by Donna Grant
The time had changed her even more.
Radnar used to be impatient, and could, at times, be reckless. No doubt the recklessness was still there, but he’d harnessed the impatience with a firm, steady grip.
When she came back with an armful of wood, Radnar was nowhere to be seen. All three horses foraged nearby, so she knew he hadn’t gone far. She set about building a fire. Once it flared, she sat back and listened to the wood as the flames devoured it.
She was on her back, looking at the clouds passing overhead when Radnar returned, carrying a brace of hares. She sat up and took one of the animals to clean.
“Why did you leave?” he asked in a soft voice devoid of anger or resentment.
The silence had gone on so long, that when he spoke, she was so surprised that she looked up from her task. She gazed into his deep brown eyes and saw the pain there, no longer hidden but raging for her to see.
“The women you saw today. They approached me a few weeks before I left you. They wanted me to join their Coven.”
“Coven? As in witches?” he asked.
She gave a quick nod. “My magic was a secret I kept my entire life. I don’t remember my mother, but I know everything about the magic she showed me while she was still alive. Afterward, while I lived with my aunt, I kept it to myself until I could get out on my own.”
“How did the women know how to find you?”
“I don’t know. I was surprised when they discovered me, but excited. I knew with them that I was safer than alone.”
A look of indignation filled his face. “Because you didn’t feel safe with me?”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said with a sigh. “I’m a witch. You know what they do to women who are even suspected of witchcraft”
“Is that why you didn’t tell me what you were?”
“I didn’t tell you, to protect you.”
He gave a grunt and then took her unfinished hare and quickly skinned it before putting both over the fire to cook. She cleaned off the knife she’d used and tucked it into her boot as she settled before the fire. He was looking off in the distance at the horses.
It was time he knew all of it. Edra took in a bracing breath and said, “As soon as I went to the Coven, I saw that they weren’t the type of witches I wanted to be around. They harmed people. Killed them. I refused to be a part of that.”
“So you ran away.” He looked at her before promptly shifting his gaze.
“I told them that I wasn’t interested. They had seen us making love. They threatened to kill you if I didn’t join.”
His head turned to her, a frown wrinkling his brow. “You should’ve told me.”
“You don’t understand the power they have. I put the entire village and castle at risk. Everyone who knew me, anyone I even looked at would have died if I’d remained. They would have killed everyone until I joined them. So I left.”
He stared into the fire but said no more.
“A year after I left, I heard that you’d become a knight. I returned and snuck into the castle while you slept. That’s when I spelled your sword so that you would always have a defense against a witch.”
“What do you mean you spelled my sword?”
She loosened the binding of her braid before running her fingers through her hair. “Most witches will cast a protection spell on themselves. They can be injured, but it takes something special to actually kill them. Every witch has a weakness. For some, it’s a certain type of wood that can kill them, some it’s metal, some it’s flowers, and the list goes on and on. But with a sword empowered by a witch, you have the ability to kill any of us, no matter our protection.”
“You could’ve woken me. With my sword spelled, I wasn’t in danger anymore.”
“Everyone else still was. It’s why I kept on the move. But it didn’t matter where I went because they always found me. Sometimes, I sensed that they were coming and got away in time. Others, they took me unawares.”
He turned the hares over. “Who did they kill?”
“I found a girl of about ten summers. She was alone in the woods, eating berries and bark to stay alive. I fed and clothed her. I came back one day to find her dead. By the angle of her broken neck, I knew it was magic.”
“Is that when you decided to confront them?”
She lowered her arms to her lap and stared into the red-orange flames. “After running for so long, it felt good to stop. I knew they’d never guess what I had planned.”
“It was four against one. They would’ve killed you,” he said, irritation deepening his voice.
“Maybe. But they didn’t.” She looked into his eyes. “Thanks to you.”
He looked away as he reclined back on one forearm. “What will you do now?”
“What I’m supposed to do. Someone has to fight those evil witches. I intend to hunt them.”
“So that’s why she called you a hunter.” He drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
Her gaze was drawn to him, as it had been from the moment they first saw each other at the market. It had only taken her days to fall in love with Radnar, and she had gladly given him her heart. Being away from him all those years had been the most difficult thing in the world.
“I never stopped loving you,” she said.
The fire popped, and a log broke in two, the only thing breaking the silence. She hadn’t expected him to believe her, but some kind of response would’ve been nice. His hurt ran deep, she knew this. When people loved as they did, the pain of abandonment sliced into the soul.
“What are your plans now that the Coven has been killed?” he asked.
She blinked back the threat of tears that burned her eyes. His utter dismissal of her words cut her profoundly. “Those four were only part of the Coven.
He sat up and checked on the hares. “Will they continue to try and bring you into the group?”
“Their intent will be to kill me now.”
“You did kill four of theirs.” He tested the meat with his fingers.
“Three. You killed one.”
His dark eyes slid to her as he licked the juices from his hands. “Are you suggesting they’ll know that I was part of it?”
