by Nora Roberts
“Romantic.”
“I suppose it was. With the rain that would come before dawn just beginning to scent the air, and the thin slice of moon very white against the sky. There’s a mystery to him I keep wanting to pick at until I find the pieces of it.”
“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t find him fascinating,” Glenna said. They both knew what she hadn’t said. He wasn’t. He wasn’t human.
“He was being all stiff, the way he can be with me, and it was irritating. And well, I’ll admit, challenging. At the same time…It comes in me sometimes, when I’m with him. The way knowledge does, or magic. Something rising.”
She pressed a hand to her belly, then drew it upward toward her heart. “Just…pulling up from the center of me. I never had strong feelings, in this way, for a man. Little flutters of them, you know? Comfortable and interesting, but not strong and hot. There’s something about him that compels me. He’s so…”
“Sexy,” Glenna finished. “At the outrageous level.”
“I wanted to know if it would be like it had been the other time, the only time, when we’d both been so angry and he’d taken hold of me. I told him to do it again, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
She cocked her head now, as if puzzling it out. “Do you know, I think I made him nervous. Seeing him flustered a bit, and trying not to be, that was as intoxicating to me as the wine had been.”
“God yes.” On a long breath, Glenna picked up her tea. “It would be.”
“And when he kissed me it was like the other time, only more. Because I was waiting for it. For that moment, he was as much caught as I was. I knew it.”
“What are you looking for from him, Moira?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps just that heat, just that power. That pleasure. Is it wrong?”
“I can’t say.” But it worried her. “He’d never be able to give you more. You have to understand that. He wouldn’t stay here, and even if he did, for a time, you could never have a life with him. You’re stepping onto dangerous ground.”
“Every day from now till Samhain is dangerous ground. I know what you’re saying is good, solid sense, but still in my mind and heart I want. I need to let them both settle a bit before I know what should be done about it next. But I do know that I don’t want to go into battle stepping back from this only because I’m afraid of what it could be, or what it couldn’t.”
After a moment’s debate, Glenna sighed. “It may be good solid sense, but I very much doubt I’d take my own advice if I were in your place.”
Reaching over, Moira took Glenna’s hand. “It helps, being able to talk to another woman. Just to be able to say what’s in my mind and heart to another woman.”
In another part of Geall, in a house shrouded against even the weak and watery light, two other females sat and talked.
It was the end of their day, not the beginning, but they shared a quiet meal.
Quiet because the man they were draining was beyond protest or struggle.
“You were right.” Lora leaned back, delicately dabbing blood from her lips with a linen cloth. The man had been chained to the table between them as Lilith wanted her injured companion to sit, to eat, rather than lie in bed and sip from cups. “Getting up, having a civilized kill was what I needed.”
“There, you see.” Pleased, Lilith smiled.
Lora’s face was still badly burned. The holy water that bitch of a demon hunter had hurled at her had wreaked terrible damage. But Lora was healing, and the good fresh meal would help her get her strength back.
“I wish you’d eat a little more though.”
“I will. You’ve been so good to me, Lilith. And I failed you.”
“You didn’t. It was a good plan, and nearly worked. It’s you who paid such a high price for it. I can’t stand to think of the pain you were in.”
“I would have died without you.”
They had been lovers and friends, competitors and adversaries. They had been everything to each other for four centuries. But Lora’s injuries, the near end of her, had brought them closer than they’d ever been.
“Until you were hurt, I didn’t know how much I loved and needed you. Here now, sweetheart, just a little more.”
Lora obeyed, taking the man’s limp arm, sinking her fangs into the wrist.
Before the burns, she’d been pretty, a youthful blonde with a swaggering style. Now her face was raw and red, riddled with half-healed wounds. But the glassy glaze of pain had faded from her blue eyes, and her voice was coming back strong again.
“It was wonderful, Lilith.” She sat back again. “But I just can’t drink another drop.”
