by Donna Grant
Helena shifted her head to look into his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile. “Me?”
“Aye,” he murmured in a husky voice.
There was an intensity in his pale orbs that made her stomach flutter. “What about?”
There was a long pause before he said, “Everything.”
Her heart missed a beat as he flipped her onto her back and leaned over her. She ran her hand down his beard-covered jaw. Her body heated the moment she felt his cock harden.
“I want you,” he said.
Valdr’s head snapped up, and his ears perked. The next second, Jarin was on his feet, facing the direction the wolf stared. Helena watched the warrior, her gaze shifting to the rippling sinew and the power that rolled off him in waves.
She slowly got to her feet once Valdr lowered his head again. Aside from rising, Jarin hadn’t moved. She came up behind him and put her hand on his back.
“You deserve better than me,” he said.
Helena pressed her lips to the indent of his spine then laid her cheek against him. “I wholeheartedly disagree.”
“I have no life to give you. I roam, tracking down the Coven.”
She flattened her palm on his arm and caressed downward until she reached his fisted hand. It took some effort, but she pried his fingers open and then linked her hand with his.
“You have given me more than I’ve ever had. I like how I feel with you. I thought you felt the same.”
The sound that fell from his lips was half moan, half snort. “More than you will ever know.”
“Then stop talking nonsense and kiss me.”
In the next breath, he had her flattened against one of the stones, pressing his body against hers. She sank her fingers into his silky hair while he ravaged her lips.
His large hands slid around the backs of her thighs and spread her legs as he lifted her. Once her legs were around him, he thrust into her.
Helena tore her lips from him, gasping at the feel of him. She tightened her arms around his neck and met his gaze.
“I would never have been able to refuse the call of your body regardless if I was supposed to be celibate or not,” he admitted.
“Take me. I am yours.”
He growled and began driving into her hard and deep. His eyes briefly flashed white when his pace quickened. She forgot about everything as desire took her, flinging her toward the precipice of her climax.
She clung to him, her legs tightening the faster he moved. While she didn’t understand how or why he had such control over her body, she accepted it—welcomed it, in fact. She had told him the truth when she said that she was his. Because she was.
From the first time she’d seen him, though she didn’t realize it then. It became apparent when they kissed. Despite—or perhaps because of—the danger surrounding them, she recognized the enticement, the pull that Jarin had over her.
Her thoughts vanished like smoke when his lips latched on to her neck, kissing and licking the sensitive skin. She cried out when she peaked, her body bucking against his from the orgasm.
He never stopped moving, prolonging her pleasure until she shook with it. When the climax finally faded, her breaths came in great gasps. She held Jarin tightly, and it wasn’t long before he gave a final thrust and filled her body once more with his seed.
She had been so wrapped up in the desire that she hadn’t thought of the consequences of their coupling. And if she were going to face the Coven, she couldn’t think about them now either.
Her eyes closed as she buried her head in the crook of his neck. Without asking what was wrong, Jarin carried her to the fire and laid her gently on the ground.
“All will be well,” he whispered before giving her a long, tender kiss.
She curled up on her side facing the fire with Jarin pressed against her back. Helena couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to hold a child she had made with Jarin.
She didn’t even know she had put her hand on her stomach until his palm covered hers, silently acknowledging what could happen. It was wrong for her to allow her mind to travel down such a road.
Losing her first babe had nearly destroyed her. She had reconciled herself to never having another child again, but then Jarin gave her hope.
“Sleep,” he bade.
With her body lethargic from their lovemaking, her eyes closed of their own accord.
Jarin kept his hand over Helena’s on her stomach. The thought of her belly swelling with his child made him giddy. When he decided to become a warrior for the Varroki, he’d known he would never have a family or children of his own. It hadn’t bothered him.
Until he saw Helena holding her stomach. Jarin had known immediately what was going through her mind, and his own thoughts followed down that same path. A kernel of hope was planted in his heart then. A wish he dared not share with anyone.
He had no idea what was coming with the Coven, and that worried him. As he and Helena traveled, his mind had gone in many directions regarding why the Coven wanted her so desperately—and none of the conclusions were good.
Would he be enough to keep her out of the Coven’s reach? Jarin had never questioned his magic before, but he did now. Because he cared for Helena.
He waited until her breathing evened with sleep before he rose and dressed. He covered her with his cloak and gently stroked a hand down her red tresses. With a nod to Valdr to guard her, Jarin left the confines of Stonehenge to search for food.
Hunting was something he’d always done without magic. The Earth gave up her bounty to feed him, so the least he could do was respect the animals enough to give them a fair chance.
He ignored a deer that would supply too much meat—he hated being wasteful. Instead, he focused on other small game. Jarin’s patience was well worth it when a hare hopped across his path.
Withdrawing a strip of leather and a smooth pebble, he placed the rock in the band and began to wind it up. He released the rock, watching it sail through the air and make contact with the rabbit. The animal was dead upon impact.
