The Shadows

by Cheyenne McCray

  Hannah’s composure hung by a thread. She wanted to scream, to yell, to stomp her foot and tell the group they were a bunch of idiots not to trust Garran after he’d risked his life for all of them.

  Banshee gripped her shoulder a little tighter.

  She raised her chin and said, “Under no circumstances will Garran be harmed. Rhiannon and I will question him and we can go from there.”

  Rhiannon gave an emphatic nod.

  Hannah hadn’t realized she was clenching her fists until she felt the ache in her knuckles. She forced herself to relax her hands. “I’m going to check on Garran and all of you can wait until I’m finished talking with him. Once he’s awake.”

  With her chin raised and her back straight, she pushed the kitchen door open, walked out. She held out her arm and Banshee eased down on it before flapping his wings and taking flight.

  With grim resolve, Hannah headed to the room she and Garran had been sharing.

  He would not break his word. He wouldn’t. He didn’t. No matter what anyone thought, Garran wasn’t responsible for that attack.

  She reached the room and nodded to the warriors that had been posted to guard the Drow king. She slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her.

  For a long moment she stood over him and watched his still form.

  No, she wouldn’t wake him and throw all of this at him when he was still ill.

  She slipped between the covers and snuggled close to him.

  Garran woke with the mother goddess of all headaches. He opened his eyes and shut them again as late afternoon sunlight attacked them. It took him a few moments of blinking, but he finally accustomed himself to the light.

  He frowned, trying to remember what had happened and why he was flat on his back. Smells of cedar and safflower met wood and sawdust as he took a deep breath. He flexed his hands and shifted even though every muscle in his body ached.

  A light blanket covered him. He realized he was naked beneath it and he frowned again.

  Memories slowly came back to him. Being in his realm and realizing in his gut that Hannah needed him. Finding her being tortured in a fiery sphere. Joining her and protecting them both from the heat before he used the power the Great Guardian had given him.

  He had sent the few Fomorii back to Underworld.

  But Ceithlenn had vanished.

  Garran’s entire being shook with his fury. The bitch had escaped.

  The magnitude of what he’d done slammed into his chest as if the stone door to his realm had fallen upon him. He had used the power from the Great Guardian a second time, eliminating few of the Fomorii and not the goddess.

  His people. By the gods, he had already failed them by using the power in a way that did not directly benefit them.

  Yet, could even a king be expected to put his people before his family and those he loved?

  Rhiannon…

  And Hannah?

  His heart squeezed. Did he love her? Was that what the feeling was that wrapped itself around his heart so tightly he could barely take a breath without his chest hurting?

  Saving Hannah had been more important to him than anything at that moment when he had used his powers.

  Was it possible that he could have battled Ceithlenn in a different way? Could he have saved Hannah using his sword and his dark powers?

  He did not believe he was protected against Ceithlenn’s abilities to draw the soul from a body. She could have had the opportunity to kill him.

  But now—he would need to use the power a third and final time. He would have to make sure he sent the rest of the Fomorii to Underworld. And Ceithlenn with them.

  Then he would likely die.

  Garran brought his hand to his forehead and rubbed his eyes. His hand felt heavy as he moved it and he ground his teeth in frustration at the weakness pinning his body to the sleeping bags on the floor of the room he and Hannah had shared.

  Was Hannah well? He’d assumed she was, but what if Ceithlenn had come back?

  Ice coated his soul.

  The click of the door had him turning his head in that direction. Relief flooded through him and a smile curved the corner of his mouth as Hannah slipped in and shut the door behind her.

  Thank the gods she was all right. With the connection they had he believed he would have known if anything had happened to her—but seeing her well and alive made his heart soar.

  A troubled expression was on her beautiful features, but she composed herself and walked toward him, where he lay naked beneath the blanket.

  “About time you woke up, Sleeping Beauty.” With grace she eased down and sat next to him, her legs curled to the side of her. “You’ve been out so long I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it back.”

  She gave him a look that said she hadn’t been concerned, but he saw beneath that façade.

  Hannah wore a shirt and jeans and looked beautiful despite the dark smudges under her eyes. He wanted to know what had put them there. Her dark hair fell in glossy waves around her face and the one lock of blond hair was tucked behind her ear.

  The heaviness in his body began to ease away and he turned on his side so that he faced her. He settled one elbow on the sleeping bag and rested his head on his palm.

  The blanket slid down to his hips, barely covering him, and his lips quirked when her gaze followed the glide of the blanket and her eyes rested on the now tented blanket.

  “I see that at least one part of you has recovered.” Her gaze met his again.

  “Kiss me,” he said.

  Hannah blinked and just looked at him, but her nipples pushed against her T-shirt, telling him more than she wanted him to know.

  He gave her a lazy smile. “Kiss me.”

  “Just one.” Hannah lowered her eyelids and brought her face to his at the same time she braced her hand on his biceps. Her breath was warm against his lips as she brushed her mouth over his.