“Then I’ll have it taken away, and we’ll sit by the fire for a bit before bed.”
Lilith rang a little gold bell, signaling one of the servants to clear. The leftovers, she knew, would hardly go to waste.
She rose to help Lora across the room where she’d already had pillows and a throw placed on the sofa.
“More comfortable than the caves,” Lilith commented. “But still I’ll be glad to be out of this place, and into proper accommodations.”
She settled Lora before she sat, regal in her red gown, her hair piled high and gold as she’d wanted to add a touch of glamour to the evening.
Her beauty hadn’t diminished in the two thousand years since her death.
“Do you have pain?” she asked Lora.
“No. I feel almost myself. I’m sorry I behaved so childishly yesterday morning, when that bitch flew over on her ridiculous dragon-man. Seeing her again just brought it all flooding back, all the fear, the agony.”
“We gave her a surprise though, didn’t we?” Soothing, Lilith smoothed the throw, tucking it around Lora. “Imagine her shock when her arrows met Midir’s shield. You were right to talk me out of killing him.”
“The next time I see her, I won’t weep and hide under the covers like a frightened child. The next time I see her, she dies, by my hand. I swear it.”
“Do you still have a yearning to change her, for a playmate?”
“I’d never give that whore such a gift.” Lora’s mouth tightened on a snarl. “She’ll get only death from me.” Then with a sigh, Lora laid her head on Lilith’s shoulder. “She would never have been what you are to me. I thought to have a bit of fun with her. And I thought she’d be entertaining for both of us in bed—all that energy and violence inside her was so appealing. But I could never have loved her as I love you.”
She tilted her head up now so their lips met in a long, soft kiss. “I’m yours, Lilith. Eternally.”
“My sweet girl.” Lilith pressed another kiss to Lora’s temple. “Do you know when I first saw you, sitting alone on the dark, damp streets of Paris, weeping, I knew you’d belong to me.”
“I thought I loved a man,” Lora murmured. “And he loved me. But he used me, spurned me, tossed me aside for another. I thought my heart was broken. Then you were there.”
“Do you remember what I said to you?”
“I will never forget. You said, ‘My sweet, sad girl, are you all alone?’ I told you my life was over, that I would be dead of grief by morning.”
Lilith laughed, stroked Lora’s hair. “So dramatic. How could I resist you?”
“Or I you. You were so beautiful—like the queen you are. You wore red, as you do tonight, and your hair so bright, all curls. You took me to your house, and fed me bread and wine, and listened to my sad tale and dried my tears.”
“So young and charming you were. So sure this man who had cast you aside was all you could ever want.”
“I don’t remember his name now. Or his face.”
“You came so willingly into my arms,” Lilith murmured. “I asked if you would wish to stay young and lovely forever, if you would wish to have power over men like the one who hurt you. You said yes, and yes again. Even when I tasted you, you held tight to me and said again, yes and yes.”
Hints of red stained the whites of Lora’s eyes as
she remembered that magnificent moment. “I’d never known such a thrill.”
“When you drank from me, I loved you as I had no other.”
“And when I lived again, you brought him to me, so I could have the one who scorned me for my first kill. We shared him, as we’ve shared so much.”
“When Samhain comes, we will share all there is.”
While the vampires slept, Moira stood on the playing field. She was filthy and drenched. Her hip throbbed from a blow that had slipped past her guard, and her breath was still wheezing out of her lungs from the last bout.
She felt wonderful.
She held out a hand to help Dervil to her feet. “You did very well,” Moira told her. “You nearly had me.”
Wincing, Dervil rubbed her ample rump. “I think not.”
Hands on hips, her head covered with a wide-brimmed and now sodden leather hat, Glenna surveyed both of them. “You stayed on your feet longer this time, and got back on them quicker.” She nodded approval at Dervil. “Improvement. From what I’m told there are several men on the other side of this field that you could take.”
“There are several men on the other side of the field she has taken,” Isleen called out, and got a number of bawdy laughs.
