by Jane Godman
Lorcan regarded her thoughtfully. “It’s understandable to be nervous, but I’m here and Cal isn’t far away. This is a bit of scene setting. We’re whetting Moncoya’s appetite. Letting him see there might be a way in so that he can get you on his side. I hope to God it goes okay. It took long enough to persuade the big feller, I doubt he’ll agree to a repeat performance if this one goes awry.”
Stella supposed it was a hierarchical thing that made Lorcan refer to his friend as “the big feller.” He and Cal were of similar height and build, although on close inspection Cal might be considered more muscular. Lorcan seemed naturally to defer to Cal’s authority, and it was obvious that Cal was the stronger of the two in terms of his magical ability. Where do I fit into the ranks? Or am I the one in the firing line?
They reached the entrance to the indoor market now. “Carmarthen is the oldest town in Wales and, as long as there has been a settlement here, people have gathered to trade,” Lorcan said as they followed the flow of people inside. “They rebuilt the market hall recently, but I preferred it as it used to be centuries past.”
Stella didn’t have time to ask him what he meant by that since they were immediately swallowed up into the press of shoppers who wandered the narrow aisles. On each side of them traders offered a dizzying array of foodstuffs, antiques, jewelry and crafts. Lorcan’s long strides took them into the center of the thoroughfare, and Stella hurried to keep up with the rapid pace he was setting.
She became aware of Cal on the periphery of her vision, and the sensation conjured up conflicting emotions within her. As always, it was comforting to know he was there. He had been right when he said to Lorcan that protecting Stella was what he did. As far as Stella was concerned, it was what he had always done. But things between them had changed and she didn’t want to go back to a time when he was just a shadowy image halfway between her imagination and reality. She wished she knew what Cal was thinking. Could he bear for their relationship to go back to the way it had been? Was that his intention when this was all over? Or would he move on and be someone else’s protector once he had seen the prophecy through to its end? Something hard and hurtful lodged in her throat at the thought and she swallowed hard to get rid of it.
They paused in front of a craft stall and Stella made a cursory inspection of the handmade cards and bookmarks that were on display. Lorcan lounged beside her, arms folded across his chest, back to the stall and his eyes on the people around them.
“Showtime.” His voice was close to her ear. “And you are honored. We are in the presence of sidhe royalty.”
Stella glanced around to see what he meant. The two young women who stood at the nearby stall that was across the market aisle would have been remarkable in any setting. In this everyday scene, they were breathtaking. With their graceful, elfin beauty, they were strikingly similar and yet uniquely individual. Each was about Stella’s own height—which, based on her admittedly limited experience, she imagined was tall for a sidhe. Both were possessed of the sort of lily-pale, flawless complexion that would have cosmetics firms gnashing their teeth. They were blondes, but, while the one who stood slightly closer to Stella and Lorcan had her dark gold hair cut in a short, spiky style, the other wore her long locks in an intricate plait hanging almost to her waist. Stella couldn’t see their eye color, but she was willing to bet they had the familiar sidhe ring of fire around their irises. The girl with the short hair wore a serviceable outfit of leggings, boots and thigh-length tunic. Her clothes were an indication that she meant business, Stella decided with a shudder. The other was clothed in a gauzy, layered dress that would not have looked out of place at a 1920s dinner party. Stella was torn between incredulity and a brief pang of envy. Even so, she sensed that the vibe from this girl was more dangerous than from the other. It was a powerful statement. I can look this good and still take you.
“Who are they?” Stella whispered to Lorcan.
“Tanzi and Vashti. Moncoya’s twin daughters.” He grinned. “If Daddy gets his way, you’ll be their new stepmom.”
“Don’t even think about making jokes in connection with this situation.”