  Garran caught her lower lip between his teeth, holding her to him, and she gave a soft sound of surprise. As she opened her mouth, he thrust his tongue inside, tasting her sweet flavor and wanting more than a kiss.

  And he would have what he wanted.

  In a fast movement, he turned onto his back, grasping her around the waist, lifting her, and setting her down so that she was straddling his waist.

  “Garran!” Something between a laugh and concern was in her voice. “You’ve been ill. What in the world are you doing?”

  He took one of her hands and placed it on his rigid flesh. “Does this feel like a man who is ill?”

  With her eyelids lowered, she rubbed the length of it, from his balls to the head through the light fabric of the blanket.

  “No.” She squeezed him. “It sure doesn’t.” Her dark gaze met his. “But you likely need more time to heal.”

  Garran reached up and palmed her breasts before squeezing her nipples. “I cannot think of a better way to heal than to make love to you, Hannah.”

  She groaned as he pinched and pulled her nipples through her T-shirt, and she rubbed him harder.

  Garran sucked in his breath as she brought her mouth to his again and their kiss was slow and leisurely. Right now he didn’t want slow. He wanted hard and fast.

  He grasped Hannah’s T-shirt and pulled it out of her jeans and she rose and helped him remove it. He loved the satiny material of what she called a bra, and he ran his rough hands over both breasts, squeezing and fondling them through the soft fabric.

  Hannah reached behind her and unfastened the bra, slid it off and tossed it aside. At the sight of her beautiful breasts, his whole body throbbed.

  He pulled her down, sucking and licking her taut nub as Hannah gave soft little moans. He moved his mouth to her other, paying the same close attention to it and making her writhe on top of him.

  He didn’t like the fact that she had jeans on. He wanted their naked bodies intertwined and he wanted to be pounding in and out of her as hard as he possibly could. The urge was almost overwhel
ming.

  Before he could flip her on her back, she scooted down his body, easing the blanket away from him at the same time.

  He hissed as she looked up at him and ran her tongue along the length of him. A deep groan rose from his throat as he watched her slip him into her mouth and felt her wet heat surround him.

  Her tongue swirled around the head of his shaft and he almost couldn’t think clearly with all the sensation concentrating in his groin. The only thing that could possibly feel better was being inside her.

  She was so damn good he could already feel the power of his oncoming climax. It roared through his head like thunder and through his groin like a storm. She made soft purring sounds that nearly sent him over the edge.

  Again she purred and black spots danced before his eyes. He couldn’t control the thunderstorm that roared through him. She drew his climax out until he could no longer take it.

  He grasped her by her shoulders and drew her up his body. Her jeans scraped his belly and her self-satisfied grin made him hard all over again.

  She laughed when he flipped her onto her back and straddled her. He stared into her brown eyes and she surprised him by taking him in her hand again and stroking it alive and harder than before.

  “I’d say you’re better.” She gave him a teasing smile. “But let’s see just how well you really are.”

  “You will find this king is more than hale and hearty.” Garran bent one of her knees and pushed her leg up high enough that he could reach her shoe. He flipped it to the side then peeled off her sock before releasing her leg and grasping her other foot and ridding her of that shoe and sock.

  She watched him with the hint of a smile, as if amused by his aggression and how badly he wanted her naked. He quickly unbuttoned her jeans and yanked them down with her underwear, stripping her naked within moments.

  “Come on, you big, sexy king.” She reached for him as he knelt between her thighs. “Take me.”

  By the gods, Garran wanted to, but first he desired to taste her. A sound of surprise came from her as he hooked her legs over his shoulders, slid his hands beneath her ass, and moved his face closer.

  Hannah gasped as he buried his mouth against her, devouring her with such intensity he could feel her orgasm close to the edge almost at once.

  No, he wanted to draw out her pleasure, and he would.

  Hannah squirmed. “King or not I’m going to kill you if you don’t finish the job.”

  With a grin he licked her, tasting her, scenting her feminine sweetness. She thrashed as he pressed his mouth closer. He watched her as he ran his tongue along her flesh, enjoying the flush in her cheeks as she gripped the sleeping bag in both of her fists.

  Hannah cried out, her body trembling and shaking in his hands, her legs and thighs tightening around his shoulders. He watched her, felt her as her core spasmed around his fingers and she twisted as if seeking a reprieve, or more from him.

  He could give her more. Without waiting for her to catch her breath, he slid inside her core.

  “Garran.” She grasped his thighs as he moved in and out of her. “Oh, goddess.” Her voice was hoarse and tight. “What are you doing to me?”

  “Taking you.” He reached down and pinched her taut nubs, causing her to cry out and tip her head back. “One of many times, many ways I will take you.”

  She didn’t argue as her breathing came in harsh pants. Sweat coated them both, their skin slick with it.

  Her whole body started to shake, her eyes wide, and her lips parted as if facing an oncoming storm. Her cries grew louder. It pleased him to know that others would hear her and realize that he was staking his claim on her, making her his.

