by Brynna Curry
“Is she dead?”
“No. Bound inside her mind.” He tapped his temple. “I don’t like to play with someone’s conscious, but it was that or–well, you get the idea. Call the police, Skye. She’s not going anywhere.”
“Already on their way.”
* * * *
The dance stood at the top of the rise overlooking the sea, each stone an ancient, weathered sentinel guarding the village below. He understood their duty, shared in that. And it was duty to the clan that brought him to stand outside the circle. He would give her a chance to gain the same freedom he had. Hope.
Devin turned and looked down towards Liv’s cottage. The roof was covered with snow from the night’s storm. A trickle of smoke rose from the chimney into the crisp December air. He smiled when he thought of his cousins, many generations removed and the gifts their loves had given him. The spell had been broken, for the most part anyway. He was free. Free to return to McLoch lands in Scotland, though his clan was here in Ireland now. Did the castle still stand? He needed to see it, wanted to close that chapter of his life. After that? Well, he wasn’t sure, but he would always come back to Corrigan land.
Jack and Liv would have their hands full in a few years with Raine when her powers emerged. It would be up to him to bind them and teach her how to control her magic. Ryan and Kate’s Allaina was a force to be reckoned with. Skye had his Rhiannon and they would need each other in the days to come. God, he would miss them terribly.
Devin turned back toward the dance and studied the barrier surrounding the stones. Time to face the music and meet the tempting seductress who haunted his dreams. He searched out his power, took hold, and created a protective shield around himself just in case the woman decided to attack. The snow under his feet melted as he stepped through the stones into Arianne’s cage.
She stood just a few feet away, wearing a long velvet dress the color of blood that left her throat and shoulders bare. Dark curls rioted down her back to her waist. Her eyes were pure hell smoke. Her full lips curved slightly at one corner when she spoke.
“Ah, Daemon’s Fire. My knight in shining armor come to set me free at last.”
Devin watched her glide towards him, her hips rolling with the movement. No point in denying Arianne was breathtaking, or his body’s immediate response to her charms, but even her beauty couldn’t hide the selfish nature coiled tight around her cold heart. Another time and place he would have forgiven that part of her, maybe even embraced Arianne’s wicked nature, but he’d changed. Allie had opened his heart, and to return to that dark life would be a betrayal of the worst kind. “I’m no knight.”
“And I’m no lady.” Arianne crossed the space between, pressed against him, slid her cool hands around his neck and pulled him down to meet her kiss. Her lips were soft and giving beneath his, warm and honey sweet. Addictive.
Wrapping her tightly in his arms, Devin allowed himself the feel of her dark power. Let the lust for it–and her–snake through him. Taking the kiss deeper, he captured her moan of triumph. Heat crawled into his loins, begging him to take her. Was it Daemon’s magic that compelled him, or genuine lust? “Do you want me, Ari?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love me, Arianne Farrell?”
“Does it matter?”
“It matters to me.”
Her cool hand slid down and stroked him through his black jeans.
“It would seem not all of you is in agreement. Do you love me, Devin McLoch? For all your wicked selfish ways, has your wild heart fallen for me over the years of looking into the glass?”
“No. I don’t. I’m not sure I even like you, but I want you, which I suppose leaves something lacking in my character.” He kissed her again, trapping her hand between them, bringing such aching torture, but if he was to have Arianne, to be tied to her for eternity, he would settle for nothing less than everything. He craved the love his cousins had found. “Give it up. Turn away from the dark, Ari, and I’ll give you everything you’ll ever need.”
“Are you mad? There’s nothing you can give me that I can’t conjure with my sorcery.”
Devin spun her toward the nearest large standing stone until her back pressed against the pulsing rock. “I can give you children.” Feeling her sharp jerk, he knew he’d found her weakness. She wanted a child. Trailing his mouth from hers, he left small kisses down her jaw and throat. Arianne shuddered underneath his touch and leaned into him. “You are the most maddening woman I’ve ever met.”
“Why, thank you.”
“Come with me and turn away from the dark. I’ll give you a future, Arianne.”
“No. I will never give up my power.”
“Your choice.” Devin flashed out of the circle, away from Arianne’s heat. Stubborn woman. Why had he thought he could change her mind? He’d had to try. She might be cold, but she wasn’t heartless. She was part of the clan as much as any of the others. He would not, could not give up on her. Not quite yet.
Epilogue
Three weeks later
He’d made it through Christmas, Rhiannon thought as she stood over her father’s grave, roses in hand. Cool wind brushed her cheeks, drying the tears her heart couldn’t contain. She didn’t cry for her Da, but for herself.
Her mother stood just to her left, cloaked in black from head to toe. Molly supported her, while sobs wrenched from her throat as she mourned her lost love.
Ryan and Liv stood behind them with their families.
The priest prayed over the casket and she leaned into Skye, who stood behind her, arms encircling her waist, fingers twined in hers. His presence was a grounding force in the middle of hell, as always.
Devin stood on her right and touched her lightly on the shoulder, a silent offer of comfort.
She felt blessed to have them all standing with her. Family.
After the priest finished a final prayer, she dropped the roses onto her father’s casket. Her mother did the same, and stood beside it to bid quick farewells to the other mourners. Words meant in sympathy, offered with comfort, were useless to a grieving heart.
When the last one had gone, Molly said, “Come now, Maggie. There’s no use staying out in the damp. John would want you to take care of yourself now. Let me take you home.” Skye’s mother led hers to the car and helped her in. So, lost, but never alone. There could be no words to quiet the tears.
For herself, for her mother, she had to let her father go. And she would in a moment. Just a few moments more with him.
“A word, Rhiannon?” Devin looked askance at Skye, who nodded at her.
“Go ahead, love. I’ll warm up the car.”
He waited until Skye had left the gravesite and headed down the slope to the parking area. “It’s so hard. I knew it would be, but how do you hold in the pain?”
“You can’t. You have to let it go. Laugh, cry, smile, but never hold it back,” Devin whispered to her. “He said your daughter was the most beautiful angel he had ever laid eyes on, except for you the day you were born.”
Rhiannon burst into tears. “Oh, Da.”
Devin patted her shoulder. “Your aura has pink rippling through the blue. John would want your tears to be happy when you tell Skye.”
“I’m? Really? You’re sure?”
“As a heartbeat, hers is strong and powerful. Like her mother. Take care of yourself, cousin.” And then he flashed out of sight.
She laid one trembling hand to her belly, where new life grew safe and loved. The other rested on her father’s casket. She found the courage to let him go.
“I love you, Da.” Standing, she brushed a curl out of her eyes, smiled and walked away from death, toward life and the future awaiting her.
Brynna Curry
Paranormal romance and romantic suspense author Brynna Curry is a lifelong believer in the importance of reading. She enjoys the writing process, helping others hone their craft by lending her time to review book
s, critique manuscripts and serving as a writing contest judge. She loves hearing from her readers.
When she isn’t writing, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read, at the park with her son L.J. and daughters Anna and Kayla, or just spending an quiet evening at home with her husband Jackie watching old westerns on TV. She makes her home in North Alabama where the history is rich with music and culture, forests and lakes are abundant and beautiful, and every day is another adventure.
Brynna’s Website:
http://www.brynnacurry.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
Also by Brynna Curry
Elemental Magic Series
Earth Enchanted
To Take Up the Sword
Wait For the Wind
Sea’s Sorceress
Fire’s Ice
Triple Star Ranch Series
Claiming Ana
Lyrical Press books are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2011 Brynna Curry
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.
First Electronic Edition: August 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-260-7