by Anna Hackett
He let out a roar and staggered back. He bent over, his hot, furious gaze on her.
“You’ll regret that,” he bit out.
“I don’t think so.” She balled her hands into fists, ready to protect herself. Not only for her sake, but for Soren.
She launched herself at Apeliotus. She raked her nails down his face and neck, and kicked at him again. Rayne had taught her some basic self-defense, so she knew a few moves.
As Apeliotus roared, she reached up, trying to poke him in the eyes. Righteous energy flowed inside her.
“I won’t let you hurt more people.” She shoved an elbow in his gut. “I won’t let you have Soren.”
Apeliotus swung out and hit her with an open palm across her cheek. She staggered, pain radiating through her face. He hit her again and she went down on her knees.
Oh, it hurt. But she’d been hit before. Stay still, little Skye and keep quiet or it will hurt much, much more.
Not this time. She reached out and grabbed Apeliotus between the legs. Her stomach revolted, but she forced herself to keep her grip tight and yanked hard.
He howled, trying to pull away, but Skye held on. He brought a hard chop down on her arm. As the sharp pain burst through her, she released him and stumbled back.
He stood in front of her, a little unsteady on his feet. “You’ll pay for that.”
Skye cradled her arm close to her chest. “It’ll be worth it.”
Apeliotus took a step forward and she braced herself for what was to come. She’d keep fighting until she couldn’t fight anymore.
A screaming howl filled the narrow street. The air rushed around Skye, turning warm and humid.
Apeliotus stumbled back and glanced behind her. Whatever he saw turned his face white.
She looked over her shoulder. Soren was running. His powerful arms held out, pushing his wind at his enemy. He looked like a warrior, an avenging angel.
Soren glanced at Skye, his face tightening. “You touched her. You hurt her.”
“Join me, Warrior.” Apeliotus spread his arms. “Forget her. Welcome the greed and we can have more.”
Skye heard the pleading in his tone, the faint touch of desperation.
“I will take everything from you, Tempest Wind.” Soren’s tone was icy cold.
For the first time, Skye felt a flicker of true fear. She stared at his face and found it twisted and hard.
Soren lunged forward and grabbed Apeliotus by the collar of his shirt. He lifted the Tempest Wind off his feet. “I will relish taking everything from you, including your life.”
No. Skye scrambled up, clutching her ripped shirt together. This was wrong. Somehow, deep inside, she knew if Soren destroyed Apeliotus with greed, that he would lose. He would lose his soul to his vice.
She tried to move forward, but the howling East Wind buffeted her back. Where were the others?
“Soren, no!” Her belly spasmed.
But her scream was snatched away by the growing wind. She couldn’t reach him.
No. Please. She had to do something.
But she was useless. She had no power. No special abilities. She only had herself.
Something broke open inside her. She had to save the man she loved and she wouldn’t give up.
Skye started to sing.
All Soren saw in his mind was Skye—red cheek, blood on her hands and knees, her shirt torn open.
He wanted revenge for that.
He wanted Apeliotus to suffer. The Tempest Wind had made her relive the worst moments of her past and Soren couldn’t forgive that.
For a man on the verge of destruction, Apeliotus looked smug. A small smirk quirked his lips and his eyes were alight.
Soren didn’t care. The man wouldn’t be laughing when Soren had taken every last thing he valued, including his freedom.
“Soren. Soren!”
His name penetrated, but he wouldn’t be distracted from his task. He moved, slamming Apeliotus down hard into the ground. The Tempest Wind groaned.
Soren stared down. Apeliotus represented all the suffering Soren had felt, all the torment the greed had caused him. The Tempest Wind also represented the man who’d hurt a young Skye.
Oh, yes. This would feel very, very good. Soren raised his hands above the Apeliotus.
“Si, Warrior.” Blood stained the man’s teeth. “Do it. Give in to your greed.”
Soren reared back, his wind swirling around him ready to land the killing blow. Then a sound made him pause.
