“I know of your connections to the demon,” Alainn accused. “When I was near death I was able to see much of the happenings in and around this castle. I saw you meet with the demon on more than one occasion. I admit I have not fallen upon the entire extent of your iniquitous intentions, but I well know you and the demon and so many others conspire toward a nefarious scheme. I am much aware you will do what you can to thwart my efforts, but I will endeavor to discover the whole truth of your dark deliberation. Mark my words, Thomas Cromwell.”
“I am a holy man; I have entirely no notion of what you speak of. If you suggest you know anything of the presence of demons, I am certain you will one day meet your end at a stake. You would be wise to keep that in mind.”
“And if you believe I am evil in any manner, why then have you not suggested that the king sentence me to a cruel end?”
The man seemed disinclined to continue his ruse or perhaps simply reasoned Alainn would not be swayed from further pursuit no matter what he might say to dissuade her. He smiled evilly and stared at her. His cold eyes caused her to shiver and she rubbed her arms at the sudden chill.
“It has been deemed you will be far more valuable alive, that you will serve another deeper more vital purpose, but should you cross me, I am certain I might convince the dark one to simply take your powers and then see you dead by fire.”
“You do not frighten me!” she hissed, hoping she appeared more confident than she actually felt.
“You should fear me, woman, for I have the king’s ear and his trust. He values my opinion and often follows through with my suggestions. I might dare to propose even this day you be tied to a stake and set afire. I think I should actually take great pleasure in watching that,” he growled in a menacing tone.
Alainn swallowed hard for this man sounded frighteningly similar to the malevolent priest back at Castle O’Brien and the heinous Richard McGilvary, both who had also been under the demon’s control. She inhaled deeply and attempted to sound unaffected by Cromwell’s threatening words.
“Perhaps you should fear me, Cromwell; perhaps all of England should fear me. If the demon believes my magic to be so potent he schemes to take my powers for his own, do you not think you should fear me? If I desired it to be so I could create a forceful ocean wave so unbelievably immense and strong enough to pull your entire country into the Atlantic forevermore.”
“It is doubtful you’d attempt anything quite so extreme for then your husband, your physician and the young girl you seem so fond, what is here name? Lily, wasn’t it? Ah, yes, young Lily, well clearly all of them would meet a tragic death as well!”
Alainn despised the fact Cromwell possessed knowledge of her connection to the others, though it shouldn’t have surprised her for the demon had been to the inn where she had stayed since the day they came to London, and he would certainly know of her admiration and concern for the innkeepers’ young daughter, Lily. He would be well aware she was married to Killian, but why would he not inform the king she was wed to Killian when the king had been endlessly searching for her husband? Since Cromwell remained staring at her she deducted with the assistance of the demon, he may perhaps possess the ability to read her mind. She immediately terminated her thoughts and spoke to him with contempt and unmasked loathing.
“Do not dare touch them, any of them, or your demon and all his allegiances will be made to pay dearly!”
The man laughed a disturbing laugh and Alainn grew furious at his arrogance.
Alainn opened the door by way of her magic, placed her arms before her and sent the man out with an unseen force. She slammed the door hard behind him.
The abhorrent man knew about Danhoul, for he’d been with her since she’d been brought to the Tudor castle, and he clearly knew of her connection to Killian as well. He knew of Lily and her parents. Again she attempted to determine why he had not simply revealed this information to the king? They would possibly all be in danger simply because of her. She feared she would be forced to use her magic in multitudes she had never before attempted to protect those she cared for. But would she actually be capable of protecting all of them and while she remained here within the castle? She looked up at the stone-still face of the king, and realized magic may surely not be all she would be forced to do to ensure they were allowed to leave this country behind them forever.
Chapter Four
“’Tis only a matter of time till they learn you are my husband. You must finally give in to the king, appease him Killian, so that you may be released,” she said as she stood before him.
“Alainn, we have been through this countless times and I will not be swayed on this matter! Do you know what peril you risk by comin’ here again? ’Tis the third time this week alone.”
“Tell me you do not require this time together as much as me.” She smiled as she untied her hair and allowed the long tresses to go free. She continued to smile seductively and wasted no time, but hastily did away with her gown and then pulled the chemise over her head so that she stood before him entirely unclothed. She stepped closer to him and hastily began untying the fastenings on his trews.
Killian glanced at the nearby candle and noticed how slowly the flame burned. Alainn kept time at a standstill everywhere but within this chamber. Only the two of them remained unaffected by her spell. He gazed at her enchanting loveliness and felt his body respond even though he ever longed to find a way to see them freed from this state of imprisonment. He desired for them to be home in their bedchamber, free to love in the wild passionate manner they had once been accustomed.
“Alainn this is surely not as you would have it be between us, a quick encounter simply to still a physical urge with unwashed bodies in a chamber that smells of excrement.” He gestured toward the bucket in the corner with utter disgust. He knew how she adored bathing regularly and he was well aware of her unusually keen sense of smell.
