Sorceress

Chronicles of Reonyc: Sorceress Lacey Savage All rights reserved. Copyright ©2005 Lacey Savage No part of this e-boo...

Author: Savage Lacey

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Chronicles of Reonyc: Sorceress Lacey Savage All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2005 Lacey Savage

No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical

means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior

written permission from Changeling Press LLC.

ISBN: 1-59596-157-7

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

PO Box 1561

Shepherdstown, WV 25443-1561

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Chrissie Henderson Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Chapter One Happy couples were always the worst. Aelynn Kaelar had spent her whole life preparing for the initiation ceremony that would designate her as the Inamorata. In a few short weeks, she would be worshipped as the only sorceress in the kingdom who could bless unions, oversee conceptions and ensure that the bonds between chosen mates would be as blissful and faithful as magic could decree. Although she’d learned every spell in the book, from guaranteeing that a newborn would be a girl, to casting a binding thread so strong that it would bond even the most unfaithful of men to his soul mate, genuinely satisfied couples still baffled her. How could any man fall in love and be sure that his mate felt the same way about him without seeking the goddess’s aid first? And what about the inevitable doubts that always cast long shadows across a woman’s heart, made her question her beloved’s words, his desire for her? Aelynn shook her head and stepped into the dark shadows of thick trees that stood sentry on either side of the wide cobblestone road leading to the city. Ahead of her, a couple walked hand in hand, the man stopping to whisper in the woman’s ear every few steps. His companion giggled and the sound carried over the night air, filling Aelynn with a serene, yet naïve sense of hope. Did true love even exist, or, just like so many emotions that only began to stir with the aid of magic, had it been imagined and heightened by the common folk who craved some semblance of control over their lives? The woman turned briefly, moonlight glinting off her startling emerald eyes. Aelynn lowered her head, her heart thudding in time with her quickened footfalls. She

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cursed her foolishness for letting her thoughts run astray and risking being recognized. Not now. She breathed a sigh of relief as the couple strolled past the Angry Maiden Inn without pause. Light spilled onto the ground through the windows of the cozy tavern and an inebriated minstrel’s song greeted Aelynn as she opened the door. Inside, the heat of too many bodies packed in a small room closed in on her and the scent of roasted meat tickled her nostrils. Aelynn smiled as she made her way through the throng of people, stopping occasionally to swat at a playful hand reaching for her as she strolled past. The Angry Maiden Inn had always been one of her favorite places to go when she needed to get away from the stuffiness of the castle. People here were eager to partake in any kind of entertainment being offered, and although she didn’t always agree with their choices, she liked watching them enjoy the ale-induced bliss of a song or a grope. “Whoa!” A large, red-faced man stumbled over an outstretched foot and fell against her, his hands flat against her breasts. She pulled back quickly, and his dark eyes widened with surprise and mirth. Despite her intent to be angry, his grin was contagious. “Next time, keep your hands to yourself,” she admonished as she walked past him. The man made a crude attempt at bowing, then plopped down at a nearby table and reached for someone else’s mug of ale. Aelynn’s mood had instantly improved when she’d walked through the door of the inn and she pulled back her hood as she climbed up on the only empty stool at the bar. She was squashed between a voluptuous woman wearing a mesh tunic and not much else, and an old man with skin mottled with liver spots. Jeza, the innkeeper, stopped in front of her, a wide grin on her striking features. The woman hadn’t seemed to age a day for as long as Aelynn had known her. She’d simply always been here, as cheerful and eager to greet another customer as she was to refill a drink, or even partake in a song from time to time. Her lively countenance

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conflicted with the name of the inn, serving as one of the most often-discussed ironies in Reonyc. “I was wondering when you’d return,” Jeza said, sliding a tall mug of ale in front of Aelynn. “I’m sorry. I’ve been… busy.” Jeza lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow. “What can I get you?” She pointed to a list of crudely written specials behind her. Mixed grill, braised leeks, lentils, oatmeal and raisin pie. All for only one gold piece. Aelynn shook her head. Though the appetizing aromas in the inn tempted her, she hadn’t come here for food. “Let me guess,” Jeza whispered, leaning on her elbows, her head only inches away from Aelynn’s. “The Inamorata is looking for a man.”

*** Seanan Dryadson licked sauce off his fingers as he finished the last of his braised leeks. People said there was nothing like a home cooked meal, but Seanan had always disagreed. For him, the best meal was the one eaten in an inn, surrounded by good friends and even better entertainment. Except for tonight. Tonight he would rather have been somewhere quiet, isolated, alone with his thoughts and the remnants of a long day. Patrolling the city streets had never been exciting, but today he’d had to split up three brawls and chase down a would-be thief who’d stolen a man’s money sack. Seanan sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck. The call to war couldn’t have come at a better time. He’d been restless and edgy for weeks. He needed some excitement, something wild and thrilling -I need Aelynn. Pushing the empty bowl across the table, he clenched his jaw and tried to clear his head. He needed female companionship that was all. A good fuck would cure

