her heart filled with dread.
“Father, please stay here.” He went to use the wall to support himself, but fell back to the floor.
“Aye, I will stay.”
Drucilla raced to the solar to find Callum wildly flaying about in the air and Tremayne pinned to a chair, struggling to release his hands.
“Give me the horn,” Tremayne growled.
Torella stood in a red glimmering gown, a black horn held in place by a golden chain wrapped around her waist. “I think not,” Torella answered, “This horn will allow me to break the protection barrier around Gleich Castle, and now that I finally have the potion completed…”
“The Celtic witches will not let you harm my daughter,” Tremayne retorted.
“They could try to stop me,” she responded with a conceited smirk.
Braen ran past her with a goblet of water.
“Ah, the wizard finally joins us,” Torella purred. “Bringing a drink? Has my daughter made you the palace servant?”
Braen stood near Tremayne, flicked the edges of the gold chalice and the water turned to ash as he poured it over Tremayne’s hands, releasing the invisible hold.
“Drucilla!” her mother called. “Bring me Merlin’s staff and let us show these foolish men what two sorceress’ can do.”
Drucilla went to the wall where the staff was propped.
“Nae, do not give her the power,” Braen warned.
Torella was about to lift her hand in his direction when Drucilla blocked her mother’s view.
“Come to me,” she commanded. “Let me use your powers combined with the staff.”
“Nae,” Drucilla said. From the corner of her eye, she saw Braen go to Callum and throw the ash at his feet. Her brother tumbled down to the marble floor.
“Nae?” Torella repeated, her eyes swirled blood red.
Drucilla shifted uneasily, her palms sweating, but she held her head high. “I will not do your bidding.”
“Ungrateful lass.” Torella stepped closer, intimidating her. “If not for your soul, I would have killed you when seizing your first breath.”
Pain clenched her heart, but she fought back the tears. “Perhaps you should have, but I am here now, and I still have the eve. If you do not leave, I will break this staff and trap you here forever.”
“You would not dare.”
Drucilla gulped. “I have naught to lose.”
Torella stood close to her, her eyes glared at her with venom. “If you want to be trapped with these men then so be it.” She waved her hand and Drucilla tightly shut her eyes, waiting for the pain.
When she opened them, the sorceress had vanished, leaving the air light and free.
Braen gathered her trembling form into his arms, comforting her.
“What did I miss?” her father asked from the doorway, swaying on his feet.
Callum ran to him and Drucilla waved her hand, producing an overstuffed chair for her father.
Her brother placed his hand on Phillip’s wounded head and said, “I call upon my Celtic ancestors to help me heal…”
Callum’s face turned pale.
“What is wrong?” Drucilla asked.
“My powers, they do not work,” he answered. “I feel no heat radiating from my hands.”
Tremayne waved his hand at a sword lying on the ground and it did not move. “I have lost my powers too.”
Braen turned to Drucilla. “I feel different as well, weaker.”
“Dear Gods.” Tremayne rushed to the front door and went to go outside when his body thrust back by an unseen power. “She has trapped us and bound our powers.”
A hand touched her shoulder and she turned to find Braen looking at her. “You still have your powers, otherwise, the palace would be gone and the sorceress would be trapped as well.”
They all stared at her.
“I have got to get out of here,” Tremayne’s voice rose. “She will go after my daughter to use her powers.”
“I do not understand,” Drucilla said.
Callum answered, “Rhiannon has the blood of a Celtic witch and a sorcerer. Good and evil united as one. The baby’s power is stronger than anyone could imagine. If Torella ever captures Rhiannon, not only will she be in danger, but the world will darken under Torella’s wickedness.”
“You can still transport,” Tremayne accused. “Take us back to Gleich Castle.”
Drucilla backed away from his fierce desperation, shaking her head. “I… I cannot.”
“You must, she will kill my wife to get to my daughter!” He shook her shoulders roughly.
Braen pushed him away. “If she leaves the mountain, she will die.”