Her face revealed some distaste and he felt certain he noticed tears threating to form in her unusual lovely blue eyes. She lifted her chin, and undeterred she continued to work at the ties until his trews slid down over his hips and fell to the floor. He stepped out of them as he pulled his filthy tunic over his head and tossed it aside. They stood together now both naked, skin against skin and he moaned again as she tantalizingly placed her hand to his muscular chest, his firm stomach, and then downward. She fondled him and he grew rigid under her touch.
He crushed her to him and kissed her hard. She responded with urgency, pushed him down upon the bed and mounted him straightaway. He moaned lowly as he filled her and she rode above him.
He was startled when she stared deeply, purposely into his eyes. Mesmerized, he was immediately pulled into her thoughts. He capably witnessed what she envisioned as they moved together. In her mind he saw they were in the fairy glade. He was lying upon the soft sweet-scented grass where they had spent their honeymoon. The fragrance of the many beautiful flowers surrounded them and filled their senses. She was above him, straddling him and at once nothing else mattered. All was suddenly beautiful and magical and undeniably sensual.
“I love you, my Lainna,” he whispered into her ear as her long golden hair cascaded down and surrounded them. His hands touched her full firm breasts and she smiled. She arched her back and cooed in pleasure as his mouth and tongue played with her peaked nipples. He sensed her release was near and she gasped and cried out. His hands gripped her hips and squeezed them tightly as he penetrated deeper within her, yet his eyes instinctively went to the door of the chamber where he partly expected to see the night guard staring in at them. But Alainn put her hands in his hair and guided his eyes back to her gaze, and soon he was simply back in the fairy glade and all that mattered was her and their time together.
“Make love to me, my husband, take away all dreary unpleasantness. Fill my thoughts of only you and my body with your impressively firm manhood. Take me to the heights only you can make me achieve, send me over the edge so that nothing else matters, nothing
else exists, only you and me, only our love and pleasure and fulfillment.”
She screamed out and her body trembled and shivered as she gasped over and over. Her warmth tightened around him even further and he capably moved so that she was beneath him and he thrust himself deeper within her and his already rigid manhood throbbed and grew firmer. He moaned loudly and felt his violent and sudden release as his seed was spilled within her. She smiled up at him victoriously and he felt her entire body quiver as she was wracked with waves of ecstasy. She playfully bit his lip and he squeezed her buttocks in return.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered as he attempted to move from her.
He glanced over at the candle and saw it burned low.
“Alainn how long are you able to hold time at a standstill?”
“If it was up to me, it would be forever. If we can never be released from this place, then let us simply spend all of eternity like this.”
“We will find a way, Lainna. Sure we will discover a way. The guard who stands watch at the door during daylight has been assisting me with getting messages to the other chieftains. He has agreed to take me to speak with them directly. We will find a way.”
“Let us not speak, let us only love,” she said and he found himself once more aroused as she kissed his neck and broad chest.
When next he looked up, he saw the candle barely burned and was nearly extinguished. She had held time at a standstill even though she had been entirely distracted with their intimate encounter. He realized her powers were growing and he prayed she would be capable of both controlling and containing them for that would surely put her in unimaginable peril if she was discovered to possess supernatural abilities and determined to be a witch.
She sighed and he knew she was regretful to move from their embrace. They did not speak as they morosely retrieved their garments and donned them once more.
She offered a hasty kiss of farewell and intended to leave him, but he caught her arm once more and it was clear he desired to speak with her. She longed to avoid all conversation, but he would not be deterred and pushed the matter.
“Are you well, Alainn? Do they treat you well? Where is it you spend your days and nights? You have offered little information to me which leaves me fearful. Tell me I have no need to be suspicious.”
“I spend my nights with you.” She evasively dodged his questions as she smiled.
“Alainn we must finally speak on this. You readily come to me here in this tower, we make love, but you nearly refuse to speak to me on all matters that might benefit us. Your silence does nothing to assure me you are not being treated with cruelty or defilement.”
She would not meet his eyes. As she plaited her hair, she turned from his gaze and sighed deeply.
“I have not been harmed nor defiled. I am kept in a small chamber near the king’s own chambers. I believe few know I am kept there. There is a bed within the chamber and I have procured a basin and a pitcher of water so that I might wash, not as ably or luxuriously as in the expansive bath in our castle nor with the selection of soaps I have created there, but I have found ways to maintain some level of hygiene even though it is not widely practiced here. I am given food and water. I have not been mistreated or denied basic needs.”
She sensed Killian was appeased to a measure by her words, but that he believed she purposely withheld some information in hopes to keep him from becoming overly fearful when there was little he could do to better their present state.
“Who actually knows you are kept there? Do any of them suspect you have uncommon abilities? Do you sense what the king’s intentions might be? You told me you are brought before the king for some time every day. How can others not be much aware of this? Do you spend time alone with the man for that is not the usual way matters are done in the king’s regard? It is said he is seldom allowed to be in the presence of others without his guards ever-near?”