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whatever had settled into his brain and brought on this agitation. The future Inamorata had nothing to do with it. He might even have fooled himself into believing that, if not for the fact that he hadn’t been able to get Aelynn out of his thoughts since the last time she’d walked in here. But that had been weeks ago and she hadn’t come back since. And no matter how many long nights he spent patrolling, how many fights he broke up or how many training sessions he took part in, he couldn’t cast her beautiful face from his mind. She was everywhere with him; he saw her each time he turned a corner or looked up at a castle window. He even thought he saw her slide through the door of the inn a few minutes ago. That was stupid, of course. She wouldn’t follow him. She wasn’t some apparition that could simply form out of thin air and make his dreams come true. She hadn’t been on those streets or at those windows and she wasn’t here now. “Well, well. You look a little worse for wear.” The voice behind him was smooth, like honey, enveloping him with its warmth. His heart skipped a beat and a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. The apparitions never spoke to him. He shifted on the bench, swung his legs over the side and turned to face her. Aelynn stood only inches away, her perfect body encased tightly in dark clothes, the hood of her cape pulled back to reveal her creamy skin, the small, heart-shaped mouth and those bottomless, mysterious dark eyes. She was taller than any woman he’d ever met, and sitting on the bench, he had to look up at her. Her presence seemed to fill the room, drowning out the sounds that only a moment ago had threatened to deafen him. Her long, raven-black hair hung in a thick braid over her shoulder, the tip gently brushing her breast, leading his gaze to settle on a perfectly pointed nipple. Heat stirred in his groin and he fought to suppress the wave of desire threatening to send a rush through the rest of his body.

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“Are you going to move over so I can join you, or are you just going to stare at me all night?” Gold flecks sparkled in her dark orbs, the skin around her eyes crinkling slightly with her smile. The teardrop tattoo etched below her right eye looked out of place with her expression, but it gave her that alluring, untouchable quality he’d always found irresistible. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her down beside him and buried his face in the side of her neck. “I missed you.” The words came out as a throaty whisper. His hands seemed to take on a life of their own as they flew over her shoulders, down her back, along her hips, waist and stomach, then higher, finally settling on the curve of her breasts. He heard her sharp intake of breath and stroked the underside of her full cups, grazing her throat slightly with his teeth as he trailed soft kisses along her skin. “Seanan.” It was a breath more than a word. His name on her lips rivaled all other sounds and he took her hand and rose from the table. She followed wordlessly, pausing while he stopped to settle his tab with Jeza. The innkeeper grinned broadly as Seanan flicked a gold piece her way, then waved at both of them and turned back to her customers. Jeza was nothing if not discreet. She ran Reonyc’s best brothel out of what had once been the inn’s cellar. Pulling gently on Aelynn’s hand, Seanan led them up the stairs and into his room. He closed the door quickly behind him, as much to seal them into a comfortable world of privacy as to make sure she wasn’t going to leave. “We need to talk.” Aelynn placed a hand on his chest. Her soft fingertips burned through his tunic; he could feel the heat radiating from her hand through the thick material right to his heart. “Later,” he said, then claimed her lips. He’d hungered for her for weeks, and now that she was here, he wasn’t going to let her go until he’d made love to her. The initiation ceremony be damned. He pushed her back against the only other furniture in the room other than the bed, a small, writing desk against the wall. Parting her legs roughly with his thigh, he

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pressed into her, his urgent body tight against hers, her breasts crushed against his chest. She responded with more desire than he could have hoped for. Her kisses were fevered, passionate, as driven by lust as his. She thrust her tongue inside his mouth while her hands fumbled with his tunic, pulling it out of his breeches. The warmth of her hand against his bare skin sent another rush of blood to his already hard cock. He left her mouth to explore the velvety skin behind her ear, her neck, the hollow of her throat where her pulse beat rapidly against his lips. He released her just long enough to pull off her tunic. She leaned against the desk, her full breasts bathed in soft lamplight, the nipples taut and firm beneath his hands. He lowered his mouth and took one between his teeth. Her soft moan enticed him further and he suckled the perky rosebud while pinching the other between his thumb and forefinger. Her skin was delectable. Forget Jeza’s cooking -- Seanan could easily have lost himself in Aelynn tonight, let her fulfill his hunger in every way, satisfy his every physical and emotional need. She was all he ever wanted. And the one woman he couldn’t have. The thought was deeply unsettling. He needed to focus on something else, and the way her curves and lush body felt beneath his hands was as good a distraction as any. She didn’t protest when he lifted her roughly off the ground and placed her on the desk, using his hand to spread her legs. He ran his tongue along her lower lip and she moaned against his mouth, her breath warm and inviting, the heat from her pussy scorching him. Breaking the kiss reluctantly, he tugged at her leggings and she lifted her hips slightly from the desk, allowing him to pull them down around her knees. Goddess, but she was beautiful. Her full, pink folds protruded slightly from amid the soft mound of curly hair between her thighs. His cock strained against his breeches, anxious to feel the heat inside her.

