Page 9 of Birthright

On fire, my mind saw nothing but the patterns of his movements, subtle hints of his next attack. Nothing beyond that mattered. It was as if the rest of the world had fallen away, and there was only the dance of the fight, his will against mine. I was drenched with sweat, and adrenaline pumped furiously through my body.

I lunged and he kicked me in the stomach. It hurt, but I was able to temper the reaction to the pain and spin to the right and connect my elbow with the side of his face. He didn’t flinch, just grabbed my arm as it withdrew from the blow. I cartwheeled away, twisting the hand that gripped mine. The pressure caused him to lose his grip and his balance for just a second, and I brought my knee to his chest, sending him backward to the ground. I pounced on his chest, my blade at his throat.

“Uncle!” he cried. “For Goddess’s sake, Keena, uncle.”

I blinked and realized it was him, almost too late. The haze I had entered cleared. He smiled up at me, bleeding from his nose, his hair dripping with sweat. “I think you got me this time.”

I slumped down on his chest, exhausted. Every muscle in my body burned. At last, I had completely zoned out everything and saw nothing but the movements and the strategy.

Someone started clapping from behind us. I turned, still sitting on Manus’s chest. “Bravo…bravo! You have come so far, my niece.” Doran’s face was genuinely pleased. Lord Tynan also nodded his approval.

I struggled to stand and bowed to them both. “My lady, Lord Tynan.”

She and Tynan stepped onto the matted floor of the sparring area. “You will do well against Feldema, Keena. She will not suspect you are a warrior enough to take down a guardian. Most impressive.” Doran bobbed her head, “Most impressive, indeed. You two have been fighting for over two hours. I was about to break it up.”

Two hours? It felt like it. I was having trouble holding the short blade in my hand now that the adrenaline had started to fade. My muscles trembled as I looked at Lord Tynan. He was looking at my chest. I glanced down and realized that most of my top was torn away, and sweat and a small amount of blood were trickling down my exposed left breast. I fought the urge to cover myself. That would be an insult. The expression of need on his face triggered the aching I had for him. His face twitched in response to the shift in my body, and I knew he felt as overwhelmed by this yearning as I did.

It didn’t matter. I couldn’t have him. I couldn’t ask him to pledge himself to me for ages. I would die, and he would be left alone. That was that.

If only I could convince my yearning body…

Doran looked from me to Tynan. “We leave at sunset,” she said to break the tension that suddenly filled the room. “I told Hogan to have your things sent ahead. He is preparing a meal and a bath for the two of you.”

I needed both. I bowed again and Manus took my blade and led me out of the room.

Doran and Tynan had followed and were discussing a meeting with Werewolves. Something I should have tried to listen to, but I was far too worn out to pay much attention to Kith politics and fight the sexual urges of my body at the same time. Manus had a tight grip on my arm to keep me moving forward. I could feel Lord Tynan’s gaze on my back. I bit my lip in an effort not to respond to the sensation.

We rounded the last corner—and were confronted by four shadowy figures in the hall.

My brain barely had enough time to register them as Slaugh before one ripped Manus aside and gripped me from behind around the shoulders. I was enveloped in the mist of the creature. Memories of the last attack came flooding back, and fear filled me. I tried to struggle but I was pinned under a veil of mist and cloaks. Its bony body and scraggly ribs pressed painfully into my back. The thing wasn’t much more than a skeleton wrapped in black gauze, its wasted fingers digging harshly into my shoulder. After the spar with Manus, I just didn’t have enough strength to fight.

The Slaugh struck my face with its other skeletal hand and started to pull me away. My head reeled back from the blow. I saw darkness coming. I struggled harder, both to stay conscious and make the Slaugh’s retreat difficult.

Manus impaled one of them with my small dagger and the thing disintegrated. The biggest of them had Doran in a headlock. The rage in the old Witch’s eyes was frightening, even to me. She threw herself forward and the Slaugh was momentarily caught on her back. The profile of the lump of black gauze hanging over Doran’s tiny back reminded me of a Halloween drawing of an old, humpbacked Witch leaning over a cauldron. I mentally shook myself at my own hysterical thought as my captor tightened his hold around my neck.

The last remaining Slaugh was attacking Manus from behind and blood ran from the Shifter’s shoulder. Lord Tynan ripped it away from Manus and flung it against the wall with one strong arm while he grabbed the one holding me with his other hand. Tynan’s eyes were black with rage. I studied his face, trying to concentrate on it to stay awake. The Slaugh that had me tightened his grip again, and I lost the last bit of air I was getting.

Everything went black. Again.

I awoke in the huge bed, aching from head to toe and with a screaming pain in my throat. Timidly, I looked around the room through my lashes, afraid of what I’d find.

The Slaugh were gone, and Lord Tynan was sitting at the table in the corner, Hogan pouring him wine. Hogan bowed respectfully and gave me a toothy grin and a wink as he turned to leave the room. I cringed, knowing what that wink meant. I looked down to find I was clean and wearing an outrageously revealing black lace teddy. Damn. I blushed. I started to say something to the Gnome on his way out, but it caught in my tight throat.

Lord Tynan poured a glass of water and brought it to the bed—his bed. I took it with a trembling hand and sipped. It helped the dryness of my throat, but not the tightness in my chest from being so close to him.

“Hogan’s forward,” was all I managed to squeak out as the door closed.

“I adore his taste.” Tynan gave me a devilish, sexy smile and brushed a stray hair from my eyes. I tried to swallow but it hurt too much. He’d removed his jacket and his shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal just a hint of his chest. I struggled to keep my gaze on his face. “Slaugh injuries are always more painful than they should be.” He drew in his brows in worry. “They’ve never been able to breach the castle wards before. Doran is strengthening them now. We won’t be leaving until the morning now, and I want to assure you’re safe tonight. I’ll stay with you personally.”

Oh goody. I didn’t need this. What’s the chance I could keep my hands off him all night? Hogan had left me in a skimpy bit of lace, and the man smelled so good. “Manus?” I asked, getting a little more of my voice back.

“Bevin is healing his wounds. He’ll be fine.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted an extra pillow, tucking it behind my head. His touch was gentle, his hand warm on my shoulder. I couldn’t help but imagine them touching, exploring other parts of my body. His scent filled my mind. I couldn’t control my response to his presence. I felt my power start to bloom in my abdomen, drawn to Tynan. I took in a deep breath, trying to settle the effect he was having on me. He saw my desire, probably felt it. I had no control over that part of my powers yet. I felt horrible, lying in his bed dressed to seduce, yet I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t have him, no matter how much I wanted him. I couldn’t have him longing for me all his eternal life.

He leaned in close. “I feel your desire for me, Priestess. I can’t help it. It wraps around me and calls to my senses.” His voice was low and husky, his breath hot on my cheek.

“K-Keena,” I stammered. “My name is Keena.”