She drove her mount past the edge of the forest and toward the mountains as Hywell rode at the rear.
“There are the other warriors,” Hywell yelled to her, and pointed off into the distance.
“They found them.” Seren rode up to Meilyr, Cynfarch, Gwdderig, and the other men who surrounded the frozen Silure warriors and held them at spear point.
At that moment, the Silures flinched, awakening from the freezing spell. Their mouths dropped open and their eyes widened with shock as they each found the whetted point of an Ordovices’s weapon at their flesh. With the Silures captured, Seren spurred her horse forward to round up the stolen cattle that had wandered off when the raiders fell under Gwydion’s spell.
Glad to hear the hooves of Hywell’s mount behind her, she yelled out to him, “Look for the cattle while I find Gwydion.”
The moment she spoke, both the lowing of frightened cattle and the howl of a lone wolf pierced the air. She drove her horse at a gallop toward the noise.
* * * *
Gwydion heard Seren call for him, and howled back. This caught the attention of a huge bull that stalked toward him. Gwydion was more than a wolf, he was a god, he refused to show any fear toward this beast. Hard as stone, he met the bull’s beady black eyes stare for stare. The bull snorted and kicked up dirt, then cast his large head down. The beast released a rumbling bellow. It charged, hooves hammering the dirt as it barreled forward, straight for him. Gwydion eyed the deadly horns and the brown bulk of muscles coming at him.
In wolf form, he leaped into the air just before the bull would have rammed him. Gwydion jumped over the beast, landing unscathed. He’d faced the bull and won that match. Gwydion was too agile, too quick, and too smart for a simple beast. It didn’t matter how big he was. The bull would leave him alone now, and let him drive it back to the tribe.
Just as Gwydion was preparing to shape shift to human form to herd the cattle back, a sudden piercing pain riveted his body. A spear stabbed his side. Scarlet blood pooled on the ground. He fell wounded, dying as a wolf.
* * * *
Seren’s scream rent the air as she vaulted off her horse and ran to Gwydion. The coppery scent of his blood hung on the air. His chest moved slightly with his shallow breathing and he whimpered softly, but he didn’t move. An inner pain ripped through her.
She petted his head in silence as Hywell rode up. She’d never even had a chance to tell him she wanted him to stay. She needed more than a tryst with him. Even though he would have most likely said no, she should not be robbed of the chance. Now he lay dying. No, she had to save him. Seren took a deep breath and forbade her eyes to cry or her body to tremble. She had to be strong for Gwydion, for the tribe, she was a druidess. She had forgotten about the tribe for a moment. First she needed to cast a calling spell to round up the cows and the bull and get them back to the village.
She threw her arms into the air and chanted. “Damona, divine cow goddess, summon the cattle of my tribe, bring them together to be herded home, come cattle come, hear my call.”
The bleating of cattle could be heard as cows trotted toward her and the bull strutted forward, as gentle as a puppy.
Seren turned her head toward Hywell. “As you drive the heard back, you’ll pass the other warriors. Send some of them here.”
“No, some of them will send the raiders back to the Silure village, but the other warriors will ride here for the cattle. They are probably on the way now. I am sure of it. Let me get the man who did this.” Hywell galloped off on his mount in the direction from which the spear was thrown.
Kneeling beside the dying wolf, Seren pulled off her robe and stuffed it into the wound to staunch the blood. “Gwydion, change back into human form. You were wounded as a wolf. Shift back.”
The wolf howled in agony as his body stretched. Seren embraced him, trying to offer comfort and lessen his pain. His front paws became arms and his legs shifted to those of a human. His head compressed and his scarlet-soaked fur changed to flesh. Her arms were wrapped around Gwydion’s muscular shoulders as he lay at her side.
“Are you all right? Though the spear still pierces your side, in your human form it is not in as vital a place as when you were a wolf.” Her voice broke. “Gwydion do not die. You must live.”
“Yes, I shall live. You are right, in this form the injury is no longer fatal, as a wolf it was a mortal wound, but in the form of a man I will live.”
“My mother was right.” Seren brushed a tear back from her eyes. He would live. Slowly, she took a deep breath.