“Each witch has a different set of skills. Some are more powerful than others. It’s better to think the worst and be prepared.”
“Do you really expect me to go on the run with you.”
She shook her head, doing her best to hide how much his words stung. “I’m warning you to be cautious. You won’t know you’re facing a witch until it’s too late. They’ll come at you when you least expect it, and you won’t want to fight them because they’re women.”
“I’m not the man I was.”
“The core of you hasn’t changed, no matter how much the outside has.”
He took one of the hares off the spit and pulled apart some meat before he held it out to her. “You’d be surprised how much someone can change.”
The meat burned her fingers. She blew on it to cool. “I stand by my assessment. I know the man you are.”
“You knew me. There’s a difference.”
Firmly put in her place, Edra began to eat. She was grateful for the meal, and though she wouldn’t point it out, the fact that he had helped her, sheltered her, and now fed her, spoke volumes regarding the kind of man Radnar was.
She was enjoying her time with him, even if it wasn’t exactly pleasant. But it also hurt more than she’d expected. He was a reminder of what she’d had, what she’d lost—of the life that had been offered to her.
The life she’d had to walk away from.
Because of what the Coven had done, it would’ve been easy to allow hate to fill her and corrupt her soul. There were times when it nearly had. Then she would think of Radnar, of the way he’d tenderly held her and the passion they’d shared.
Her love for him got her through each day. Which was why it might very well break her when he departed. Because she had no doubt that he would.
; There was no action she regretted when it came to him. Not giving him her body outside of marriage, not falling in love with a squire, and not leaving him. Everything she had done, she’d done out of love and to protect him.
And she would keep doing it.
She looked his way when he handed her another piece of meat. As she accepted it, she saw the wounds on his hands. As a knight, he had obviously seen many battles. He was alive and whole, and that overjoyed her. But she could only imagine the injuries he’d sustained.
Who had seen to his wounds? Who had helped him recover?
Edra’s stomach churned so that she was barely able to swallow the food in her mouth. She might’ve remained alone because her heart belonged to him, but that didn’t mean he’d done the same.
She watched his face as the light from the fire danced over him. A man like Radnar drew women. He wouldn’t be alone. Not now. Not ever.
CHAPTER 3
Radnar noticed when Edra stopped eating. He offered her more meat, but each time, she waved it away. She kept staring off into the distance as if her mind were somewhere else.
He kept going over her words, trying to reconcile them with everything he held dear. Witches were real. He couldn’t believe it. No matter what the church said, he’d always thought it was just fanatics going overboard with their beliefs.
Now he knew Edra’s truth. And it was a big one. The fact that she’d shared it with him so easily was astounding. He literally held her life in his hands, but she didn’t seem worried. In fact, Edra appeared more than capable in all aspects.
Then again, she’d learned to survive on her own before her aunt had found her. Then after, Edra had done whatever she could to keep food in her stomach and a roof over her head. She knew what it meant to work hard, but she’d never complained. No matter how badly her hands had hurt from kneading the bread at the baker’s. Coin was coin, and she’d needed it.
He’d wanted to take her away from that harsh life. It irked him that she had done it on her own...without him. Though, to be fair, she hadn’t had a choice. If he could believe her.
What was he saying? Of course, he believed her. All those years of hating her when her actions had been done out of love. She’d been right not to tell him. He would’ve done something stupid and confronted the Coven, which would’ve gotten him killed.
He eyed her gown. It was clean but frayed. No doubt she’d had it for a while. Her cloak was no better. He couldn’t imagine her out on her own. The world was a cruel, unforgiving place for a woman alone.
It wasn’t much better for anyone not of noble birth.
“You still haven’t told me what you plan to do.” He hadn’t intended to bring it up again, but he had to know her thoughts.
It was more than that. Now that he’d found her, he wasn’t keen on letting her get away from him again. He moved his gaze from the fire to her face.
She had her legs crossed with her hands in her lap. The hilt of her sword peeked out of her cloak. Someone had taught her to fight. He hated that it hadn’t been him. When he thought of her years without him and all that she’d seen and done, he was jealous of anyone who had been with her when he couldn’t.
“I need my own Coven.”
Her words made him frown as he sat up. “You’re going to persuade witches to hunt other witches?”
She smiled as she looked at him. “I might be able to convince a few, but then I’d be giving up my intentions. I’m thinking about another kind of Coven.”
“A hunter’s Coven,” he guessed.
“Precisely.”
Intrigued, he leaned to the side, braced on his hand. “Where do you propose to get these hunters? You’ll be putting your life in jeopardy if you recruit knights or anyone, really.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to raise my hunters using orphaned children.”
He gave a shake of his head, smiling despite himself because it was just the sort of idea she’d come up with. And it would work because Edra was that sort of woman.
“Is that approval I see in your eyes?” she teased.
“It is. Are you surprised?”
She gave a small shrug. “A little. You’re taking all of this well.”
