Page 88

She was done showing weakness.

She was done being controlled by the prospect of a romp with some ungodly gorgeous Fae man.

She was done being led like a puppet and still wind up no closer to obtaining Bryce.

The woman gave her a potion, one that enhanced her senses and made her physically stronger. Sure, she bargained with the Devil incarnate, but she intended to get every little thing she bargained for.

“So, Katherine. Before I choose a lover for you this eve, do you come bearing good news?” Daeanna asked, coming to a stop a couple of feet away. The ends of her waist-length hair curved and danced around her waist. God, this woman was eerie. The angelic version of Medusa.

“I don’t want a lover tonight. But yes. I saw Bryce with that Rihanna woman and wanted to rip the woman’s hands from her arms for touching him.”

The realization that she spewed such words and actually meant them gave her pause. She’d never been a violent person. Mostly. But seeing that woman inspired such a vicious desire to rain chaos and destruction down on her, on Bryce, that it shook her.

Daeanna laughed her airy, carefree, obnoxious laugh, twirling her hand in the air like she had not a care in the world. “Now, now, sweet Katherine. Be patient. All in goodtime. You shall reap your revenge and have all you wish. But let us return to what you’ve learned. I’m eager to know about Moira.”

Kate smiled, matching the creature’s chilling grin with her own. She lifted her chin and stepped closer to the woman, ignoring the chill, the power, the warning to face her squarely.

“Oh, Daeanna. I have news for you. You want it?” Kate snickered, flicking her nails nonchalantly when the woman’s eyes flared. “Tell me how to get Bryce back.”

34

“Oh, Mommy! This is so fun!”

Chase buzzed about the cramped space—a hollowed-out hole in a giant rock with no doors or windows, no entrance or exit except through magic, and lit by a spray of twinkling gold lights across the rocky ceiling—rolling over one of the hay-stuffed mattresses. Moira stifled a sigh, fighting back more tears.

She hated this. Hated being away from Shaye. Hated knowing he would face their enemy without her by his side.

After glancing over the bunker—two mattresses on the rocky floor, a scraggly table and two chairs that looked like they’d crumble under any weight, and a basket of provisions—she peered down into her sleeping baby’s peaceful face. He looked so much like Shaye, from his dark tuft of hair and thick lashes to the sharp nose and pointed ears. It gave her a small sense of peace to see her beloved soul mate in their child, but it didn’t take the sting out of this separation.

Bryce lunged for Chase and caught him around the waist, flipping him over his arm. Chase shrieked, laughinguncontrollably as Bryce played with him to keep their minds off the reason they were here to being with.

Horano stepped up beside Moira, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You’re safe here.”

“I may be safe here, but he’s not safe out there,” she said quietly.

“He’s grown stronger since you released him from his curse. If another can defeat Daeanna, ’tis Shaye.”

Moira faced him, keeping her voice low. “You don’t sound confident.”

Horano’s eyes dimmed, his grin fading. “My confidence is in Shaye’s ability to defeat her. My concern resides in the damage she’ll cause our people before she’s stopped.”

“And you’re here. Babysitting me because of your blood oath to me.” She ducked her head. “I’m sorry.”

Horano caught her face, lifting her head until her gaze leveled with his. “Moira, don’t you ever apologize to me for something I did of my own free will. ’Tis my honor to protect you, and I shall never regret my oath to you. Even if I were at full strength and not healing from the dagger’s poison, I would remain here.” He eased her head against his chest and cradled her and Terrek. “You,chroi, are irreplaceable. Your position beside my closest friend, within the family, to all of us, is invaluable. Should anything happen to you, ’tis not only Shaye who would suffer. You’ve stolen the hearts of the Talaenian people themselves.”

She sighed against his vest, closing her eyes against the subtle licks of calm and warmth he infused into her body. Horano’s was a magic of peace and tranquility. Calm.

Right now, anything that eased her worry was welcome.

“Transporting you in your condition wears on your energy reserves. Your body continues to heal. You should try and get as much rest as possible while here.”

He eased her off his chest, but guided her to one of the mattresses and helped her lower to the bumpy pad. Getting up and down on her own was going to be hard until her belly completely healed.

Bryce and Chase wrestled on the other mattress, their laughter heartening. She’d not had the chance to get to know Bryce, but she couldn’t imagine anyone bad would be lucky enough to be a soul mate to her sister-in-law.

Rihanna was special in so many ways. The Goddess would never gift her with a man shy of wonderful.

As she tried to settle her churning thoughts, she found familiarity in Bryce’s attention to Chase. It reminded her of how Shaye doted on her firstborn, accepting him as his own.