Page 10 of Birthright

“Mary didn’t do your beauty or your strength justice. Keena fits you well.” He gave me a tender look that made my heart race.

“I…uh…”

He put his lips lightly to mine. They felt like the soft petals of a flower. All the aches and pains in my body slipped away with his tenderness. He leaned in, and the kiss went from light and gentle to hungry and needful. His arms wrapped around my back, and I let myself melt into his embrace. His tongue plunged into my mouth, seeking, plundering. I felt it all the way to my pussy. His hand slid up the bare skin of my back. I groaned at the heat, the passion of the kiss. My tongue returned the passion, then it found his fangs.

I pulled back and away from the kiss, unable to speak from the desire burning up my mind.

He released me with a jerk and retreated back to the edge of the bed. I tried to talk but my sore throat just squawked. He handed me the water again without looking away from his knees.

“Lord Tynan. I’m sorry.”

“My existence disgusts you. Keena, it is I who should apologize for assuming…” I felt his pain and self-hatred as clearly as I had felt his lust. But his tone was all business.

Disgust was the last thing I felt for this man. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anyone in my life. Maybe even loved him. I didn’t know why or how after only seeing him twice, but the feeling was there and I couldn’t change it.

“Your…er…teeth only reminded me that I can’t accept what you’re offering.” I was as matter-of-fact as I could be with a squeaky voice. He looked back to me with a wounded, questioning look. “I can’t. I will not ask you to be la graine, my lord.”

“Call me Tynan, please.” His face had softened. “I don’t understand.”

“Tynan,” I responded. “I’m told that now, as a Witch, the first person to share my bed will bring me to my powers. God, I don’t know exactly what that means…they only tell me things on a need-to-know basis. But that man will be bound to me by a spell. He’ll love me and no one else for his entire life.” His face was still questioning and so wonderfully perfect. I hated the spell that would hold him to me at that moment. “I won’t live nearly as long as you. I know I’ll live longer than a human, but nowhere near the time…”

Understanding dawned on his face but his lips twitched up a slight bit. That little smile tightened my stomach and made me wet at the same time. I didn’t know if I had the conviction to stand by my own words when he looked at me like that.

He eased back up to my side. “I’m going to long for you for the rest of my life as it is.” He ran his knuckles down the side of my face, sending chills through my whole body. “I felt the pull to you as soon as you smiled at me. You feel it as well. I know you do.”

I had to look away from him, away from the desire in those eyes. “But you still have a choice, Tynan. You don’t have to watch me grow old and die and then long for me. You can love whomever you choose. If I give in to this desire, it would bind you to me so you could never choose another.” I felt tears burning the backs of my eyes. “I can’t ask that of you.” I tried to sound stern and raised my chin. “I won’t.”

He wiped a single tear that had escaped onto my cheek and kissed me on the forehead. “You have given me the greatest gift, Keena. Compassion. No one has ever sought to protect my heart.” He eased me back onto the pillow, and I saw something in his eyes that was breaking my heart. “Sleep, Ma Guerrière. I will watch over you tonight, and I’ll return you to your homeland tomorrow.”

How could these feelings be so strong so fast? As soon as I thought I had a handle on all the changes in my life, something else came at me, and I was lost again. Could he have the same feelings? Surely this was just a strong case of lust.

I felt his weight leave the bed. My argument had made sense to him. He didn’t want to give his heart to me for all eternity, and I certainly couldn’t blame him. It was a good thing that one of us was thinking clearly.

I would not have been able to turn him away a second time.

CHAPTER 5

Manus lifted me off the boat deck and onto the dock. My stomach was still queasy from the ocean’s motion.

Okay, maybe queasy was a grand understatement. I was definitely glad to be off the boat that had brought us from the Irish mainland to the island. The March cold of Ireland had been left far behind. The air here had the warm, thick feel of the Deep South. I felt the familiar burn start a low churn inside me. My power was reaching out to the magic that surrounded us. The same magic that allowed the island to remain hidden in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Instinctively, I put my hand to my stomach.

“Welcome to WildLand,” Doran said proudly as she moved to stand beside me. She looked a little younger in the afternoon light, whereas I felt tired and worn after hours of seasickness. As I watched her breathe in, I felt the tingle of her essence stirring. As she raised her hands to the sun, the tingle quickly turned into a wash of power so strong I had to steady myself not to be knocked over by it.

Her magic filled the air, mingling with the native magic of the island. It was prickling as it danced over my skin. Wave after wave pushed through me, melting away into the trees, singing to the island, strong and true.

I was awed to silence, experiencing the true power of a High Priestess for the first time. How on earth would I ever become the Witch that Doran was when I was inept at the simplest spell, unable to direct or contain the budding power that rose from my soul?

Small sparks of other magics all around us responded and merged with her silent announcement. I have returned, it said. It felt as if the very trees themselves acknowledged it. We all stood still, absorbing the glow of Doran’s power.

Wondering what would come next, I glanced around the shore—and caught the sound of a low, rumbling thunder coming from deep within the forest. Curious, I took a few tentative steps forward and spotted a trail off to the left. None of the others seemed concerned by the approaching sound.

A faint recognition dawned on me. Horses. Loud horses.

Suddenly, there came a white storm bursting from the trees. Two open carriages, each with a pair of magnificently matched white draft horses that took my breath away as they raced toward us. The driverless carriages drawn behind were also gleaming white and trimmed in bright maroon velvet, but they couldn’t match the brilliance of the horses. The rigging that held the steeds was covered in shining silver and gold trim that gleamed in the early sun.

I stood transfixed at the sight as the teams skidded to a stop at the end of the dock. A deep, earthy magic rolled off the horses. I felt it rising above them like steam as they shifted and stomped in excitement. Surreal.

“Your chariot, my lady.” Tynan reached out and used one of his long fingers to lift my jaw, closing my gaping mouth. He grinned and took my arm to escort me to the second carriage as Manus led Doran and Bevin to the first, where Hogan was waiting with the door open.