  Her core clamped down on him and he could barely hold back his own orgasm. He wanted to draw hers out, make her pleasure so intense that it would border on pain.

  “I can’t—I can’t—” Hannah said as she twisted and writhed in his arms. “Take much more. It’s too much.”

  “You will take more.” He would give her more than she thought she could handle and she would enjoy it. As his queen she would take everything he gave to her.

  My queen?

  He almost stopped his powerful strokes.

  “Garran.” Hannah’s face flushed even rosier, sweat dripping down the side of her face. “I—oh, goddess.”

  He felt another orgasm building up in her with more intensity, more speed than the last. She brought her hands up and clenched his biceps, digging her nails into his flesh. She turned her head from side to side and her body shook in his arms. He thrust harder, moving in and out deeper and faster.

  Hannah seemed to fall apart. She cried out again, this time struggling against his hold as he took her. Her body jerked and thrashed beneath his and she made loud crying sounds that were pleasurable to his ears.

  His restraint began to falter as her core clamped down on him, pulsing around him and pulling him closer toward his own climax.

  For the first time while having sex with a woman, he grew lightheaded. The scents of sex, sweat, perfume, the feel of his flesh against hers, their sweaty skin rubbing together, her nails digging into his arms—it was too much for him to take any longer.

  Garran gave a shout of intense pleasure and ownership of this woman. All pleasure that had been centered in his groin burst out of him and spilled into Hannah.

  When it was more than even he could take, he pulled out of her core. He drew her into his arms as he lay down beside her and intertwined her legs with his.

  Her breath came in harsh pants and she looked dizzy and exhausted. “You’re definitely not ill anymore,” she said as she snuggled closer. “Considering you’ve been out for two days, I figured you’d be too weak to do much of anything.”

  He braced himself on one elbow, shock coursing him, sending prickles under his skin. “Two days? I have lost two days?”

  Hannah nodded as she met his gaze, her expression sobering. “You didn’t move. Didn’t twitch. I was worried about you.”

  Garran pushed himself up to a sitting position and Hannah rose at the same time. Two days? What had he missed? How were his people doing without him? He had much to do with Carden’s training before—before he used the power a third time.

  And died.

  32

  Hannah stared at Garran, so many emotions causing her chest to tighten. She’d managed to sleep well next to his still form. He hadn’t budged, and when she woke up she’d left to shower.

  The feeling of relief and happiness at seeing Garran awake and looking well had astounded her.

  It had irritated her that the D’Danann insisted on posting Fae outside the door. Another pair of warriors stood guard now and Hannah didn’t care that they had no doubt heard her and Garran having sex.

  Garran shook his head as he pushed his hand through his now white-blond hair. “My people—the battle—Ceithlenn—what has happened during my absence?”

  “A lot.” Her stomach clenched and she shifted on the sleeping bags as she looked away from him. “We have so much to talk about.”

  Garran caught her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. He looked grim. “From the beginning.”

  Beginning? Goddess, it already seemed so long ago. “It started with all of the other witches scrying.” She brought her hands up to his wrists and pulled his palms from her face.

  “You will scry again.” He clasped her hands in his. “Perhaps another mirror or some other divination tool. You are a D’Anu witch and you will continue to do as you always have done.”

  The knots in her belly returned and she drew away from him and held one hand to her abdomen. “I’ve lost the only divination tools I’ve ever used. And at least two of the Dragons have abandoned me.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “When Ceithlenn captured me, I had just finished summoning the Dragons, my spirits, my totems.” Pain slammed into her so hard her head ached with it. “The Fire and Water Dragons made it clear they’d gone over to Ceith
lenn’s side.”

  She tore her other hand from his and clenched both of her fists against her temples and her voice caught. “The Air Dragon wouldn’t help me. Only the Earth Dragon gave me some of its power.”

  Hannah dropped her hands to her lap, her voice hoarse. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, Garran. Goddess help me, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  Garran took her into his arms and she let him, let him fill her with the strength of his presence, like chardonnay flowing through her veins, relaxing her a little.

  “We will win this war together, you and I.” Garran’s words were spoken in a firm, resolute tone. “Together we are stronger and we will not let Ceithlenn destroy this city.”

  Seeing Garran awake and well had pushed aside almost every other thought from Hannah’s mind. Every question, every concern, everything she’d learned, everything that had happened.

  Hannah pushed away from Garran’s embrace, rolled over and got to her feet. His expression was puzzled as she stepped into her panties, pulled them up then grabbed her bra.

  “How could you, Garran?” She kept her gaze focused on him as she reached around and fumbled with her bra hook. Bless it. Her hands were shaking. “How could you let that—that Guardian being give you the power to kill yourself?”

  She snatched up her T-shirt and held it in front of her, her hands still shaking. “And how could you not tell me?” Garran’s jaw dropped and he just looked at her. Hannah jerked on her T-shirt as she waited for his answer.

  He slowly got to his feet, shock evident on his features. “You cannot possibly know this.”