“Yes, my dear Seren, your mother saved me. Still it is bad, you must pull the spear out.”
Seren knew the moment she yanked it out of him, it would cause him great pain. Her fingers shook as she wrapped them around the shaft of the spear. Forcing her fear aside, she clenched her jaw and pulled back with all her might. As he yelled in agony, the spear came free.
Laying his hand on the wound, which bled excessively, a white light glowed from his fingertips. “Scarlet river, flow no more.” The bleeding stopped. “Healing light, cure my pain, return my might.” His skin pulled together, the deep gash closed, leaving his flesh smooth and whole as if there’d been no wound.
Seren examined his side where the weapon struck. “Not even a scar remains. You had the power to heal yourself all along.” A great weight had lifted off of her. He was unharmed. All was well. Now she just had to muster her courage to tell him how she felt about him and to ask him to stay.
“Yes, if my wolf form had died, I would still have been able to live in my god or man form.”
“That is why my mam delivered the warning.” A warm glow flowed through Seren, her mother had saved Gwydion.
“Yes, she knew if I died in the form of a beast, I would still live in the form of a man.”
“All is well. The Silures will not raid us again, not anytime soon, we have the stolen cattle back and you are healed.”
She heard the sound of a horse’s hooves and turned to see Hywell riding up. “There is more. He comes with tidings of your assailant.”
Hywell reined in his chestnut stallion and eased off the saddle.
“Did you find the spearman?” Gwydion asked.
“Yes.” Hywell shrugged and in an awed tone said. “But it isn’t a man or a woman.”
“What say you?” Seren rose to a standing position and folded her arms across her chest.
“It was a god, wasn’t it?” Though calm, the tone of Gwydion’s voice had an edge to it.
“Yes.” Hywell glanced at the blood on the ground and then at Gwydion. “He vanished when we came upon him. But you have recovered well. I feared you were near death.”
“I have a good healer.” Gwydion flashed a smile at Seren, and then turned back to the warrior. “If it was Govannon, he is only doing Arianrhod’s bidding. This is what happened to Dylan.”
“Yes, he speared his nephew, Arianrhod’s son,” Seren said.
“Yes, Dylan was vulnerable, due to the curse that made him turn mortal on moonless nights. Govannon threw his spear at the God Dylan on such a night and killed him.” Gwydion closed his eyes for a moment as if remembering the sea god, who was rumored to have been his son.
“He speared you as well.” Seren buried her face in her hands, taking a moment to muster her strength.
“Arianrhod ordered him to kill Dylan, and she must have commanded him to murder me, also.” The muscles of his jaw flicked angrily and his eyes narrowed.
“But why?” Seren jerked her head up and met his gaze. She wanted to scream. He’d almost died, due to the crazy goddess.
“She ordered me dead because she is jealous of you.”
“I do not understand why a goddess would be jealous of me.” Seren shook her head.
“Because she knows I love you,” Gwydion said, in a deep voice simmering with passion.
Seren was speechless. Warm joy bubbled inside her. “I was about to tell you the same thing. Does this mean you will stay with me longe
r than Samhain?”
“Yes. Forever cariad.” Gwydion rose, stood before Seren, and pulled her into his arms.
Crushed against his muscular body, wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, she gazed into his eyes, smoldering with fire. “I love you.”
Her words were smothered as he moved his mouth over hers, devouring the wet heat of her sweet lips.
Easing his mouth from hers, his eyes gazed into hers. “It would seem we have just met cariad, but sweetheart, I have longed for you from afar. I scried you in the pond of the wise salmon, and even he said you were the woman for me.
But my heart revealed this truth long before the ancient fish did. Your beauty enchanted me. I love the sweetness of your voice, and your smile melts my very soul. But Seren, your spirit, your love for your tribe, your devotion to the gods, your joy in the land and all life upon it and your commitment to family all come from this tender, sensitive, caring heart.” He splayed his fingers against her chest where her heart lay, gently massaging the spot. “You are a rare gem, and as a dragon must hoard its treasure, I have to have you. I crossed the veil of mist from the otherworld for you, and I will not leave this world without you. There is no force of nature, nor any god or any man that can change that. Certainly not Arianrhod.”