A distant melody drifted to him on a gentle breeze. A breeze filled with a quiet power that he recognized, but had never felt before.
He shook his head. Skye?
Skye was singing. Her lovely voice twined around him, her breeze melding with his. He looked up and saw her crouched on the other side of Apeliotus. Her blue eyes were fixed on Soren and her palms were held upward.
Sending her breeze to bring him her song.
Her voice rose and fell, and he listened to her words. A beautiful song, about love and giving. About a woman who would do anything for the man she loved. And a man, who would give her the world.
Give, not take.
Memories crashed in on Soren. He released Apeliotus and clamped his hands on his head. Pain was a searing burn across his eyes.
Skye smiling. Skye laughing. Skye lying back on his big bed.
His brothers. Dio. Everything rushed in, filling the empty, hungry void his vice had made inside him. But along with his love for his brothers came something else.
A fascination with one small woman. An honest need he knew was already growing into something more.
She’d stopped singing, but her notes lingered in the air. He looked at her now and she shot him a tremulous smile. He smiled back.
“No.” Apeliotus’ face twisted. “No!”
Soren heard the sound of running footsteps and voices behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Luca, Lorenzo, Dante, and Antonio running toward him. Right behind them were the women.
“Soren, are you okay?” Luca said.
“Si, mio fratello. I am. Better than I’ve ever been.” Soren straightened.
The fierce frown on Luca’s face eased. “Soren?”
Soren nodded. “My memories have returned.”
Two harsh exclamations. A deep one from Apeliotus and a quieter one from Skye.
Rayne circled around and pulled Skye into a hard embrace.
Soren leaned down and hauled up the Southeast wind. “Game over, Apeliotus.”
“Never,” the man spat. “The Tempest Winds will never stop. We will fight to free our vices and rule the world.”
“And my brothers and I will always fight to keep you imprisoned. The Warriors of the Wind will never stop fighting to protect the world.” His gaze drifted to Skye. “And the people in it.” Soren summoned the East Wind. “Your time here is done.”
With his full power and his memories of his duty as a Warrior, Soren pulled his wind around him. The East Wind rushed around them, warm and humid, ready to do his bidding.
It grew until it was a hard roar. Then Soren threw his arm out and the wind swallowed Apeliotus.
The Tempest Wind didn’t scream, but he fought. He struggled and twisted, even as his body disintegrated, like dust in the air.
Then he was gone.
Soren breathed deeply for the first time in months. He was free. To do exactly what he chose.
His gaze zeroed in on Skye.
She stood, her head down. She looked…lost. His heart gave a hard lurch and he barely resisted snatching her up. “Skye? Are you okay?”
She lifted her head and shot him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”
“You used your power.”
She blinked and stared at her hands. “I did? Oh, I did.” Her smile was blinding. She looked at her sister. “Rayne. I used my breeze!”
Rayne’s lips trembled. “I know, baby. I’m so happy for you.”
“I feel…free. Whole.�
� Skye pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes gleaming. “I can’t believe it. I’m not broken.”
“You never were,” Soren said fiercely.
Her smile dimmed. “You’re free now, too, Soren. You have your memory back and you defeated Apeliotus. You have your life back.”
Why the hell did he sense a goodbye in there somewhere? Now that her sacrifice was no longer needed, was she…done with him? Had all this just been a mission for her? A way to find herself by saving someone else?
If it was, he wasn’t sure he could bear it. Because he had a frightening feeling he was falling in love with Skye Santini.
Luca moved up shoulder-to-shoulder with Soren. “We need to carry out the Ritual of the Four Winds.”
Soren knew that. They’d all defeated their enemies, but left unchecked, they would slowly grow in power again. The ritual would send them back to their prison and lock them back in the bodies of horses on Isola del Vento. There, they’d be guarded by Lorenzo, the Keeper of the Winds.