“I wish you would’ve told me years ago. I would’ve kept your secret.”
“I know, but it’s also a burden. And you already had so much to carry. I’m proud of you for becoming a knight, but I never had any doubt.”
He couldn’t look into her blue eyes anymore. “I hated you for a long time.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“I missed you.” The words left his mouth before he could stop them. And once gone, his throat clogged with emotion. “I missed you so much it felt like someone had ripped out my heart.”
He saw her crawl to him out of the corner of his eye. When she raised her hand, he squeezed his eyes shut because he both ached for her touch and feared it. It had taken him so long to get past the pain of what she’d done, that he refused to be put there again.
Seconds passed, and he didn’t feel her. Finally, he opened his eyes to find her sitting back on her haunches, staring at him with deep sadness in her eyes.
“I left my heart with you,” she said softly. “The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you. Perhaps it’s better if I go.”
She stood and turned to leave, and he reached up and grabbed her wrist more firmly than intended. She looked back at him, waiting.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t go.”
“As long as I’m with you, you’re in danger.”
He looked down at his hand holding her wrist. “I don’t care. I can’t be apart from you again.”
He lifted his gaze to her face before standing and caressing up her arm to her slender neck. Then he sank his fingers into her glorious hair to cup the back of her head.
Slowly, he pulled her to him. His heart slammed against his ribs, his blood pounded through his veins. Only one woman had ever made him feel such overwhelming desire, and he’d finally found her again.
“Say you’ll stay with me,” he urged, their lips only breaths apart.
Her eyes slid shut. “I’ve always been yours. I’ll always be yours.”
With those words, he covered her mouth with his. He groaned at the taste of her. The passion within them exploded, consuming them. Their tongues dueled as their hands roamed over each other’s bodies.
Within minutes, they had discarded their clothes, and he had covered her body with his. He feasted his gaze on her lovely body and perfect, pink-tipped breasts. His hand skimmed down to the indent of her waist and then her flared hip.
“Don’t make me wait to feel you inside me,” she begged breathlessly.
He looked at her swollen lips, his body eager to fulfill her wish, to fill her. She spread her legs and reached for him. From the very beginning, she’d amazed him by how she gave herself to him so freely. She hadn’t questioned the passion between them, or their need to be joined. Maybe that’s what made it so easy to love her.
With their eyes locked, he found her entrance and groaned at how wet she was. He guided his cock inside her. The feel of her tight, slick walls gripping him was pure heaven.
Inch by inch, he filled her. Her fingers dug into his arms as her breathing hitched. Once he was fully seated, she was the one who rocked her hips.
His need, the driving hunger to claim her again had him teetering on the edge of climax already. The way her blue eyes darkened didn’t help, the desire there burning brightly. His cock jumped, and his hips moved of their own accord.
He bent and wrapped his lips around a nipple as his tongue laved at the turgid peak. The louder her cries became, the faster he pumped his hips.
He rose over her as he thrust harder and deeper. Her legs wrapped around his waist while she called out his name. His balls tightened. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold back his orgasm.
Then he felt her body jerk, her mouth falling open on a silent scream. A heartbeat late
r, he felt her walls clutching him. He pumped his hips faster, prolonging her pleasure as he closed in on his.
When he tipped over the edge, he thrust deeply as the climax enveloped him. The ecstasy was everything he remembered from before—and everything that had been lacking with other females.
He pulled out of her and moved onto his back. Edra rolled to the side and rested her head on his chest. Both were breathing harshly. For an instant, it felt like those years separating them had never happened.
But then he felt the numbness in the fingers of his right hand, and he knew it was only an illusion. Radnar closed his eyes and held onto Edra tightly.
“I won’t leave you,” she whispered.
Her words brought a smile to his face. “Good.”
“But I will continue to hunt the witches.”
“Then I’ll hunt with you,” he stated. He opened his eyes when he felt her rise up.
Her blue gaze searched his face as a small frown puckered her brow. “You aren’t going to ask me what I’m going to do?”
“I can, but I know you’ll tell me when you’re damn good and ready. You’re a strong woman. It’s what pulled me to you. I admire and respect you for it. You know witches. I don’t.”
She smiled and gave him a quick, hard kiss. “I’ll teach you. And you can teach me to fight.”
“We’re going to need somewhere to hide.”
“I know the perfect place.” She settled back on his chest and released a deep breath.
Radnar understood that a woman such as Edra would intimidate many men. He wasn’t threatened. Her fortitude and conviction made him stronger both mentally and physically.
He opened his eyes and put his other arm behind his head as he watched the sky darkening as night drew near. Hunting witches wasn’t going to be as easy as it sounded, but the idea thrilled him.
The band that had constricted around his chest was gone. No longer did he feel the need to wander. Because he’d found what he’d been seeking. And now he had a purpose.
All the worries of before were gone as if they hadn’t weighed upon his shoulders for years, threatening to crush him. He was free from all of that, but that didn’t lighten the situation.