“And I know what to do with them when I take them,” Dervil retorted.
“Put some of that energy into your next match,” Glenna suggested, “and you might win it instead of ending up in the mud. Let’s finish up with some archery practice, and call this a day.”
Even as the women responded with relief that the session was nearly done, Moira waved a hand. “I haven’t yet met Ceara in hand-to-hand. I’ve been saving what I’m told is the best for last. So I can retire full champion from the field.”
“Cocky. I like it.” Blair spoke as she moved through the rain and the mud. “Weapon details moving along,” she added. “We’ve kicked production up a notch.” She tipped back her head. “Let me tell you, this rain feels great after a couple hours with an anvil and forge. So, what’s the score here?”
“Moira’s taken all comers with sword and hand-to-hand. She’s challenged Ceara here to a bout before we finish up with bows.”
“Good enough. I can take a group to the targets while you finish up here.”
There was immediate and vocal protest from the women who were eager to watch the last match.
“Blood-thirsty.” Blair nodded approval. “I like that, too. All right, ladies, give them room. Who’s your money on?” she murmured to Glenna as the two women squared off.
“Moira’s hot, and motivated. She’s just plowed through the field today. I’d have to put my money on her.”
“I’ll take Ceara. She’s tricky, and she’s not afraid to take a hit. See,” she added when Ceara went sprawling facedown in the mud, and sprang up again to charge.
She feinted, pivoting at the last minute, then swept up a foot to catch Moira mid-body. The queen shot back from the hit, managed to catch her balance and duck the next blow. She came up hard, flipped Ceara over her shoulder. But when she spun around, Ceara wasn’t flat on her back, but had pumped off her own hands, and striking out with her feet, kicked Moira into the mud.
Moira was up quickly, and with a light in her eyes. “Well now, your reputation hasn’t been exaggerated, I see.”
“I’m after the prize.” Ceara crouched, circled. “Be warned.”
“Come get it then.”
“Good fight,” Blair commented as fists and feet and bodies flew. “Ceara, keep your elbows up!”
Glenna jabbed Blair with her own. “No coaching from the peanut gallery.” But she was smiling, not just because it was a good, strong fight, but because the rest of the women were shouting and calling out advice.
They’d made themselves a unit.
Moira fell back, scissored out her legs and swept Ceara’s from under her. But when she rolled up again to pin her opponent, Ceara thrust up and flipped Moira over her head.
There were several sounds of sympathy as Moira landed with a bone-rattling thud. Before she could shove up again, Ceara was straddling her, an elbow to Moira’s throat, and a fist to her heart.
“You’re staked.”
“Damn me, I am. Get off me, gods’ pity, you’re crushing my lungs.”
She sucked in breath as she struggled to push her still vibrating body into a sitting position. Ceara simply dropped down to sit in the mud beside her, and the two of them panted and eyed each other.
“You’re a great bitch in battle,” Moira said at length.
“The same to you, with all respect, my lady. I’ve bruises on top of my bruises now, and knots on top of those.”
Moira swiped some of the mud from her face with her forearm. “I wasn’t fresh.”
“That’s true, but I could take you fresh as well.”
“I think you’re right. You won the prize, Ceara, and won it fair. I’m proud to have been bested by you.”
She offered her hand, and after shaking it, raised it high. “Here’s the champion of the hand-to-hand.”
There were cheers, and in the way of women, hugs. But when Ceara offered a hand to help Moira to her feet, Moira waved her off. “I’m just going to sit here another minute, catch my breath. Go on, get your bow. And with that you nor any will best me.”
“It couldn’t be done if we had a thousand years. Your Majesty?”
“Aye? Oh God, I won’t sit easy for a week,” she added, rubbing her sore hip.
“I’ve never been prouder of my queen.”
Moira smiled to herself, then simply sat quiet, taking stock of her aches and pains. Then her gaze was drawn up to the spot where she’d stood with Cian the night before.