Soren looked again at Skye. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze. Her hands were clenched together in front of her. He hated that she looked so defeated when moments before her strength had helped him defeat Apeliotus.
He strode forward. “No. Not now.”
Skye’s head snapped up and she stared at him. “Soren—”
“Luca, the ritual can wait. The Tempest Winds aren’t going anywhere just this minute.” Soren had a need far more urgent than the evil that had plagued them all the last few weeks. “Meet me tonight at the villa. We’ll carry out the ritual then.”
Luca stepped forward, his brows drawn. “Soren—”
Turning back to Skye, Soren scooped her into his arms.
“Soren.” Just a whisper, filled with uncertainty. “You don’t need me anymore—”
“Apparently you have no idea what I need.” All he knew was that right now, Skye needed him. Needed him to prove just how much he needed her. “Will you ride the wind with me?”
She nibbled on her lip, but nodded.
The East Wind swirled around them, and as their bodies began to turn into the wind, Soren relished the fact that he and Skye were one and meant to be together.
But could he convince her to stay?
Chapter Eight
As they rematerialized back in the villa, Skye took a second to savor the final feel of being the wind. Her power was free now, and being able to call the breeze was amazing, but Aurae couldn’t become the wind like Warriors.
Oh God, her power was free! She still couldn’t believe it. She wanted to dance and sing in the breeze. But her happiness was entwined with sadness.
After today, she’d have no reason to spend time with the Warriors. No reason to spend time with Soren.
He carried her across the terrace and into the house. He didn’t stop in the living area and soon they entered his bedroom. As he set her on her feet, she glanced at the big bed, pain piercing her chest. She looked away and saw he was watching her.
His gray eyes were calm now. No thunderclouds, just a clean, pearl gray that she loved even more.
Loved. Oh, God, she wasn’t stupid enough to fall for this man, was she? A gorgeous billionaire like him would have no use for a shy, quiet woman now that he was recovered.
“I’m so pleased your memories have returned.” The way he watched her made her want to fidget. “And with the Tempest Winds gone—” she cleared her tight throat “—things can return to normal now.”
His eyes narrowed. “Nothing will be normal again.”
She couldn’t work out what he was thinking, but she sensed his dangerous mood.
“What are your plans now, Skye?” His voice was like dark silk.
“Ah—” she plucked at her shirt “—head back to London, I suppose. I’m not sure.” This was cutting her up. She hated the thought of leaving him.
“You’re going to leave me? Just like that?”
The sharp whip of his words cut her. “You have your memory back. You don’t need me.”
He stalked up to her, backing her into the wall. “I need you more than ever.”
The hard heat of him thrilled her and made her heart thump a crazy beat. She wanted to believe his words. “You can have your glamorous lifestyle back.”
“Dammit, Skye. All I want is you.” He pressed his lips to her cheek, his breath hot on her skin. His hand slid down her side and his mouth trailed down her neck. “What do I need to do to convince you of that?”
“Soren—”
“You’re mine.” He looked her straight in the eyes. He gripped her hand and pressed it to the front of his trousers. The hard bulge filled her palm and she quivered. “That’s how much I want you.” He moved her other hand to his chest, over the firm beat of his heart. “This beats for you now, Skye.”
Emotion rushed into her, until tears stung her eyes. She was too afraid to believe this was true.
“You’re mine.” He nibbled at her lips. “You’re my Aurae, my savior, my love. You helped me defeat the greed. It was you, Skye, who made me realize that if I give instead of take, I can have far more precious treasures.”
“Oh, Soren.”
“It was you. Your sweetness, your generosity, your courage, even when you’re afraid. That’s what I love about you. That’s what I need in my life.”
She cupped his handsome face, unable to find any words.
“Stay with me?” he murmured. “Forever?”
She gripped his shoulders. “Yes. Yes!”
With a triumphant laugh, he scooped her into his arms. “Now I’m claiming you. So you’ll never forget who you belong to.”
