by Donna Grant
He sank into the freshly fallen snow as he made his way through the forest. With the storm gone, he saw more signs of animals. It didn’t take him long to track down a game bird. On his way back to the cave, he checked the area for signs of anyone, but there was nothing but animal prints.
Brom steeled himself as he neared the cave. He told himself that Runa didn’t leave because she didn’t want to be with him. She left because she had something she needed to do. He would take the time to eat before he started tracking her. It would be easy in the snow. And she’d never know it. Though, he would have a hard time keeping his distance from her after having her in his arms.
Being with her made him feel as if he’d found the other half of himself. As if their souls had been severed at birth and were now one again. It didn’t matter why Asa had come to him in his dreams to tell him to look for Runa. Now that he had found her and had been with her, he never wanted to be away from her again.
He stopped outside of the cave and drew in a deep breath. Then he turned the corner to enter. The sight of Runa tending to the fire made him want to rush to her and scoop her up into his arms so he could kiss her.
She looked up at him and smiled. The rush of emotion that went through him made him weak in the knees. He didn’t want to think about that or the fact that she could cause such a reaction in him. He was simply overjoyed that she was still there.
“I tried putting on clothes, but it hurt too badly,” she said as she huddled under the blanket. “I’m glad you left me this.”
He tossed the bird onto the ground and took out his remaining peat. He’d used magic last night to keep the fire going while she slept, but he couldn’t continue that because she’d notice. Even though a part of him had wanted her to ask if he had used magic. He couldn’t explain it, but the need to keep his secret from her wasn’t as great as before.
“That should be enough to cook the grouse,” she said.
When she began reaching for the bird, he shook his head. “I’ll get to it after I return from finding some wood.”
“Whatever you find will be wet.”
He nodded in agreement as he strode out. With whispered words, he said a spell to keep the fire going. Brom knew it would be difficult to find dry wood, but what other choice did he have? He had to dig beneath the snow, but he finally gathered an armload of wood. Except that it was wet—just as he knew it would be.
On the way back to the cave, he debated whether to use magic to dry it. He decided that would be too obvious, so he opted to leave it as it was to dry out in the cave. When he walked inside, he found she’d removed the feathers from the bird. One look at Runa’s pale face, and he knew she’d gotten up to take the feathers away.
“How bad is the pain?” he asked as he hurried to her.
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“I didna ask that. I asked about the pain.” He held her gaze until she relented.
With a small smile, she said, “I won’t be going anywhere today. And maybe not tomorrow.”
Brom wanted to rejoice at the news, but the distress that flashed in her eyes wiped it away. He could help her with his magic. It would only take a little while before she was healed and on her way. To do that would mean telling her who he was, though—as well as letting her go.
“I was in such a hurry,” she said and tugged the blanket closer. “I should’ve paid more attention.”
He said nothing as he took the bird and one of the sticks he’d gathered to set over the flame. A sound drew his attention. When he looked to the side, he found the wildcat watching them.
“He’s been eyeing the bird since you brought it in,” Runa said with a laugh.
Brom tore off a piece of the bird and tossed it near the cat. The feline didn’t rush toward it. Instead, his yellow eyes stayed on Brom until he turned away. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Brom saw the cat slowly slink toward the meat. When he was close enough, he snatched it with his teeth and hurried back to his corner.
“The weather has cleared,” Brom told her.
She looked out the entrance, nodding. “I can see the sky. It’s been days since I’ve seen the sun. Any more storms?”
“It’s Scotland, they show up when you least expect them.”
“What is it? You’re acting different.”
He sat across from her with the fire between them. Brom leaned to the side with a hand supporting him. “You’re playing it off well, but I can tell you’re disappointed that you can no’ set out to do whatever it is you’re on your way to do.”
Her gaze slid away for several seconds before she looked at him. “I never knew my family. A friend of my grandmother’s raised me. I only learned a few days ago that my grandmother is still alive. And I have a sister.”
“You’re going to meet them?”
“They’re mixed up in some…danger,” she said.
Now it made sense. Her urgency, telling him that he would get hurt. “How near are you to finding them?”
“Close. At least, my grandmother.”
How could Brom not help her now? He knew very little about Runa, and no matter how he’d asked, Asa refused to tell him anything. He didn’t know if Runa knew about magic or the Coven or the Varroki. If she did know and he told her, she might use it against him or tell others who would then hunt him. Or…she could be so repulsed by him that she’d try to use her swords on him again.
In the end, it really didn’t matter. He’d been sent after her, and he’d come to care about her. Deeply. He’d never be able to live with himself if he didn’t help her—no matter the outcome.
“If your leg was healed, would you leave?” he asked.
She studied him for a heartbeat before she nodded. “Not because I want to leave you, but because I must do this for my family.”
Brom rose and walked around the fire to sit beside her. When he reached to pull aside the blanket, she put a hand on his arm.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Healing you.”
Her brows drew together. “I don’t understand.”
