Page 108 of Blood & Claw

Darach lowered himself to the ground, his breeches removed now, although his tunic covered his arse and groin.

It didn’t stop Ailsa from admiring the long, muscular lines of his legs though.

Curse her, she couldn’t help herself.

Shifting close to the fire, he rolled onto his side, away from her. “Get on with it.”

Wordlessly, she moved behind him, noting how the back of his tunic had ridden up, revealing the swell of one hard, muscled buttock.

Her gaze lingered there—then snapped away.

Irritated at herself for being so easily distracted, she pulled the garment down.

She had to focus now, to delve deep and draw upon the earth magic that slumbered in her veins. Every Marav had that power inside them to some degree, Kayla had told her—whether or not they bore a druidic gift—but few were capable of using it. Her mentor had taught her how.

Ailsa’s hand slid gently over Darach’s tattoo.

Heat radiated beneath her palm.

Before she could help herself, she inhaled the scent of fresh sweat, leather, and male. Beneath it all, she detected something sharper—muskier—and her belly convulsed in response.

She jolted.

Gods. Not now.

Clenching her jaw, she tried to block out her awareness of him, willing her senses to dull.

A moment later, she focused once more.

The warmth of the tattoo wasn’t a good sign. It was just as well she was going to try and help him now. And the red lines emanating from the inflamed edges of the tattoo were more worrying still. They hadn’t been there when he’d shown her the tattoo the night before. She hoped she wasn’t too late.

Keeping her hand lightly pressed to his thigh, she closed her eyes, and then she began to murmur the words Kayla had taught her. They flowed in an ancient, lilting tongue—clumsy at first and then growing more fluent as she grew in confidence. And as the chant drew out, she felt the rose tattoo on her calf begin to tingle.

Good.

She was beginning to channel earth magic.

She continued the chant.

The corrupted tattoo pulsed beneath her palm. Heat surged through it. The snarling cat seemed almost to writhe beneath the skin. Pain lanced through the center of her palm.

Her hand jerked. Shit.

There was no way she could banish the beast. It had dug its claws in and wasn’t letting go.

However, she could give Darach back some measure of control. The tattoo she planned on doing would help him leash the clag-doo—would keep him safe until they reached Kayla. He’d also be able to decide when and where he released it … and be able to call it back … hopefully.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, deliberately keeping her tone light and conversational.

She could feel his tension. His silence wasn’t an easy one.

“Fine,” he replied tersely.

Taking the hint, Ailsa reached for her tattooist’s needle.

She then inhaled slowly. Hold fast … and do this right. Make Kayla proud.

She removed her hand from the snarling clag-doo’s face, leaned in, and began her first cut.