He laid her on the bed and methodically stripped her of her clothes. She watched the man she was falling in love with take off his shirt, baring his glorious, lean chest. Then he shucked off his trousers and she was mesmerized by the sight of his long cock arching upward.
She scrambled up and reached for him. She smoothed her hand up his cock and relished his groan. As she explored him, she’d never felt more turned on. “I want to taste you.”
He groaned again. “I won’t last and I want to be inside you.”
“Just a quick lick.”
His groan this time was deep and long.
Skye dragged in a deep breath. Her man. Her choice. Her desire. She ran her tongue along his length and felt his big body shudder. For her. Then she sucked him into her mouth. He tasted salty. Not knowing exactly what to do, she followed her instincts and his sounds of pleasure.
She was just finding a rhythm when his hands gripped her shoulders and pushed her back on the bed.
When he pressed his palms and knees onto the bed and loomed above her, she was mindless with desire.
“You are so beautiful, cara.” He stretched out beside her, turning her onto her left side. He snuggled in behind her, and she felt the hard jut of his cock against her buttocks. “Just let me love you.”
His big hand slid over her hip, trailed across her belly, and dipped between her legs. When he found the small nub of her clit, she bucked and cried out.
“Shh. Just feel.” A hot whisper in her ear.
His wicked fingers swirled and flicked. She arched her back, pushing into his touch. Then he was lifting her thigh up over his hip and before she realized what was happening, he thrust into her.
“Soren!” Oh, it felt so good. She pressed her hands into the mattress, enjoying the feel of him plastered against her, surrounding her, and the full stretch as he pushed inside her. He started thrusting, his body slapping against hers. She loved this, but needed more.
She turned her head and he was there, his mouth finding hers.
His finger worked her clit. “Come for me, Skye.”
Sensations swelled inside her and a moment later, she splintered apart. She cried out and after another hard thrust, he groaned into her hair, jetting his release inside her.
Their harsh breathing was the only sound in the room. Their sated, sweaty bodies were a warm tangle and she never
wanted to let him go.
He pressed a kiss to her hair. “Let me fall in love with you, Skye? You have to say yes.”
She smiled. “Yes. A hundred times yes.”
He stroked a hand down her arm. “Our pasts will always be there.” He turned her to look at him, his hands cupping her face. “They made us into the people we are today, so we can’t forget them. The ghost of greed will always be inside me.”
“And my ghost will always be there, too,” she said quietly.
“But together we have the chance to move on. We can build something new, something stronger.”
She nodded. “Together.” She leaned forward and kissed him.
The kiss was long and slow and lazy. But soon it heated, and turned more frantic.
Soren fell onto his back and gripped her hips. He shifted her firmly astride him. “Fancy another chance to ride the wind?”
Her laughter filled the room. “Soren!”
Soren held onto Skye’s hand as they walked out through the front door of the villa. The sun was setting, turning the lake to liquid gold ringed by shadowed mountains.
At the base of the stairs, his brothers waited, each of them also holding the hand of the woman who’d crashed into their world at the worst possible time and helped save them.
His fingers tightened on Skye’s hand. Grazie Dio.
Luca nodded to him. “You look…rested.”
Soren saw Skye blush and smiled. “Si, I am.”
“It’s time we finish this.” Dante tugged Samia close to his side. “We plan to take a vacation. A long one.”
“Sounds good to me.” Antonio flashed his trademark smile at Sophia. “What do you think?”
“A white beach, sunshine, and a small bikini.” Sophia winked. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”
Antonio groaned. “Nor from me.”
“I just want to get back to my island and my horses,” Lorenzo muttered.
Beside him, Riley rolled her eyes. “And not have to deal with or talk to any people.”
A faint smile lifted Lorenzo’s lips. “Except for you, bella.”
Rayne slung an arm across Skye’s shoulders. “So, you Warriors get this ritual done. Then I plan to have a long talk with Soren about taking good care of my baby sister.”