Brom sighed, his heart heavy. He swallowed and looked at the ground. “I doona trust anyone. Ever. It’s one of the key reasons I live alone. I’m different than others. I can…do things.” He lifted his hand and thought the spell. The magic shot from his hand to the fire as the flames roared upward for an instant. Only then did he look at her. “I have magic, Runa. It will heal you. If you’ll allow me.”
“You’re a warlock?” she asked in a soft voice.
So, she did know about magic. Brom wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “I am.”
“The only known warlocks are the Varroki.”
Brom nodded once.
Her blue eyes widened, her mouth parting as if she wanted to say something. She must have thought better of it because she licked her lips. “You’re wise to keep that secret. Some would use it against you.”
“Will you? You obviously know of magic to speak so freely about the Varroki and warlocks.”
“I won’t tell anyone your secret, but things are dangerous right now.”
He briefly raised his brows. “I know.”
“If I allow you to heal me, I still don’t want you to come with me.”
“We’d do better to stick together and watch each other’s backs.”
A sad smile touched her lips. “I would agree at any other time. But not this one.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Brom,” she said and put her hand atop his. “The very last place you should be is with me when I leave here, especially if you want your secret to remain hidden.”
He wasn’t convinced that he couldn’t help her, but he let it go. For just a moment, he almost asked if she was going up against the Coven, but he didn’t think she would do that. She didn’t have magic. If she did, she would’ve healed herself.
Brom moved aside the blanket and gently cupped his hands over her bare knee. He closed his eyes and began whisperi
ng the healing spell. He felt the magic shift from him into Runa. Over and over, he said the spell, until he sensed that her injury had been mended fully. Then he lowered his hands and looked at her. To his surprise, her eyes were filled with tears.
“I…felt it,” she told him in a soft voice. “Your magic. I felt it. It was…amazing. Mesmerizing. Euphoric.”
He blinked, taken aback by her words for a moment. He’d never heard of anyone being able to feel magic like that before. When a tear fell and rolled down her cheek, he reached up and caught it with the edge of his finger before he brought it to his lips and tasted it with his tongue.
They stared at each other, neither speaking. Runa leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him so their bodies were flush. While he didn’t regret healing her or telling her his secret, he knew she was about to leave. And even knowing that he would follow her didn’t stop the ache that grew in his chest.
She lifted her head and caressed her fingers down his beard. “Thank you.”
“You’re going to want to eat before you leave. You need your strength.”
Brom set her away before he made love to her all day. It’s what he wanted, what he craved. But no matter how much he wanted to keep her here with him, he couldn’t. He knew all about the pull of family.
As he saw to the roasting bird, Runa dressed. He watched her, captivated by everything she did. She tested her knee, then flashed him a bright smile when she was able to bend it and put weight on it, seemingly without any pain. He couldn’t help but grin. When she finished dressing, he noticed that the various shades of brown of her attire only highlighted her golden hair even more.
She sat across from him and took out a comb from her bag. After brushing the length until all the tangles were gone, she began braiding the strands. He couldn’t look away, watching as her fingers moved quickly and effortlessly to shift the hair this way and that, plait after plait after plait. When she finished, she had one braid running down the middle of her head from her forehead back with two smaller ones next to it. She brought the three braids together to make one large plait that she let hang down her back.
“I could watch you do that all day.”
She chuckled and shook out her arms. “It’s exhausting, but it keeps it out of my face.”
“I love it. The color, the length, the way it feels running through my fingers.”
Her expression grew serious when she said, “And I loved you touching it.”
Letting her go would be the single hardest thing he’d ever done. Trailing her or not, he knew there was a good chance that this might be their last hours together.
11
The food was eaten all too soon, and there was no other reason for Runa to remain. Her family was in danger, but a part of her was reluctant to—nay, insistent that she not—leave Brom. The fact that he’d revealed he was a warlock only confirmed that he should stay as far from her as possible.
They stood at the cave’s entrance, facing each other, but she couldn’t leave. This place had come to mean something incredibly special, and it tore her to pieces to walk away from it. No matter the reason.
“When I’m done, I’ll look for you,” she told him.
Brom gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll hold you to that.”
She didn’t bother to add if I survive. That would only ruin the moment.
“You’ll be fine,” he said as he took her hands. “Watch your back.”
Runa nodded as her throat clogged with emotion. She almost blurted out that she was half-Gira but changed her mind at the last minute. It was just a reason to stay, she realized. The story was a long one, and it would mean spending more time with Brom. It was what she wanted, but if she got to her grandmother or sister too late, she would never forgive herself.
If she survived this run-in with the Coven and the Gira, she would search until the end of time for Brom and tell him everything. But that wasn’t going to be today.
She looked at the wildcat, still watching them from his side of the cave. “Good luck,” she told him. Then she looked at Brom. “Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
“Don’t follow me. Please. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
His forehead creased. “What are you walking into?”
“Something that doesn’t involve you.”