Jarin made his way to the hare and placed his hand upon it. “Thank you for your sacrifice,” he whispered.
He lifted the animal up and turned to retrace his steps back to the stones when a bird flew over him, landing on a branch a few feet away. As soon as his gaze fell on the falcon, he recognized Andi.
“You made it back,” he said to the bird and held out his arm.
She didn’t hesitate to come to him, landing on his arm and staring at him with her intelligent eyes.
“Thank you for making the trip,” he told her.
He was about to continue walking when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Jarin hadn’t brought his staff with him, but he didn’t need it in order to do magic.
“She did much more than make the trip,” said a deep voice behind him.
Jarin turned and locked eyes with Armir, who strode from between two trees. “What are you doing here?”
“Giving you what you need,” the commander said. “Information.”
Jarin smiled at Andi. The falcon never failed to impress him. “How did you figure it out?” he asked Armir.
Light green eyes met his. “Your bird went to the abbey and found Asa.”
Jarin couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought to send Andi there. He rubbed the bird’s chest. “Smart girl. Well done.”
“Aye, she is a special one.”
Jarin returned his attention to Armir. He held the commander’s stare for a long moment. “It has to be very important for you to make the journey.”
“I shall tell you everything, but first, bring me to Helena. I would like to meet her.”
Jarin hesitated. The laws might have been changed, but he wasn’t sure how Armir felt about them. More than that, he didn’t want the commander finding Helena naked.
He whistled to Andi, who flew off in the direction of Stonehenge. Hopefully, the bird would be able to wake Helena so she could dress.
“I see,” Armir re
plied.
Jarin raised a brow. “What is it you think you see?”
“Quite a lot, actually. In case you were interested, I agree with Malene’s reversal of our laws. Even if I did not, you need not hide your affair with the witch.”
“It’s private.”
Armir bowed his head. “As it should be. Shall I let you go ahead and prepare her before I arrive?”
“As concerned as I am with you seeing her without clothes, I am more troubled by the news you bring. It is as bad as I fear, isn’t it?”
Armir glanced away, his lips flattening briefly. “How strong, mentally, is Helena?”
“She will be able to handle whatever you tell her.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Jarin did, as well. He motioned for Armir to follow as they made their way to the stones. The commander filled him in on life at Blackglade, but Jarin barely heard him. His thoughts kept going to the worst things that would bring Armir to them.
When they reached Stonehenge, Helena stood beneath one of the great lintels, awaiting them. She gave him a welcoming smile before turning her gaze to Armir.
Jarin walked to her and took her hand. “Helena, this is Armir. The commander has come from Blackglade to give us answers.”
Her gaze slid back to Armir before she offered him a smile and stepped aside. “Please, join us.”
17
There were many things Helena had imagined when Jarin spoke about the Varroki. She might have even envisioned someone in her mind when he mentioned Armir. But the tall, muscular man standing before her who looked like a Viking with his piercing light green eyes and long, blond hair gathered at the back of his head, the thick length wrapped in strips of leather every four inches until the end that reached down to his mid-shoulders, was nothing like she expected.
She couldn’t look away from Armir’s head that was shaved on either side and adorned with tattoos. No beard dusted his hard jaw or covered the sharp cheekbones and hollowed cheeks. With just one look, she realized Armir was a man you wanted as a friend, not an enemy.
She had been surprised when she woke to find Andi perched on one of the massive rocks and looking down at her. Helena had immediately sat up to look for Jarin. When she didn’t see him, she dressed, all the while, her gaze scanning the area for signs of movement. The fact that Valdr was calm helped to keep her that way, as well.
Finally, Jarin had appeared, but he wasn’t alone. She instinctively knew that things were about to change—and not just because she and Jarin were no longer alone.
Jarin grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze before releasing it and trailing Armir to enter the circle of stones.
Helena looked out into the dark night. Somewhere out there, the Coven wreaked havoc on innocents or unsuspecting witches. How much longer until she was next? As daunting as that prospect was, Helena would almost rather face the Coven than whatever knowledge Armir intended to pass on.
As soon as Jarin had introduced Armir, she deduced that the commander had come to them with information. Most likely information that could help her and Jarin fight the Coven.
But it might also be something else.
If she intended to come out alive when she fought the Coven—which she did—then she needed to know everything. No matter how difficult it was to hear.
Or acknowledge.
She turned on her heel and made her way to the fire. Valdr rose and trotted to her while licking his lips as Jarin stood off to the side, preparing their meal to roast over the flames.
Helena gave the wolf a good rub before she lowered herself to the ground and found her gaze going to Armir, who sat on her left. They were near enough to the fire to feel the heat and for the red-orange glow to fall over them.
The movement of the flames caused the light that fell upon Armir’s head to give the illusion that the tats on his head moved.
“You are wary of me,” he stated.
Helena’s gaze moved to Jarin when he paused and looked up at her. She was happy when Valdr lay beside her, for petting him gave her hands something to do.
