Page 30 of Druid Cursed

If he had a life ahead of him beyond the next few days, he’d be willing to try with her. To give their relationship a chance to grow and see where it went. To see if they were each other’s sole beloved in truth.

She looked off into the trees, pensive. As much as he loathed the thought of her with another man, he could not blame her. He had been imprisoned for the entirety of her lifetime. She had been unaware of his existence.

“Maggie, I will never lie to you.” He swallowed the bitter knot in his throat.

“I would stay with you always, were it possible. The meager hours I have spent with you thus far have been my joy. I do not have appropriate words to express how I will cherish these memories. I simply want to be with you, in whatever manner you deem fit. Is such a request beyond granting?”

Aye, he would live for today and make enough memories to last him through eternity without her until madness took even those. Perchance she would remember him fondly once they parted. It would be enough. ’Twas all they had.

“We have a quest to continue. I have a contest to win.” The tip of her tongue swiped at her lower lip, and he gulped a silent breath as his entire body caught aflame. Yet she did not pull away. Her dark lashes drifted slowly up until her gaze locked on his.

He could no longer deny the need to kiss her again, the future and consequences be damned.

Keeping her palm trapped on his heart, he slid his free hand beneath her hair.

The hitch of her breath danced through him.

He lowered his head, his mouth hovering close to hers.

Rather than devour her as his starved senses demanded, he brushed his lips once, twice over hers, savoring their softness, memorizing each detail, and eased away.

“Holy shit.” Her eyes still closed, face tilted up, Maggie swayed and planted her other hand on his chest. “Did you druid-zap me?”

He grinned. “I should have kissed you in such a manner that first night in the garden. Then there would have never been a doubt as to what I am.”

“Nah, I probably would’ve decked you.” Pink dotted her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled. “I still might. Definitely should.”

An icy wind hissed through the woods, stirring boughs and leaves and whipping Maggie’s hair in her face. With it came the mild scent of holly. Holly—the same base substance Sorcha had used in her curse.

Dead leaves in orange, yellow, and brown swirled together in a rustling mass, stirred to life by the sudden wind.

They spun along the path, straight toward them, and abruptly stopped.

As if molded by an invisible hand, the leaves rose from the forest floor and took human shape.

A face formed in the crackling debris, strands of moss for eyes, flaming leaves for hair, mottled yellow for skin, a mouth made of twigs.

For a face made of bits from the woodland floor, it was remarkably recognizable, and by Maggie’s nigh painful grip on his arm, she saw the image there as well.

“Enjoying your fleeting freedom, master druid?” The raspy voice emerged from the rustling leaves, distorted and distant.

“A smidge of life, enough to remember how it feels before harkening back to your prison for eternity while I take all that is yours. Caedmon is too cruel, subjecting you to such a counter-spell.”

“Where’s Wendy?” Maggie’s grip tightened.

“Apologies, my dear granddaughter. I am currently in need of your friend’s physical resources.

” Sorcha’s tone sharpened. “She has learned that cooperation is far less painful than battling me. So long as she continues to do so, I will release her after Samhain. If she chooses to vex me again, the pain she endured will be naught compared to what she shall face afterward.”

“What do you mean again ?” Maggie’s voice was suddenly firm in defense of her friend. “What did you do to her?”

The twig mouth curved into Sorcha’s savage smile. “Worry not, Maggie O’Malley. I have plans for you as well.”

“Leave her in peace, Sorcha.” Kellen drew Maggie behind him. “You have had your revenge.”

“My revenge has only begun.” The leaves rippled, distorting her face. “Due to your misdeeds, I lost one I loved deeply.” Her gaze locked onto Maggie. “Soon you shall know that pain a hundredfold.”

The earth beneath his feet shuddered, and a bolt of energy pierced his chest, as if he had been stabbed.

Although miles away, he felt the second ward crack and shatter like a physical blow, taking him to his knees.

Power bled from him, stripped away with the broken ward, seeping into the earth.

The foliage that was Sorcha shimmered, bright with his stolen magic.

“Kellen!” Maggie took his arm, her curls wild about her face, terror sharp in her eyes. With her aid, he managed to stand, his legs shaky. The leaves shuddered and swirled, rising higher, higher. Sorcha’s mouth opened wide, revealing only darkness.

“Begone, taibhse !” Kellen drew the dagger in his belt and threw the blade straight at Sorcha’s face.

Cackling laughter erupted, not one voice but a dozen joined together in evil glee. The leaves formed a tidal wave. Its height blocked the sunlight, loomed over them, a reminder that he could do naught against Sorcha. Could do naught to protect the precious woman beside him.

The wave crashed down in a roar of wind, and he shielded Maggie with his body and cloak, the sole act left to him against his enemy.

As if a window had been shut, the gale abruptly died. The leaves drifted back to the ground, lifeless and dull. The ensuing silence thrummed in his ears, heavy and fraught with fear.

Maggie pressed her forehead into his shoulder and shuddered. “I believe you, Kellen. I believe everything you told me.”

He nodded. “As you said.”

“But now I need to know one more thing.”

“Anything,” he breathed.

“How do we stop that witch?”