“Believe me, Stella, those two are no laughing matter. Vashti tries to look tough while Tanzi, as you can see, prefers the ‘butter wouldn’t melt approach.’ In reality they are both highly skilled and equally deadly warriors. Moncoya sent them to train with Valkyries when they were just six years old. Either one of them would be a match for me in hand-to-hand combat.” At Stella’s look of alarm, he added reassuringly, “I don’t think they’ll try a full-on attack while they don’t know where Cal is. He’s the one they fear.”
The short-haired sidhe stared directly at Stella and addressed a few words to her companion. The other girl turned to look, as well. It was like being caught in the twin glare of two very powerful sets of headlights. “I know that should make me feel a whole lot better. I’m not sure why it doesn’t. What now?”
Lorcan had been scanning the market stalls around them. “I can’t see any other sidhes. Mind you, those two are powerful enough not to need any support. Just wander off but try to make it look furtive, like you’re trying to sneak away from me. Don’t worry. Even though I’ll look like I’m not aware of what you’re doing, I’ve got your back.”
Stella didn’t answer. Instead, in an attempt to get into character, she gave him a dirty look and hunched her shoulder before turning her back on him. She caught the very faint sound of Cal’s whispered words, “Well done. Go for it.” Requiring no further encouragement, she edged away from Lorcan along the front of the craft stall.
Following Lorcan’s instructions by casting a few surreptitious glances over her shoulder in his direction, she made her way to the next stall. She was conscious of the two sidhe princesses moving closer. It made her feel claustrophobic. The stall sold secondhand books and she picked one or two up, flipping absentmindedly through the pages. Suddenly, her gaze became fixed. All thought of sidhes and prophecies were briefly forgotten. The book she held in her hand was a very old, tattered volume. Embossed in worn gold lettering on the front cover were the words Merlin—The Man behind the Legend.
“How much is this?” She held the book out to the vendor, cursing the fact that she had only coins in her pocket. Her strange new lifestyle didn’t include much need for cash.
The man squinted over the top of his glasses at the book and then at Stella. “That old thing? Been lying here gathering dust for as long as I can remember. Tell you what. You buy a couple of these old thrillers for a quid and I’ll throw in that book and a carrier bag for nothing. Can’t say fairer than that, can I?”
Stella scrabbled around for the right change among the coins in her pocket. How had she managed to lose the ability to count out money in such a short space of time? She could no longer sense Cal on the edge of her vision and that troubled her. What she could see instead was that there was now only one stall between her and Tanzi and Vashti. Thrusting the money into the vendor’s outstretched hand and grabbing the bag containing the books in exchange, she muttered a word of thanks and moved on.
Casting one of her fake covert glances over her shoulder in Lorcan’s direction, she saw him bearing down on her with a frown on his face. The two sidhes were only feet away now. Close enough to hear everything they said? Lorcan obviously thought so.
“I thought we agreed you’d stick with me?”
“No, you ordered me to stay with you. I don’t remember agreeing to anything. I don’t remember having a choice. In any of this.” Stella spat the words at him, forcing herself to speak louder than she would normally and to enunciate clearly. It really was like being back on the stage at school.
Close by, Tanzi pretended to show Vashti a knitted tea cozy. Somehow Stella couldn’t picture Moncoya’s daughters using such a mundane domestic item. Vashti, on the other hand, gave up any pretense and ignored her sister as she openly watched the
byplay between Stella and Lorcan.
“Look, Stella, if you want to get yourself killed that’s your choice. But I promised I’d watch out for you and I’m not going to risk the big feller’s temper just because you decide to take your bad mood out on me by going off on your own.”
“I’m tired of telling you, and him, that I don’t need either of you.”
Other people were starting to look at them now. They’d discussed this eventuality. Cal didn’t want any innocent bystanders caught in the middle if the sidhes decided to attack. Even worse would be the possibility of Cal or Stella being identified as the couple the police were still looking for in connection with the airport incident. As they had rehearsed, Stella turned on her heel and stomped away from Lorcan. He followed her as she stormed out of the market hall and into the bright sunlight of the street outside. Making sure that Lorcan was close behind her, Stella swung sharply right and into a narrow lane of Tudor-style buildings.