And there he was, standing in the gloom and the rain, looking down at her. She could feel the force of him through the distance, the allure he exuded, she thought, as other men never could.
“So what are you looking at?” she said to herself. “Is it amusing to you to see me on my arse in the mud?”
Probably, she decided, and who could blame him? She imagined she made quite the picture.
“We’ll have a match of our own, I’m thinking, sooner or later. Then we’ll see who bests who.”
She pushed herself to her feet, gritted her teeth against the need to limp. So she could walk away steady, and without a backward glance.
Chapter 6
After scraping off an acre of mud, Moira joined the others for a strategy session. She walked in at that tenuous point between discussion and argument.
“I’m not saying you can’t handle yourself.” Larkin’s tone as he addressed Blair had taken on that last ragged edge of patience. “I’m saying Hoyt and I can manage this.”
“And I’m saying three would get it done faster than two.”
“What would that be?” Moira asked.
The answer came from several sources, with steadily rising voices.
“I can’t make much of that out.” She held up a hand for peace as she took her seat at the table. “Am I understanding that we’re after sending a party out to set up a base near the battlefield, scouting as they go?”
“With the first troops moving out behind them, in the morning,” Hoyt finished. “We have locations marked where shelter can be found. Here,” he said, tapping the map spread out on the table. “A day’s march east. Then another, a day’s march from that.”
“But the fact is, with Lilith dug in here.” Blair laid her fist on the map. “She’s taken the advantage of primo location and facilities. We can crisscross our bases, establish a kind of jagged front line. But we need to start moving troops, and we need to secure bases for them before we send them out. Not only along the route, but at the best points near the valley.”
“True enough.” Considering, Moira studied the map. She saw how it was meant to work, with daylight jumps from position to position. “Larkin can cover the distance faster than any—we’d agree on that?”
“The way things are. But if we recruited other dra
gons—”
“Blair, I’ve said that can’t be.”
“Dragons?” Moira held up a hand again to silence Larkin’s interruption. “What do you mean?”
“When Larkin shape-shifts he can communicate, at least on a rudimentary level, with what he becomes,” Blair began.
“Aye. And?”
“So if he calls other dragons when he’s in that form, why couldn’t he convince some of them to follow him—with riders?”
“They’re peaceful, gentle creatures,” Larkin interrupted. “They shouldn’t be drawn into something like this where they could be harmed.”
“Wait, wait.” Rolling it over in her mind, Moira sat back. “Could it be done? I’ve seen some take a baby in as a kind of pet from time to time, but I’ve never heard of anyone riding a full-grown dragon except in stories. If it could be done, it would allow us to travel swiftly, and even by night. And in battle…”
She broke off when she saw Larkin’s expression. “I’m sorry, truly. But we can’t be sentimental about it. The dragon is a symbol of Geall, and Geall needs its symbols. We ask our people, our women, the young ones, the old ones, to fight and to sacrifice. If such a thing could be done, it should be done.”
“I don’t know if it can be.”
Moira knew when Larkin was being mule-headed. “You’ll need to try. We love our horses, too, Larkin,” Moira reminded him. “But we’ll ride them into this. Now, Hoyt, would you tell me plain, is it best for you and Larkin to go on your own, or for the three of you to do this?”
He looked pained. “Well, you’ve put me between the wolf and the tiger, haven’t you? Larkin’s concerned that Blair’s not fully recovered from the attack.”
“I’m good to go,” she insisted, then punched Larkin—not so lightly—in the arm. “Want to go one-on-one with me, cowboy, and find out?”
“Her ribs still pain her by end of day, and the shoulder that was hurt is weak yet.”
“I’ll show you weak.”
“Now, now, children.” Glenna managed to sound light and sarcastic. “I’m going to stick my neck into this. Blair’s fit for duty. Sorry, honey,” she said to Larkin, “but we really can’t keep her on the disabled list.”