“So many inquiries, Killian, and I do not possess the answers to all you have asked. Only one advisor, one servant, a messenger, and perhaps two...no three guards know I am being held within that chamber. Thomas Cromwell is well aware I am kept near the king and it is him we need fear and confront. He already knows I have magical abilities, yet for him to tell the king would be unwise for he may be placed under suspicion for having seen the peculiar happenings when no one else has.
“As I informed you, when I was in the unnatural sleep and so near death my spirit freely roamed the castle. I came to discover Cromwell and many other of the king’s advisors are in alliance with the demon. The demon has even been here in the castle on occasion. I sense Cromwell may come to be a dangerous threat. I must prevent him from becoming more powerful for that would be a perilous consideration. Perhaps if I discredit him in the king’s eyes it may thwart his attempts to gain further power. Yet because of my premonitory abilities, I sense one of his blood-line will become far more evil and cause much torment and heartache throughout this country, but even more in our own Ireland.
“At the moment I suspect the king is smitten with me, which is why he asks to see me regularly without the guards present. Because of this I believe ’tis unlikely he will allow Cromwell or any other to harm me, not yet at any rate,” she added.
“And how smitten with you is he, Alainn?” He grasped her arm and stared intensely in her eyes by the limited candlelight. “How far has this dangerous guise you play with the king been allowed to go?”
“Are you askin’ me if I have been in the king of England’s bed?” Alainn stated boldly and she stared at him, her eyes fixed, yet uncommonly void of spark or emotion.
“Aye, I suppose that’s precisely what I’m askin’! You apparently spend endless time with the man alone and in secret, and he by most accounts appears entirely without conscience. He has not sent you away to the tower or the block, but he has yet to release you either.”
“I have not shared his bed!” she said in a flippant manner. “It has not been required of me.”
Killian possessively pulled her to him in a rough and careless manner and she kissed him hard before he could rebuke her further.
“Do not toy with the man, Alainn. And if you share his bed, I swear to God Almighty I will not forgive you for the deed for I well know it would only be in an attempt to save my neck!”
“Though the notion is entirely undesirable and repulsive, do you think a brief time in his bed would be intolerable or unwarranted if it saves you from this tower or the block?”
“Not to me, Alainn! We must find another way; we will find another way.”
“Perhaps!” she said as she finished tying her hair and kissed him once more, this time in a gentle fashion.
“I conspire with Edward, the English guard to find a secure means to see me freed. Collum and Phelum, the other Irish chieftains will surely come to our aid if they are able. Soon I will meet with them to discuss the progress.”
“And do you think that not a dangerous venture?”
“They are searching to discover a way to see us all freed not by simple escape but by bribery and coercion. They continue to meet with a ship’s captains and attempt to find others who might assist us in our endeavor to see all of us safe on Irish shores, but if they can only manage to save you and the others, then it will be worth any possible harm that might befall me.”
“You are telling me I should be in agreement to you giving your life to save me, but I shouldn’t risk my honor in attempt to bargain for your life? How is it you deem my honor to be worth more than your life? Do you not see the absurdity in your reasoning?”
Her eyes filled with immediate distaste and she folded her arms in disagreement of his words.
“Do not share the king’s bed Alainn, for not only would he surely never let you go if he did bed you, we are already much aware he’ll not be prone to keep his word on whatever he might promise you at any rate!”
“That remains to be seen,” she scowled as she looked away from him, and he took her hand once more.
“What we should have done is long since forgotten. What measures we intend to take now, drastic or otherwise to see ourselves finally free of this hellish location once and for all is what truly matters for the time being.”
“You are beginning to sound like an Englishwoman, Alainn, and I don’t care for it in the least, or how you’ve been acting lately. What matters most, now and always is our love and our marriage.”
“Yet neither will be allowed to thrive if you spend the rest of your days within this tower. If you will not bend to his will, then I shall be forced to do so.”
“Alainn O’Brien, heed me well. Keep your magic at bay and keep the lecherous English king on a lengthy tether.”
Their eyes met and this time as she stared into his intense deep green eyes, she smiled.
“And if I did not use my magic I could not come to you, we could not make love as we have done.”
Killian seemed almost ashamed that he had bedded her here in the tower, but she had no qualms about the location as long as they were together. He glanced down into her unusual pale eyes and touched her cheek.
“We’ve not yet actually discussed the child, Alainn! I need you to know how very sorry I am, for I dearly wanted the child you carried.”
“I know,” she whispered. “As did I!”
She noticed the obvious concern on his face as Killian looked at her, for her eyes had begun to brim with tears and she hastily attempted to compose herself. She could ill afford to permit her emotions to rule over her clear thought. She closed her eyes and calmly inhaled. She wouldn’t allow herself to feel any deep emotion at the moment. She spoke once more.
A Witch's Quest Page 8