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He ached for her, even as the shred of reason left within his mind held him back. As much as he wanted her, the knowledge that he couldn’t have her, couldn’t claim her as his mate, drove him to the brink of insanity. He cupped her sex intimately in his palm and whispered in her ear, “I want to be inside you.” She whimpered against him, clutched at his tunic. His thumb circled her fevered clit lightly, stroking it before he thrust his index finger into her swollen folds. She was so wet, so willing, and his cock was so hard he knew he could come in his breeches any moment. “I’m sorry,” she whispered in his ear. Her hot, panting breath fanned his cheek. Seanan groaned, fighting to reel in his thoughts. A second finger slipped inside her tight passage and her hips bucked against him, driving him deeper. Her moans became louder, more demanding with every thrust, her cream coating his fingers as he shoved them insistently in and out of her cunt. She screamed as she came, the orgasm tightening her muscles and clenching her pussy hard around his fingers, squeezing them in rapid, rhythmic motions. Her body shuddered with the force of her release. Seanan slowed his thrusts along with her fevered pulses, ceasing altogether when she slumped against his shoulder, her breath coming in deep, ragged spurts. “Seems to me like you needed to relax,” he said, resting his hand against the back of her head and pulling her closer to him. She chuckled, the throaty sound awakening every nerve ending in his body. He was still hard as a rock, the pain of the sustained erection pulsing against his breeches. “We need to talk,” she said, finally pulling back. She turned her face away, but not before he caught her wiping away a solitary tear that slid down her cheek. His fingers were still in her and he slowly withdrew them. Her gasp filled the air as he disengaged from her body, the loss of her heat around him as painful as the throbbing of his cock.

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“So you said.” He stroked his shaft absently through the thick material of his breeches. “I assume that’s why you’re here?” She nodded. Her leggings remained tangled around her knees and the sight of her glistening open cunt drove him over the edge. He couldn’t have focused on a word she uttered if he tried. Aelynn hopped down from the table and tugged up her leggings, covered her full breasts, then turned to face him. “I don’t want you to go.” “Where?” His thoughts were sluggish, as if in a trance. A fantasy world with the woman of his dreams. “To war. I don’t want you to go to war.” The smell of her skin, her hair, was intoxicating. It permeated the room and tangled itself in his senses. “I have to,” he said simply, struggling to focus through the lust-filled haze. “My king commands me.” It somehow didn’t seem right to tell her that he couldn’t wait to get away, to have another purpose driving him other than his incessant need for her. “You can’t.” There was something different in her voice. Determination mixed with longing, and fear. His senses sharpened at the sound. “You’re wrong. I can, and I will. I’ve been training for this my whole life. You of all people should know what that’s like.” “This is different.” She paced the distance between the desk and his bed, all three steps of it, before turning around and doing it again. He couldn’t see how. She’d been chosen as the Inamorata when she was two years old. She’d known and accepted her destiny since then. Even welcomed it. He’d been a fighter for as long as he could remember, and his fate had been sealed when the captain of the war-band handpicked him to be among his very best men. Now he was second in command, the chariff. Refusing to go to war wouldn’t only be foolish, it would be self-destructive and senseless. “No. I won’t stay behind while everyone else fights.” “Not even for me?” Her eyes were haunted and distant, filled with tears, but Seanan wasn’t fooled. Aelynn was too strong to resort to tears to convince a man to do

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her bidding, regardless of her motivation. Besides, it wasn’t as if she really meant it. She didn’t want him to stay with her. She couldn’t have him, or be with him whether he was here or a hundred miles away fighting a race of giants that should have been extinct centuries ago. “Not for anyone.” Aelynn spun on her heel and stormed through the door. A moment later Seanan stood alone in the small room. Only her lingering scent remained, the spicy sweet aroma the only reminder that she’d ever been there.

Chapter Two Aelynn lay back against the mound of pillows on her bed and tossed the book she’d been trying to read down to the floor. 1001 Nights of Passion. She didn’t need a thousand and one nights. She only wanted one. And she’d had it tonight. The memory of Seanan’s touch, his fingers inside her, his teeth nibbling at the side of her throat, all brought another rush of pleasure streaming between her legs. She turned on her side and stared down at the book, its cover depicting a couple in a passionate embrace, the woman straddling the man, their heads thrown back in a gesture of pure ecstasy. Thinking back, she couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t know all about sex. Growing up at the castle meant hours upon hours of studying, but the subjects weren’t always as dull as astronomy and mathematics. Her tutors had also taken care to instruct her in all the wonderful intricacies of sexual behavior. But the most important lesson culminated in the words she’d had to recite at the start and end of each Sexual Performance class. Sexual Magic is a gift. It has been given to me by the goddess, with the express intent to be used only to pleasure others. I will never allow a man’s phallus to penetrate me, lest I lose my powers for nothing more than the pleasure of the flesh. The words came to Aelynn’s mind, unbidden, and she recited them silently as she stared at the book’s cover. She’d never considered disobeying. Not until tonight. She flipped on her back and pushed one of the pillows behind her head. No, that wasn’t true. There had also been that night last year, when Seanan first proved to her how much more exciting it would be to experience sex than to merely read about it. Absently, Aelynn brought her hand down to the thick wetness clinging between her legs and stroked the swollen folds of her pussy with the tip of her index finger. The