She met the commander’s gaze. “You are the second Varroki I have encountered, and you are a stranger. I am leery of all strangers. However,” she said after a long pause, “I trust Jarin, and he trusts you. So, I will trust you.”
He issued a nod in acceptance of her words. “I understand that few witches are allowed to learn of their magic as we are in Blackglade. You hide from those who fear what you can do.”
“I’ve lost count of the number of women I’ve seen viciously killed for being a witch when they had no magic. Fear and superstition run deep through the land.”
Jarin paused and said, “Everywhere.”
“So, aye,” she told Armir. “I have always hidden my magic. First from others, then from the Coven. It is all I have known, and it is all most witches know unless they are part of the Coven.”
Armir snapped a blade of grass from the ground and rolled it between his fingers. He stared at it a long time before he said, “There are other, smaller covens to help protect witches.”
“You and I both know that the Coven went after them first. If any are still around, they are barely hanging on,” she replied.
His green eyes might be light, but the paleness only made them more intense. Helena wondered if all Varroki had eyes like Jarin’s and Armir’s.
“I suppose you think the Varroki should have done more.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jarin still, and his head snap up to watch them. Helena sensed that she was being tested, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Obviously, the trust issue went both ways.
“Since I knew nothing of the Varroki, how could I possibly think that?”
“What about after you learned about us?” Armir pressed.
She shrugged. “What is the point of lamenting all the wrongs I believe have happened to me and all those who might be responsible?”
Armir turned his head to look at Jarin. “Malene would like her.”
“Aye,” Jarin said, a smile pulling at his lips as he met Helena’s gaze.
She found her own lips lifting in a grin. Then she remembered why Armir was here. She waited until Jarin put the rabbit over the fire to cook, then she said, “Whatever it is you’ve come to tell us, please, just say it.”
Armir held her gaze a long minute before he nodded. “As I told Jarin, the falcon did not come directly to Blackglade. It stopped at the abbey first.”
“Asa,” Helena replied. “Of course.”
Jarin’s lips twisted. “I should have thought of that.”
“You were worried,” Armir said. “You knew sending the bird to us would bring someone to you. Andi sharing what had transpired with Asa allowed Malene to do some research before I came.”
Jarin drew in a breath and released it. “What did she find?”
Helena’s heart slammed against her ribs, and her hands grew clammy, all because she was nervous and frightened to hear whatever Armir was about to say. She tried to swallow, but all the moisture had left her mouth.
Armir’s light green eyes swung to her. “What do you know of your family?”
She was taken aback by the question. Helena gave a small shake of her head as she shrugged. “They farmed the same piece of land for two generations. My family was poor but respected.”
“What about your ancestors?” Armir pushed.
Helena glanced at Jarin. “I know nothing.”
“Armir,” Jarin said, his voice pitched dangerously low.
The commander cut his eyes to Jarin as the two silently faced off across the fire. Finally, Armir returned his gaze to her. “I ask because I wanted to know how much you knew of your heritage.”
That’s when she realized what he wanted. “You wish to know if there were other witches in my family. My mother was one, as was my grandmother and great-grandmother. The one thing I can tell you is that it seems only females are born to my mother’s line. The fact that m
y father didn’t have a son is the one thing he hated above all. My mum had seven babies, all girls. I was the only one to survive.”
“Interesting,” Armir murmured to himself. He took a quick inhale then said, “Jarin was right in his suspicions that the Coven was after you in particular.”
She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. “Because I escaped from them twice?”
“That might have something to do with it, but Malene has another theory.”
Helena hated how quiet Jarin had become. The more Armir spoke, the deeper the frown on Jarin’s brow furrowed, which only made her worry grow. “What is that theory?”
Armir rubbed his hand over his jaw. “The Coven is after the bones of the First Witch.”
“That is not news to me.”
Jarin mumbled something under his breath. Helena glanced at him then turned her attention back to Armir, who watched her carefully. A chill ran down her back, a warning that she needed to prepare herself.
“The Coven wants all parts of the First Witch,” Armir continued. “The bones are all that is left. At least that is what we thought, but it seems as if Sybbyl has learned something from having the Staff of the Eternal.”
Helena’s mind raced to try and put all the pieces together. Everything kept coming back to her. She shook her head, not wanting to believe it.
“While the bones of the First Witch hold great power, there is something that has massive amounts more,” Armir said. “A descendant.”
Helena was suddenly cold to her very soul. She wrapped her arms around herself. “Nay.”
Armir didn’t let her look away. “Malene has read every book in her library three times, and it is a considerable collection. There is an old text that speaks of the First Witch. In it is one line that mentions her three daughters. One remained in Norway, one traveled to Scotland, and the other traveled southeast. The one thing that connects them to the First Witch is that only females are born to the line.”
Helena was going to be sick. It was bad enough when she believed the Coven wanted her for retribution, but to discover that they were after her because she was a descendant of the First Witch was another matter entirely.