Tremayne released a raw growl of frustration and turned his back. “I knew I should not have left them.”
“There has got to be another way,” Callum said and bowed his head, trying to ram his way through the door only to find himself thrown clear against the wall. He moaned, rubbing his lower back.
Tension tightened within the air. She had to do something.
“I will take you back,” she whispered and lowered her eyes with hopelessness.
“Nae, I forbid it,” Braen strode back to her.
She forced herself to look at him. “I shall die on the morrow anyway. I may as well be of use before I go.”
“We could still find a way to save you,” Braen offered, his tone full of the same hope she had lost.
Drucilla shook her head. “I have a niece.” She swallowed, her eyes watering. “I need to try.”
Callum gave her a hug. “There is a chance that Torella lied to you about leaving the mountain.”
“Aye, she would have said anything to keep you under her control,” Tremayne added.
Drucilla nodded, but did not feel comforted by their words.
“Are you all insane?” Braen said. “You are asking her to kill herself.”
“Drucilla.” From the chair, Phillip raised his hand, and she ran to him, kneeling at his feet. “This is a decision you should not make lightly.”
“I know.” She stared up at Braen. “I want to help… my family.”
Standing, she walked into Braen’s opened arms and then kissed him lightly on the lips. With her fingers entwined with his and Merlin’s staff under her arm, she went to her father and held his hand. “Tremayne and Callum, join hands with us.”
Tremayne sadly mouthed the words, thank you, and she nodded. The sound of her heart deafened her ears as icy fear snaked through her body. Braen squeezed her sweaty palm and she memorized his face into her mind.
Bowing her head, she said aloud, “Take us to Gleich Castle.”
Chapter Fifteen
Torella appeared outside the protection barrier of lily flowers that grew through the snow. In the distance, lights twinkled at Gleich Castle and the village below. She glanced at the bright full moon while a cold breeze whistled through the surrounding white forest.
She reached her hand out, and the tips of her fingers burned. No evil could pass the border… that was until now. She smiled with anticipation and pull
ed Silas’ black horn from her golden belt. Crouching down, she touched the tip of the horn to the edge of the flowers surrounding the keep. The petals on the white lilies curled and blackened as if burned by fire.
The spell was broken.
She stepped over the dead flowers, their weak petals crunching under her ebony boots. Triumph pursed her mouth. She closed her eyes and thought of her granddaughter.
Her body reappeared in the upper level chamber in the castle. The deserted room was filled with the tender energy of her son and that Celtic witch he married. There was an unfamiliar scent to the room. A sweet aroma she had not smelled since Drucilla was born.
The scent of a baby.
She rubbed her chilled hands together and walked over to a small wooden crib adorned with iron Celtic symbols. Lying asleep was a sweet baby girl with long eyelashes and tight curls, as black as her own hair. Plump, rosy cheeks moved as the baby sucked on her thumb in her sleep.
“Greetings, Rhiannon. I have sacrificed much for you,” she cooed and bent over the crib. Gathering the bundle into her arms, she lifted the sleepy baby into the air. Her little blue eyes fluttered opened and stared down at her with confusion.
“I am your grandmother, but if you call me that, I will chop off your thumbs.”
Rhiannon giggled.
Against Torella’s will, a smile formed on her lips. “You will take the world, and I will be there to see it divide into darkness.”
Tucking Rhiannon into the crook of her arm, she retrieved a metal vial from her pocket and uncorked the lid using her teeth. A disgusting sour odor wafted up her nose, and she held the potion away from her. “Worry not, wee lass. This is not going to hurt.”
Gurgling sounds came from Rhiannon as she kicked her legs and held her pudgy hands out for the bottle.
She tipped the vial and a silver drop fell onto the baby’s forehead and disappeared. A sigh of relief broke from Torella’s lips, and she replaced Rhiannon in her crib. “We will be together again after you have seen twenty winters.”
“Get away from her!” a female’s distraught voice interrupted her serene moment.
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