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room had grown cold as the night wore on and she burrowed deeper beneath the thick covers, her hand held closely against her heated cunt. If only she could have him. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that Seanan had been celibate. There were enough women in Reonyc who would have gladly given themselves to soldiers, and the chariff to the king’s war-band would have been impossible to resist. Her finger found the tight hole and she pressed against it, the entrance slick with her cream. It slid in easily, but left her wanting more and she followed the first finger with a second. That felt better, more like a real cock might have; she began to thrust while her thumb playfully brushed against her clit. A lifetime of self-pleasure was a small price to pay for being the most revered sorceress in the land, wasn’t it? That’s what she’d been taught to believe and until tonight, she’d had no reason to doubt that. Even that night a year ago in Seanan’s arms, feeling his tongue between her legs, his fingers deep inside her, hadn’t shaken her faith in her destiny as much as tonight had. He was leaving. She plunged her fingers harder, rhythmically thrusting them in and out of her slick passage. He’d go with the war-band as the king commanded, leaving her without a second thought. The muscles in her pussy clenched around her fingers and she shoved them deeper, harder, punishing herself as much as Seanan with each stroke. Her body responded, pulsing faster, her heartbeat speeding up, a flash of light behind her eyes bursting into a culmination of heat and desire between her legs. She bit her lip to keep from screaming out as the orgasm built, and when the force of it washed over her, she drew blood. The metallic taste pooled in her mouth and the sound of battle filled her ears. The clang of metal, the screams and groans of dying men joined the whistle of the wind on the battlefield.

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Aelynn blinked hard to clear her vision. She was in a large clearing, the green grass beneath her feet stained crimson with fresh blood. She walked among the men, a scream of pure horror trapped in her throat. They fell, one on top of the other, as the Wildertor giants drove through them, tearing down barrier after barrier, plunging through defenses and soldiers as if they held no obstacle at all. The enemy marched side by side, their half-plate armor clanging as they walked, towering over the king’s soldiers by at least five feet. Large adamantine war hammers hung over their shoulders. One of the giants looked at her with wide, unblinking eyes and she was caught in his stare, unable to look away. His chiseled features left her breathless. She’d imagined the Wildertor giants as horrible, bizarre creatures, but their physical strength and beauty caught her by surprise. This one winked as he ran his sword through her. It pierced her stomach and drove deep inside, tearing her flesh and organs in a mere second. The giant pulled out the sword, leaving a gaping hole in her body, one she instinctively tried to cover with her fingers. Blood ran wet and slick down her hand and mingled with the pools already there on the grass. Only it wasn’t her hand. It was large, masculine, and she was fully clothed in the king’s war-band dark armor with shiny red-scaled accents. As thick blood poured freely from the wound, the world began to spin, faster and faster until Aelynn was certain she’d vomit. Her viewpoint shifted, no longer behind the eyes of the man who had been stabbed, but beyond him, only a foot away, staring into features chiseled and strong. Seanan. He looked at her for a moment, his deep, clear eyes as piercing and determined as ever. He murmured her name but it died on his lips as he collapsed to the ground, his jaw slack in the unmistakable look of death. Aelynn was dimly aware of the door to her chambers bursting open and the guards barging in to search the room and surround her bed.

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Chapter Three The air outside the castle was almost a visible entity, shimmering and warping the view from Aelynn’s window. The cloying heat was bizarre for this time of the year and Aelynn found herself eager to rush outside, to experience something she hadn’t desired in years. Freedom. With a sigh, she turned away from the window and hurried to the door. Outside her room, the guards watched her warily, probably expecting another screaming fit like the one she’d exhibited the night before. Aelynn shook her head, trying to clear away the remnants of the disturbing vision. If she concentrated hard enough she could still feel it, the sharpness of the blade, the pain in her stomach as the sword pierced her flesh. She fought back a wave of panic. The visions had never felt so real in the past and had never come in the form of a lucid dream. When they occurred, it was always within the confines of the coven with another sorceress nearby to guide her through them. Last night was different. She felt her magic, her being, blend in with the vision to project what she needed to see. Aelynn was certain the goddess had been guiding it. She had wanted Aelynn to see Seanan die, to understand what would happen if he went to war with the rest of the king’s soldiers. He was meant to die on the battlefield, just like her father. And I am the only one who can stop that from happening. “If you keep standing there much longer, perhaps the goddess herself will appear to prod you along.” Magthana Kaelar’s high-pitched voice came from behind her, and Aelynn shut her eyes tightly, willing her away. She’d had too many