“Stella, wait!”
She ignored him, but glanced behind her to check on the whereabouts of Tanzi and Vashti. Walking purposefully now, the two sidhes came around the corner close behind Lorcan. They would be upon him within the minute.
“Now, Cal,” she murmured and it was as if he heard her. No sooner had she spoken than he was approaching her from the opposite end of the lane.
To an onlooker, Stella was effectively trapped between the two men. The sidhe princesses shrank back against the wall of a house, apparently having discovered something riveting on Vashti’s phone. The loathing and fury emanating from them in Cal’s direction was tangible. It was tempered only slightly by a single measuring glance of fear that Tanzi gave him as she looked up once from her sister’s screen. Enjoy the show, ladies. It’s all for your benefit. Stella had time for that single thought before she was caught back up in the carefully staged performance.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing out here on your own?” Cal played his part to perfection. Eyes narrowed, shoulders back, nostrils flaring. The picture of enraged alpha maleness.
“Trying to get a few minutes of peace and quiet away from the babysitter,” Stella said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder to indicate Lorcan. She hoped she had managed to infuse enough bitterness into her tone. “It didn’t work.”
“Sorry, Cal.” Lorcan joined them. “She got away from me.”
“Which speaks volumes about your usefulness.” Cal dismissed Lorcan with a single phrase and turned back to Stella. “I wouldn’t have let you come out today if I’d known you were going to throw your toys out of the baby carriage.”
“You wouldn’t have let me out? Am I your prisoner now, is that it?” Stella decided to go for the full hands-on-hips effect. Even though she had to throw her head back to look up at Cal, she wanted to give the sidhes the impression that she was standing up to him. Giving him a hard time.
“Stella, we’ve been through this. Over and over. You know what the danger is...”
“I know what you tell me the danger is, Cal. In reality, the only times I’ve been in any peril are when I’m with you. Until I met you I had a good job, a roof over my head and none of this prophecy crap. Now I’m living in a cave with you watching my every move and I can’t even go out without the nursemaid here following me everywhere.” She drew in a deep breath. “Well, you know what? I’ve had enough. Find yourself some other birdbrain and convince her she’s the one who’s going to save the world.”
Stella made a movement as if to whirl away from him, but Cal caught her by her upper arms and pulled her hard against his chest. Her eyes opened wide at the reminder of his incredible strength, and he relaxed his hold slightly.
“I can’t let you do that. Like it or not, you’re staying with me.”
Lorcan came up on Stella’s other side and the two men took an arm each. Stella dug her heels in slightly, like a puppy trying to resist the leash. She did a quick check that the sidhes were still in earshot. “You might be able to force me to go with you this time, but I’ll get away from you the first chance I get.”
Cal and Lorcan propelled her up the lane. A final check as they rounded a corner revealed that Tanzi and Vashti had already gone.
Chapter 15
“Nursemaid, is it? Babysitter?” Lorcan’s blue eyes were alight with laughter. “You’ve got yourself a feisty one here, Cal my friend, and no mistake.”
Lorcan was preparing to go and apprehension hung heavy in the atmosphere. The Irishman’s departure signaled the unspoken reality that Stella and Cal must soon leave the bower in his wake.
Cal grasped Lorcan’s hand. “We can count on you? You’ll be there?”
“You know it.” Lorcan turned to Stella, drawing her into a brief hug that Cal feared might crush her ribs. “See you in Otherworld, me darlin’ girl.”
The words made her shiver and, as she watched Lorcan walk through the trees until he was out of sight, Cal could see her mood lowering. She was holding a plastic bag and she placed it on the ground near the cave entrance. Its bright colors made a garish splash against the natural forest shades, and Cal raised a brow at her.
“I didn’t realize you’d actually had time to indulge in some retail therapy today as well as street theater.”
She smiled. “Books. You know, in case I have nothing better to do with my time while I’m in Otherworld.”
