Page 95 of Birthright

Karackos struggled forward. “You know the words, bind yourself to me freely.”

“I freely bind myself to you, Karackos. I surrender my power and my liberty to your service. I will follow you and you alone.” The words came out from behind a fierce grimace.

Karackos jumped in glee. “You may drop the circle now, Lady Keena. He will no longer attempt to harm you or yours, will you, Nessum?”

“Not while I am in your bondage. But that will not last forever.” He stumbled forward toward Karackos, as though being pulled. Karackos huffed but Nessum kept his gaze on me, eyes burning with a promise of retribution. I wished he hadn’t changed his mind. I would have preferred him dead. They moved back to the circle in which I had summoned Karackos. I sent them back in a puff of thick, black smoke.

As soon as Nessum was gone, Feldema collapsed, completely stripped of what little power remained. The bystanders were all silent, watching, the sounds of the battlefield died down to only the hum of the ley line.

“Keena?”

I was looking at Jordan—but it was Tynan’s voice I heard from behind me. His voice laced with confusion and tenderness.

The voice of a man who remembered he loved me.

Jordon’s gaze went over my head. I felt Tynan moving closer.

Jordan tensed and then looked back to me and nodded. “The spell is broken.” The words were a mere whisper on his lips. “This should be interesting.”

I turned. My heart exploded. His clothes were splattered with blood. His stride was unsure. He was remembering, trying to piece together the last months. The emotions so plainly crossed his beautiful face. “You set me free?”

The crowd had started milling about. Others were talking and cleaning up the area. Someone helped Feldema from behind us. I was aware of all this but I could only look into those huge, dark blue eyes.

I wanted to jump for joy and scream in anger. I wanted him back. I wanted him free. Jordan placed his hand on my back for support. The reassuring touch reminded me that this too was out of my control. Tynan was back. And what that meant for the three of us would have to play out in time.

Tynan had stopped a few feet from us. His breathing was slow, his hands frozen at his side. He didn’t seem to know what to do. Jordan pushed me from behind. “Go to him, Keena. He needs you now.”

I took a step forward. My legs were shaky. I felt a tear make its way down my cheek. I wanted him back. Now that I saw that look in his eyes, I knew I would never give him up again. “Tynan.”

He swept me into his arms. The warmth of his embrace gave me strength. “Oh God! I’ve missed you!” I took his face in my hands and held it still for a moment. I needed to look at him, to hold him. I pressed a single kiss to his forehead. I didn’t comprehend how much I had missed him until I felt his body against mine, felt his heart pounding in his chest. I wept openly into his shirt. “I had to, Tynan. It was my only chance to break the bond. I wanted you to be happy.”

“Did I not seem happy to you? I knew I had lost something. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But I missed something—I missed love. I missed you.” He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me as though he would never get the opportunity again. I returned the fervor of that passion.

“You have much to answer for, Ma Guerrière. Much to answer for.” He looked over my head to the half-Demon behind me.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Jordan said.

Tynan pushed a loose stand of hair from my face and gave Jordan a commiserating nod. It felt so good to be in his arms. “She is a handful, isn’t she?”

Doran and the other Witches who had been helping me hold the circle were on the ground as if they had been thrown. One of Doran’s consorts tried to help her up, but she shooed him away. “Bring her to me, Lord Tynan.”

Tynan did as he was told and carried me to her, setting me before her. I was so weak I couldn’t stand on my own, my legs folding as I sank tiredly before Doran. Jordan kneeled, positioning himself behind me so I could lean against his strength. Tynan knelt at my side to openly declare his renewed position.

Doran placed one hand on my shoulder and she lovingly smiled at Tynan. With a raised hand, she hushed the crowd.

“Keena, Priestess of the Wild, child of the twenty-first daughter of Agnus the Betrayed, born under the full moon, I claim you and hold you duty bound to the Kith as High Priestess. In one year and one day you shall succeed me and assume your birthright as leader of the council and conscience of the Kith. The prophecy comes to fulfillment before the eyes of the gathered and seals you to us.”

The crowd cheered.

“Be well and be wise, my niece.”

CHAPTER 40

Isoaked in the bath alone. I’d insisted on just a few minutes to myself, to let the steam and the hot water pull the trembling out of my limbs. I shuddered despite the heat. So much could have gone wrong. I could have gotten myself killed, gotten Feldema killed, gotten the two men I loved killed. My mind drifted to my sister, and the ache settled deep in my chest. Feldema would live. She would recover from her injuries. But she would be weakened for the rest of her life, and I didn’t yet know how much of her power she’d ever get back. And I worried about the punishment. The council would not be kind to her.

“You can’t help her tonight, Ma Guerrière.” Tynan settled on the edge of the tub, unhurried, as though he’d always been there. “Though I know your heart wants to.”

I was still adjusting to having both of them here. He brushed those long fingers across the line of my jaw. “I have missed much, it seems.”