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confrontations with her mother, and they’d only gotten worse as the initiation ceremony drew nearer. “I hear you had quite a fit last night.” Magthana circled around to face Aelynn. “I’m surprised you weren’t there, Mother. The rest of the castle seemed to be.” She opened her eyes and stared at the older woman. Magthana’s glare seemed to penetrate right through her, seeing things she had no right knowing. To Aelynn’s surprise, a deep red tint crept into her mother’s cheeks. “I was… busy,” she stammered, dropping her eyes. Aelynn held back a smirk. So, her mother wasn’t beyond enjoying the pleasures of the flesh herself, no matter what she might have tried to instill in her daughter for so many years. “For what it’s worth, I hope you had a good time.” Aelynn turned on her heel and swept down the hall before Magthana could utter another word about last night. In truth, Aelynn wasn’t just simply disturbed by the vision. She was also horrified by the way she’d acted. Screaming out in terror had attracted not only the attention of the guards, but also that of the king and queen. It took all of them the better part of the night to calm her down. When she finally fell asleep, the sun had already made its way above the horizon and her short, harrowing dreams were haunted by bloody images and symbols of death. Aelynn strolled through the castle halls, finally making her way out into the garden. A swirling wind tossed fallen leaves around her feet, lessening the oppressive heat. The sun shone brightly, casting a yellow glow over the myriad of flowers surrounding the castle. Despite the beauty around her, Aelynn’s thoughts were dark and the pleasant morning stroll held a tinge of foreboding. As much as she wished she could put the vision aside and simply enjoy the day, the pull was too strong and she drifted through the tall shrubbery and ancient trees without sparing them a second glance.

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She had to find Seanan before it was too late. He had to understand the gravity of the situation and she had to convince him that going to war wouldn’t hold the same level of risk for him as it did for everyone else. For him, death had been preordained. She came to a halt when she saw him marching along the path, the broad line of his shoulders straining against his tight leather armor. How did he always manage to take her breath away? It wasn’t fair. The Inamorata should have been beyond the pleasures of the flesh, the need for a man. The goddess knew Aelynn had certainly been given enough training to resist any temptation thrown at her. Any but the one shaped like this man, all lean lines and masculine strength; mysterious eyes, sultry lips and strong hands -- damn those hands! Aelynn bit the side of her lip and clenched her fists at her sides, determined not to reach out as she hurried her step to catch up to him. If she touched him, it would all be over. Whatever little restraint she had would simply vanish if she felt the warmth of his body against her skin. Seanan stopped walking but didn’t turn around as she approached. “You’re playing a very dangerous game.” His voice was rich, deeply masculine, washing over her like the warm summer breeze. “I needed to see you.” She clasped her hands in front of her, restraining the urge to touch him, the knowledge frightening her. Her emotions, her will, slipped a little more out of her control each time he was near and Aelynn knew he was the only man with the power to take her destiny away from her. He turned slowly and Aelynn found herself holding her breath as she met the weight of his stare. His eyes sparkled with something akin to amusement, but his lips were drawn in a tight line across his handsome face. “Why?” There it was. Such a simple question. It was the reason she’d come, yet now that he’d asked, Aelynn couldn’t answer. In the light of day, it even seemed a little silly.

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Then the strength of the vision came flooding back, along with the stabbing pain in her stomach. Her knees quivered, and she reached out to steady herself. His arm was the first thing her hand encountered and she closed her fingers around his finely muscled bicep. Damn. “I had to warn you.” The words poured out of her all at once, her voice a breathless whisper. “It must have been pretty important if you came out here.” Aelynn licked her dry lips and nodded her agreement. If anyone was to find them here -“Tell me.” She lifted her chin. “I had a vision.” He nodded for her to continue. “If you go to war, you’ll die.” Seanan’s eyes narrowed, his gray irises turning black and dark as midnight. “That’s a chance all soldiers take.” “You don’t understand…” She struggled for words, faltering when she couldn’t find them. How could she describe the vividness of the vision? The fact that she’d been there in his body as the sword pierced his flesh? “Then explain it to me.” “The goddess showed me. You’ll die at the hand of a giant, his sword piercing your stomach.” She pointed to his abdomen as if that simple gesture would make him understand. He didn’t even look down. “You came to the inn last night to ask me not to go when the king commands it. Is this why?” “Yes.” She shook her head. “No. I mean, not really.” “Which is it, then?” He reached out and flicked her thick braid back over her shoulder.

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“Last night at the Angry Maiden, I needed to try to convince you not to go. I wasn’t guided by anything stronger than emotion and something akin to a gut feeling. When you didn’t listen, I ran back to the castle convinced I couldn’t change your mind. Then I had the vision…” She struggled to hold back a flow of tears that suddenly threatened to spill down her cheeks. She remembered the power of the orgasm washing through her, the pain of the sword spearing her abdomen. Before she could say anything else, he swept her into his arms and drew her in a hard, crushing embrace, enveloping her in the warmth of his body. She gripped him tight and held on, squeezed her eyes shut, yearning to forget everything but this moment, a moment when she felt completely safe, protected and as free to give her love as any woman. When he captured her mouth in a kiss, she didn’t resist. She couldn’t have, even if she’d wanted to. Desire rushed through her, spreading like wildfire from her toes to the top of her head, culminating in the heat of his lips against hers. His thick red hair brushed against her cheek as he leaned in closer, his mouth fervently searching, seeking something from her she wasn’t sure she could give. She felt the rhythm of his heartbeat against hers even through the thick leather between them. Uncertain whether the power came from her magic or simply the man in her arms, Aelynn let herself be swept away by the feeling, the simple pleasure of being wanted. Her nipples budded as he pressed her up against his chest; wetness gathered between her legs. “Aelynn,” he murmured against her lips. His mouth wandered away from hers and trailed kisses down her jaw then up to her ear, pausing to nibble at her earlobe before dipping back down to her neck. His teeth nipped the tender skin slightly, sending another shudder of desire through her body.