He went to sit on a flat rock close to the fire and held out a hand to her. “Come here.”
When Stella came to him, he drew her down to sit on his lap and she melted into him. Her lips were warm as they brushed his. Just before rational thought deserted him, Cal decided that moments like this should be allowed to last forever. And forever meant more to him than it did to anyone else. The world should not be able to intrude. Stella shifted position so that she could press herself closer against him. His mouth became more insistent, but Stella needed no persuasion. Her lips parted beneath his instantly, urgently. The first touch of her tongue exploring his mouth sent a jolt pulsing through him that was halfway to orgasm. A hungry moan escaped him. Cal slid his hands inside her shirt and traced the ridges of her spine with the tips of his fingers.
Dark clouds above the trees were draining the sunlight from the sky and the first big splatters of rain penetrated the leafy canopy. Cal ignored the downpour, his lips continuing to claim Stella’s. His hands possessed her body, moving to stroke her neck and breasts, teasing her nipples with a featherlight touch, dipping behind and into her jeans to trace the cleft of her buttocks.
“Cal?” Stella was quivering desperately.
“Hmm?” He had undone the top buttons of her shirt and was holding it open so that he could run his tongue along her collarbone.
“Can we go inside now?”
He rose and pulled her to her feet. “You’re shivering. Let’s get you out of the rain.”
“What rain?” She grabbed his hand and dragged him with her into the cave, lighting their way as she went. “I want to see you,” she explained. “I don’t want to miss a second.”
Even through the fog of his own desire, Cal sensed the desperation behind her words and knew it was because the time for parting was near. Their clothes, torn off along the way, littered a path along the cave floor to the bed. Falling together onto the soft mattress, they teased and stroked and fanned the fires of wanting and needing until they were both panting.
Cal couldn’t get enough of watching Stella in the heat of their passion. Her mouth was parted, her lips slightly swollen from the intensity of their kisses. She returned his gaze, her eyes bright with the urgency of her need for him. There were other emotions as well in their emerald depths. He could see the raw depth of her feelings for him and knew how complete her trust in him was. For once he did not shy away from the reality of her need. How could he? Her eyes were a mirror of his own.
He closed his eyes
and pressed his lips to hers. The firmness of his mouth just grazing the softness of Stella’s caused his whole body to stiffen. She turned her head and fitted herself to him, and he pressed his lips harder to hers with a low growl of satisfaction. Stella sighed as their tongues danced in time together. Unable to wait any longer, Cal moved between her legs and hooked his hands under her knees, pulling her closer to him.
Bringing her legs up over his shoulders, he positioned himself so that the head of his cock was just grazing her entrance. It was all Cal could do to stay in control and stop himself from plunging into her. Because he wanted this to be slow, he didn’t follow his raging desire to ram straight into her welcoming warmth. Instead, he slid slowly forward, penetrating her inch by inch. As he began to move, his thick shaft opened her farther. It was like sliding into molten heat. His hips moved between her legs, pushing her thighs wider apart. Stella gripped his shoulders, throwing her head back. Her soft cries spurred him on and he began to thrust faster. Stella’s hips slammed up from the mattress in response. She was so hot and wet, gripping him so tightly.
Cal kept up the new rhythm of steady, fast thrusts. Stella slid her hands down to grip his buttocks, urging him on. Their bodies slammed hard together, both of them gasping now, staring into each other’s eyes as they neared their peak. His cock felt like granite as he drove into her. Stella gave a cry as she met each forward movement, and Cal felt his body begin to spiral into tightly wound ecstasy.
The first hot, thick spurt shot high up inside Stella. That sensation sent her over the edge as well, and she clenched her inner muscles even tighter around him, deepening his explosion. Cal groaned, his cock jerking wildly. Stella’s hands locked onto his shoulders, as her back arched and her breasts pressed into his chest. She wedged her body tight against his so that every part of them from groin to neck was welded together. They both writhed and trembled and were left limp in the wake of the enormity of the climax that ripped through them.