Stepping out of the embrace, he grabbed the spear she’d pulled out of his wolf form. He waved his free hand and the weapon vanished. “I will deal with Govannon and Arianrhod later. There is something more important I must do now.”
Suddenly his strong, warm arms enveloped her again. Her sensitive breasts crushed against his firm chest. His musky, woodsy, masculine scent wafted in the air. Gwydion’s hot, full lips pressed against hers. Molten heat flooded her as her lips molded to his for what seemed like forever.
Reluctantly, he eased his mouth off hers.
“We should get back to the village,” Hywell called to them, as his mount nickered. “Must we?” Gwydion’s mouth pulled into a wry smile.
Seren wanted to tell him no, just ignore Hywell. “I fear he will not leave without us. And the tribe will worry if we do not return. I am their druid,” she shrugged, “and you are their god.”
Gwydion’s masculine laughter rippled through the air. He led Seren’s mount to her and helped her into the saddle, and then climbed onto his horse.
When they rode into the village, the other eight warriors, who had driven the bull and cows back, stood before the chief.
“Hail, Gwydion, Druidess Seren, and Hywell.” After greeting them, Neithon waited for the three to dismount and step forward, joining the others. He addressed all of them. “You are champions this day, having returned the herd and presented it to me. The tribe is grateful. A feast will be held on the morrow to honor you, nine warriors of Samhain, as well as Seren, and Gwydion.” He pointed to them.
As the warriors cheered, some young men of the tribe ran forward and drove the herd to the pasture nearest the village where they would graze for the winter.
* * * *
Seren leaned in to Gwydion and whispered, “I need to look you over more closely and make sure you are healed and all is well.”
A sensuous glint shone in his eyes. “Yes. I think you do. Let us go back to your roundhouse.”
Hand in hand, they walked at a fast pace, nodding at a few people who went by until they reached the thatched hut. Once they passed through the door, Seren grabbed Gwydion by the shoulders, peered into his eyes, and asked the all-important question. “Did you say you loved me?” She held her breath, awaiting the answer.
“With all my heart.”
She leaned toward him and looked up to peer at his arresting face, strong chin, compelling eyes, and firm, sensual lips. His mouth covered hers in an all-consuming kiss, his lips tasted like warm honey.
Gwydion raised his mouth from hers and he peered at Seren, her pulse pounded.
“Does that kiss mean you love me too?” he asked in a low, smooth voice.
“In truth it does.”
As he waved his hand in front of her, Seren’s clothing vanished.
She felt cool as she stood nude before him. “That trick of yours isn’t fair, but it does hasten things along. And that is good because I can’t wait. I need you now.”
“But I want to go slow, to explore every inch of you,” Gwydion said in a deep, masculine tone.
As he scanned her body, she felt the heat of his gaze. As she felt his warm fingers against the small of her back, he pressed his lips against hers. The wet kiss sent a delicious sensation spiraling through her. Easing his mouth off hers, he ran a trail of feathery kisses down her tingling neck.
Gwydion slid his hands down to her breasts, her hot flesh tingled. Seren’s plump mounds throbbed when he squeezed them. His tongue whisked the erect peak, searing her nipples.
He ran his hands across her stomach, his fingers left a trail burned into her skin. Gwydion dropped to his knees. Seren squirmed and let out a mew of pleasure as he swirled his wet tongue around her belly button.
With fiery possessiveness, he grasped her hips and buried his face in her crotch. She trembled as his scorching tongue licked the folds. Her breath came in quick gasps as he sunk a finger inside her. Seren’s passage clenched as he stroked her to ecstasy. Between ragged breaths, she released a desperate moan. As she shuddered with pleasure, he gently withdrew his finger.
“My turn,” Seren rasped.
Releasing his tight grip on her hips, he stood. Seren’s heart hammered as she eased the white and gold-speckled druid robe off his broad shoulders. It fell to the floor. She slipped her hands to his tunic, pulled it off him and tossed it down. Gwydion shook his head and his cascading golden hair fell in place, streaming down his back. She grasped the belt at his flat waist, untied it and pushed his plaid pants down to his ankles. He stepped out of them and slipped his shoes off. Her gaze roamed over his deep blue eyes, smoldering with fire, the powerful set of his shoulders, his chest rippling with muscles and down his firm torso to the thick, rigid flesh of his loins.