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She tangled her fingers in his thick red hair, pulling his mouth back up to claim it in a fevered kiss of her own. She wanted to devour him, all of him. Their tongues met and circled, dancing the passionate dance of arousal passed down through the centuries. Seanan pulled away abruptly, leaving her panting, struggling for breath, the hard bulge in his breeches a clear indication of the same tension and longing she felt. She leaned her head against his chest, inhaling his scent, willing her pulse to slow. He wouldn’t listen to her warning. He was determined to leave, no matter the cost. No matter who he hurt.

*** Seanan had seen the pain in Aelynn’s eyes earlier when he’d shrugged off her vision. Now he felt it emanating from her, the heat of her body mingling with something else, a tension that hovered between them even as he held her tight against his chest. Despite himself, he shivered. He didn’t want to believe that his life had been preordained, but when the news came from an emissary of the goddess herself, he had to admit it was a little difficult to ignore. Aelynn pulled away first, stepping back and crossing her arms over her chest. The lust that had been so clear in her eyes a few moments earlier had disappeared, and now only the faint traces of anger remained. Anger and disappointment. He avoided her eyes, making a show of checking his sword’s placement in its scabbard. She’d gotten good at making him feel guilty. He supposed years of training did that to someone meant to be the most important person in the land. Second only perhaps to the king, and even then, most people would have disputed that claim. “I need to go back,” he said finally, once again struck by the tear-shaped tattoo beneath her right eye. It called out to him each time he looked at her, the perfect symbol of sadness and joy marked permanently on her flawless cheek. She nodded, placing her hand in the crook of his arm. Her touch sent waves of desire through him and he fought to hold the arousal at bay. He couldn’t have her, no

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matter how much he wanted her. He glanced at her perfect profile, the small nose and slightly pointed chin, and sighed deeply. She turned her head, meeting his eyes with an inquisitive stare. “You’re trying to hide it, but I can sense it in you.” “What?” He knew the answer even before she spoke it. “Fear.” Her fingertips stroked the inside of his elbow, her touch penetrating through the thick leather armor. Why was he so damn attuned to this woman? And why did she see so much more than he wanted her to? “You’re wrong.” “And you’re a terrible liar.” She stopped in the middle of the path; a streak of sunshine penetrating through the dense foliage above glinted off her dark hair. Her green eyes shone brilliantly, specks of gold highlighting the fury in them. “There you are. I was beginning to think I’d lost my chariff.” Seanan spun around sharply to face Norkas, captain of the king’s war-band. The older man’s eyes betrayed the seriousness of the words and he stepped forward to slap Seanan hard on the shoulder, offering a broad smile. “I was just coming back to report.” Seanan straightened his tunic, hoping he didn’t look as disheveled as he felt. Norkas cast a look over Seanan’s shoulder, his grin widening. “No need to rush on my account. If I’d been in your place, I might have lingered as well.” An irrational burst of jealousy ran through Seanan’s veins; he fought against its pull. Aelynn wasn’t his, or anyone’s. “Captain Norkas Loyalar, this is Aelynn Kaelar,” he said politely, hoping neither of them noticed the tightening in his groin as he said her name. There was something almost magical about the word, the soft sounds conjuring the lines of her face, the curves of her body even when she wasn’t near. Now that she was here, standing only a

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few steps away, it had the unnerving effect of acting like a magnet, pulling him toward her. “I know who she is,” Norkas answered, taking her hand and placing a light kiss upon her pale skin. Seanan turned away. Even the sight of such an innocent action threatened to send his jealousy over the edge. Aelynn cleared her throat and some of the tension around them dissipated. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain.” “I’m surprised you two haven’t been officially introduced until now,” Seanan commented as Aelynn fell into step beside him as they resumed their walk toward the castle. “The Inamorata is a busy woman,” Norkas said with a hint of amusement in his voice. “Future Inamorata,” Aelynn corrected. “Soon, my Lady, you’ll be initiated into the coven and it’s unlikely you’ll be seen with the likes of us again.” Seanan’s gut clenched at Norkas’s words. He was right, of course. As soon as she took her preordained place as the most powerful sorceress in the land, the only one with the power over creation, no man would be able to get near her. At least, not without a slew of guards and a damn good reason for being there in the first place. The knowledge that he would lose her had always dimmed the pleasure Seanan felt when they were together; hearing the inevitable outcome spoken aloud turned his blood icecold. “I doubt it’s as dire as you make it sound, Captain.” Aelynn’s voice had taken on a thoughtful lilt. “There are exceptions to every rule.” Norkas chuckled and winked at Seanan. “I said it was unlikely. Not impossible.” “I gather you had a reason for seeking me?” Seanan asked, eager to change the subject. Talking about Aelynn’s initiation ceremony was making his head pound. “I did,” Norkas said. “And I’m afraid the news isn’t good.”

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“You’re not retiring and I’m not getting promoted to captain after all?” Seanan expected another good-natured chuckle from the older man but the captain kept his eyes low to the ground, his mouth a tight line. The weight of authority seemed to hang around him like a heavy burden. “The giants have claimed their first victim.” Norkas drew in a breath and looked at Seanan. “It’s the king’s niece. She’s been taken.”