“I’m beginning to feel that perhaps it should. Tell me I’m wrong to think there’s a chance you willna come back from this.”
She didn’t want to lie to him, so Runa decided not to reply at all.
Brom turned away and released a string of curses. Then he stopped and turned back to her. “Why would you go into something like that alone?”
“Because this is my fight.”
“You feel what’s between us. We’ll be stronger together.”
She smiled, wishing with all her heart that he was right. “Last night was the best of my life. I’ll find you again. You have my word. In this life or the next, we’ll be together again.”
Before he could argue, she walked to him and rose up to place her mouth on his. His hands grasped her face and held her to him as his lips lingered on hers. She pulled away and turned on her heel to walk out as her eyes prickled. With every step, she felt her heart breaking.
She dashed the tears away. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop crying. With her feet crunching on the snow, she kept her gaze focused ahead. She was also aware that Brom would follow her. He’d given up the fight not to go with her too easily. And since he’d come after her once already, she knew he’d do it again.
But Runa had a plan. One he’d never suspect.
A part of her was excited by the prospect of seeing him again, but she knew it would only worsen the ache that already filled her.
She kept walking, no matter how much she cried or her heart urged her to turn back. Her conscience argued that she didn’t know her grandmother or sister. That they wouldn’t care if she came to help them or not. Runa didn’t listen. It was merely a reason—any reason—for her to go back to Brom.
With him, she could have a good life. A quiet existence. They could disappear somewhere together and spend their days making love and growing old—if she never told him what she was. If he never learned that she had Gira blood running through her veins.
How many years would they have before the Gira stumbled upon them? How long would they have if Sybbyl and the Coven won and took over the world? No, she had no choice but to keep going with her mission. Asrail had sacrificed everything to save Synne. Morea had also given up all that she had to secret Runa away.
Runa might not remember her parents or that fateful day, she might not even know Asrail, but that didn’t mean she would turn away from doing the right thing. And if Synne were anything like her, then she would do whatever she could to help Asrail, as well. Which was why it was doubly important that Runa get there as quickly as possible. She hoped that her dalliance with Brom hadn’t stopped her from being able to help.
She couldn’t even be angry at Brom for not healing her the night before. He might have shared his secret, but she had kept hers. All of them. She didn’t want to tell him and face his revulsion. Because there was a very real possibility that he would be repulsed. Especially once she showed him….
Runa halted her thoughts there. She didn’t want to go down that road. She didn’t know how Brom would react because she’d been too much of a coward to tell him. And she was scared because she knew how others had responded when they learned the truth. Her night with Brom had been epic and amazing and magical, and she refused to ruin that. Or even taint the memory with how she imagined Brom might react.
She gritted her teeth and climbed up an especially difficult section of the mountain. There was likely an easier way, but she didn’t want to take the time to find it. She wanted to go straight as the crow flew. She had no pain in her knee, showing how powerful Brom’s magic was. Then again, a warlock’s pow
er was usually strong since there were so few of them.
Witches, however, were everywhere. Runa had always thought it odd that there were no warlocks outside of the Varroki. What was it that made them so special? Why did other magic not move into the males as it did the females? There had to be something that made the difference. Whatever it was, Brom had it.
And for a brief moment in time, he’d been Runa’s. She hadn’t lied to him. In this life or the next, they would be together again.
When emotion began to choke her once more, she pushed aside all thoughts of Brom and their night. Of magic and secrets. Instead, she started plotting how to get through the Gira to find her grandmother. There were few options left to her, but there had to be something the Gira wanted in return for freeing Asrail. Whatever it was, Runa would find it.
As for Synne, if Runa had to tackle her sister to stop her, she would do it. Synne had been raised a Hunter. She knew how to track and kill witches just as Runa did. What Runa didn’t know was if Synne had the same…skills…as Runa did as a result of being part Gira.
Runa’s fingers were stiff with the cold by the time she reached the top of the mountain. She stood amongst the tall pines and looked out over the Cairngorms. They were a spectacle to behold. She had been here only a handful of times before, but it had always mesmerized her. From the steep crags, to the tall trees and the mist-shrouded peaks, she understood why the Gira loved this area.
The forests were vast, giving them ample opportunity to find humans stupid enough to follow their whispers. The immensity of the woods also gave the Gira more hiding places. Which made it perfect for Runa. The only problem was that the Gira could detect her human blood, which made her a target.
She had kept them away for years now, but only because she’d agreed to work for them. The fact that she was here for Asrail would mean the Gira wouldn’t give her any quarter. They would attack her the first chance they got. The nymphs were predictable. They had used the same tactics for centuries now, and they believed that no one could beat them. Runa would prove them wrong.
She knew all their secrets, all their schemes, because she had been raised by a Gira. It was for that reason alone that Runa had thought she could find a place among the nymphs. They had quickly divested her of that notion. In return, she’d started taking payment to hunt them. And it hadn’t taken her long to build a reputation of someone who always found her mark.