She pressed her hands against his hard chest, splayed her fingers and stroked his bare skin. After skimming her palms down the sides of his body, in a serpentine motion, she gripped his sturdy thighs. Her pulse quickened, as she dropped to her knees before him. Seren wrapped her fingers around the hot, slick flesh of his bulging cock. He groaned as she stroked the fiery flesh, sliding her hand up and down from base to tip. Opening her mouth, she stretched her lips over the fullness of his arousal. As she suckled the smooth, hard flesh, he rocked against her mouth and released an uninhibited moan of satisfaction. When she eased her lips off his hard cock, Gwydion knelt down so they were both on their knees. He pushed her onto her back and moved over her, so her thighs nestled between his.
Fiercely, his mouth covered hers and his moist lips twisted over hers. She met the press of his lips as her mouth subtly thrust against his. His tongue grazed the softness of her mouth and slid between her parted lips. Seren moaned as he plunged his wet tongue in and out. Blasts of heat surged through her.
As she slid her hands down the smooth plane of his back, the fiery point of his arousal prodded the moist folds of her heated entrance. With a powerful thrust, he sank deep into her pulsating passage. Seren bucked with the impact.
He pumped fire into her. As he pressed harder, her moans came deeper, more desperate. Seren’s heart beat erratically. When she arched into him in a frenzy of need, he drove further into her throbbing center. As her body rocked to the rhythm of his thrust, she squeezed his cock, grinding it. She sucked in a quick breath as she moved against him, gyrating in slow, insistent circles. A deep, guttural moan rose from him as he plunged higher and deeper into her.
She clenched, whimpering and trembling in spasms. Her body stilled and her pounding pulse began to slow. She took a deep breath.
Gwydion eased out of her, still panting. “Seren…Seren …you make me so happy.” His lips curved into a wide smile as intimate as a kiss.
“I as well.” She pulled up and ro
lled over so she was positioned on top, her body covering his warm, bronze flesh. “Gwydion, I could lay with you like this forever happy.”
“Forever.” He reached up, twined his fingers in her hair and pulled her head down to his, then brushed his firm lips against hers. “You know the lore of wolves.”
“They mate for life.” She pressed her lips against his in a tender, tempting kiss.
His hot breath fanned her cheek as he rasped, “You know the lore of gods.”
“They are immortal.” Seren ran her tongue against the rim of his moist lips. “I am human though.”
Gwydion covered her mouth with his in a hungry demanding kiss. When he eased his lips off of hers he said on a sigh. “Magic. Your love for a god has changed your life cycle.”
“You mean forever as in evermore? We will be together always?”
“Yes.” Gwydion’s smile filled his face, and his voice rang out with enthusiasm. “I can’t wait for Samhain. I shall have Neithon hand-fast us on the morrow at the feast for the nine warriors.”
“In truth?” Seren leaned her head back and sat up. “I don’t think you asked me if I would hand-fast with you.” She crossed her arms over her bare breasts in a feigned protest.
“You are right.” Gwydion took her hand in his. “Seren, will you wed me?”
“I have to think about it.”
The knot at his throat bobbed.
“Well, you do have gorgeous eyes and full lips.“ She ran her finger slowly across his mouth. “A large, thick pleasure weapon and an even bigger heart.” She patted the left side of his chest where his heart beat. “Then, so be it. I will hand-fast with you.”
He embraced her and rolled over so he lay on top. “We must celebrate and I know just the way.”
Seren’s trill of giggles filled the air. “You want me again. That quick?”
“Always and forever,” he chortled as he thrust into her.
Every vein in her body tingled with near intolerable pleasure. A fire spread from her quivering core, through every cell and into her hammering heart. Seren and Gwydion experienced the sensation of liquid fire flowing and pouring into each other. There was nothing in all the realms but her and Gwydion, loving each other as they drifted in mindless, euphoric bliss.
The Wolf and the Druidess Page 6