Chapter Four Aelynn paced the confines of the throne room, impatient for the assembly to come to order. Nothing ever started on time at the castle and she’d been anxiously awaiting this meeting to adjourn for well over an hour. Her legs ached with a slow burn that started in her heel and ran up her thigh to culminate in a throbbing pressure between her legs. It had nothing to do with the long walk in the castle gardens earlier, or the fact that she’d crossed the length of the throne room a hundred times. It was all his doing. Aelynn shot a glance at Seanan, his broad shoulders visible as he stood in the center of a small crowd. She could make out the king and queen, Captain Norkas and a few other court members. As if feeling the weight of her stare, he turned his head and fixed her with a piercing gaze. The room stilled and Aelynn halted in mid-stride. It was as if the rest of the world had disappeared and they were the only two people left in all the realm. She tried to clear her thoughts of foolish notions. She knew better than to believe in that kind of fairytale attraction. It didn’t happen in the real world. And it definitely wasn’t supposed to happen to the Inamorata. “If we’re all ready to begin, please be seated.” King Gwedry’s voice was warm and reassuring and all around her, people took their places. She sat on a low bench beside her mother, while Seanan stood with Norkas at the king’s side. “As you’ve all heard by now, the Wildertor giants have struck out at us earlier than we anticipated. My niece was the victim of their cruel action, an innocent in all this.” A vein throbbed in the king’s temple as he spoke. “If the heartless monsters haven’t the courage to face us themselves, then we have no choice but to go to them.”

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A roar of approval shot up around her and Aelynn grimaced. She twisted the material of her skirt between her fingers, fearing the king’s next statement. If he decided to send the war-band after the giants earlier than planned -“I have come to a decision.” The room stilled at his words. Aelynn took a deep breath and gathered her courage, lifting her head to stare at the king, her throat tight with apprehension. “Sending in the war-band would only aggravate the circumstances further for my niece. She’d certainly be killed if they as much as sensed an army amassing.” Aelynn released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and sagged in relief. “Are you certain, my Lord?” Norkas asked, his brows raised in confusion. He’d clearly expected to be engaged in battle by nightfall. “Aye. If I were to place a wager on all this, I’d say that’s exactly what they want. Not only will they kill my niece, but they’ll most likely attack the undefended castle as well.” Norkas grunted his acknowledgement and stepped back beside Seanan. The king stroked his gray beard, lost in thought. Whispers and snippets of hushed conversation reached Aelynn’s ears, but she ignored them, not one to give in to gossip and idle speculation. If there was news to hear, it would come directly from the king, not from the courtesans with nothing better to do than theorize on the fate of the realm. Besides, the king wasn’t sending in the war-band. She still had time and that was all that mattered. “Do you mean to leave Renne in their hands, my Lord?” It was one of the old counselors this time, his speech slurred from too many missing teeth. “Do you think me heartless?” The king’s voice remained calm, but the note of authority and barely contained anger was unmistakable. The counselor’s eyes widened, and his frail frame shrunk back in his chair. “N-no, my Lord.”

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“There will be a rescue mission.” The king turned to Norkas, his brows furrowed over drooping eyelids. “Prepare three of your best men. You leave at dawn.” Norkas remained still, and for a moment, Aelynn didn’t comprehend what had just happened. Then Seanan bowed, his face grim and determined. “No!” She shot up from her chair, the shout escaping her throat before she could even think of stopping it. King Gwedry turned his shrewd eyes on her. So did the rest of the court. Magthana yanked harshly on her dress but Aelynn shrugged out of her grip and squared her shoulders. “You can’t send him.” The assembly gasped in unison, the sound traveling from one bench to the next, loud whispers joining in until the room buzzed with a hum and energy of its own. “Does the future Inamorata wish to explain further?” Aelynn swallowed hard, her gaze traveling over the heads of the assembly to rest on Seanan. He frowned at her, his jaw clenched in frustration. This was probably more humiliating for him than it was for her, she realized belatedly. Her face grew hot under his scrutiny. “There must be someone else. Captain Norkas would be the logical choice, would he not?” “Perhaps. But he’s needed here. The giants snatched Renne from inside these very walls.” The king’s voice softened and he took a step toward her. “The Wildertor giants are approximately ten feet tall, Aelynn. How can anyone here tell me they didn’t see a thing before Renne was abducted and taken into the forest?” The murmur of voices hushed; an awkward silence descended over the room. “No,” the king continued. “It must be Seanan. He knows the woods better than anyone and as chariff to the war-band, there is no better choice.” “I still don’t see --” “If the goddess herself has a need for Seanan to stay behind, then tell us of it. Otherwise, please take your seat and let us prepare.”

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She considered telling them of her vision but it seemed too deeply personal and it wouldn’t have changed a thing anyway. Every man here would have considered it an honor to die on the battlefield and her vision would have been seen as the goddess’s endorsement of the king’s choice, not the opposite of it. “Sit down before you embarrass me further.” Magthana’s face shone with the faint sheen of perspiration, her ruddy cheeks blazing with a red tint. “Forgive me for not considering your distress when a man’s being sent to his death.” Magthana scoffed. “There you go again with your melodramatic nonsense.” Aelynn smoothed her skirt, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Thankfully, Magthana remained quiet. The king called the assembly to order, the shuffle of feet on the floor suddenly deafening. Still, Aelynn remained seated, wanting to watch Seanan just a moment longer, knowing it was likely to be the last time she’d get the chance. She swallowed back the sting of tears, determined not to give in. Crying never helped a situation. She had known this was coming, she just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Her gaze followed the angle of his jaw covered by the shadow of faint stubble, the strong line of his shoulders, his powerful arms. She didn’t want to lose him. But how could she lose something she never had?

*** “You’d do well to mind your tongue in the presence of the king. You’re not the Inamorata yet.” Magthana stood on the high steps of the castle, her arms folded across her ample chest, looking like some sort of deranged sentinel in the murky moonlight. Aelynn smoothed her skirt behind her and sat down on a cold step, ignoring her mother. Maybe she’d just go away. “How many times do I have to tell you? No one cares what you think. Certainly not the king and queen.” Magthana crossed the distance between them and flopped

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down on the step beside Aelynn. “They’ve spoiled you for years, child, but they don’t care.” “Enough, Mother.” Aelynn cradled her head in her hands. She had come out here thinking the cool night air would provide some respite from the stuffiness of the castle, allow her to clear her head of her lust-filled thoughts. Instead, her mind had focused on nothing but the look in Seanan’s eyes as he turned away from her earlier tonight. She’d waited until all the members of the court had filed out, hoping for a chance to speak with him. It didn’t matter that he probably wouldn’t have listened. She owed it to herself to try just one more time. But he hadn’t given her that chance. He’d acknowledged her presence with a steel-tipped glance thrown haphazardly her way before disappearing through the double doors and out of her life. Forever. “And don’t do your withdrawn, antisocial thing with me. It doesn’t work.” Magthana was leaning so close that Aelynn could smell the faint scent of wine on her breath. “Has it even occurred to you that I might want to be alone?” “Alone?” Magthana tossed her head back and howled, drawing the attention of two nearby guards who paused their patrol to stare up at them, the moonlight glinting off their drawn weapons. Aelynn waved them on and after only a slight hesitation, they departed. “Alone,” Magthana repeated, wiping tears now streaming freely down her cheeks. “Have you learned nothing since you’ve been here, child? There is no such thing. Your every move is scrutinized, every word, every breath. They swarm in like locusts, hoping to catch a glimpse of you faltering and crashing down on your ass.” Aelynn narrowed her eyes. “Are we talking about me, or you?” Magthana grunted an uneasy acknowledgement, refusing to meet Aelynn’s eyes. “Both, perhaps.” “What is it that you really want from me, Mother?”

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The older woman sighed, pushing her mop of curly hair away from her forehead. “I want you to be…” Aelynn waited expectantly, but Magthana didn’t finish her sentence. She was staring into the distance, her eyes glazed and unfocused. “Just don’t say you want me to be happy. I won’t believe you.” There was a hint of teasing in Aelynn’s voice and she was surprised to realize it had been genuine. No matter how much her mother bothered her, and some days that was more than she thought she could bear, she didn’t think Magthana wished her ill. She simply had a different way of showing her love than other people’s parents. Very different. “I saw the way you looked at him,” Magthana said, just as Aelynn had begun to consider their conversation over. A flush crept up Aelynn’s cheeks and she kept her head ducked low, hoping the lengthening shadows of the night would hide her reaction. “Don’t do this to yourself,” Magthana continued. Her voice was compassionate, warm. Aelynn couldn’t remember when her mother had last spoken to her like that, like she was a real woman, a real daughter. “If you’re concerned that the members of the court will be gossiping about my outburst and therefore likely to embarrass you come the morrow, then I apologize.” Magthana placed her hand over Aelynn’s and squeezed for only a brief moment before letting go. “I know what it’s like to want someone you can’t have, Aelynn. The pain rivals the worst physical ache you’ll ever feel.” A flash of lightning seared the sky, casting Magthana in an eerie white light. The lines on her face seemed etched upon her skin, making her look older than her fifty years. “I don’t understand.” Aelynn tried to comprehend what her mother had just shared. “You and Father had no opposition to be together.” “Your father died a long time ago. There have been others.”

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Aelynn wrung her hands together, her mind churning at her mother’s confession. In the past, Magthana hadn’t been nearly as blunt about her personal life and definitely not about sex. Since Aelynn was a child and the facts of life were explained to her in detail, Magthana had always insisted that the pleasures of the flesh were to be shunned, used only when absolutely necessary as in the case of Aelynn’s sexual magic. For years, Aelynn had believed that her mother truly felt that way, wanting nothing to do with men or the joys they offered. She’d suspected otherwise for a long time but it was startling to hear Magthana confirm it herself. “Why are you telling me this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t want to break the spell or whatever it was that had fallen over the two of them, letting mother and daughter share such an intimate conversation. At any moment, Magthana could abruptly snap out of it and go on another tirade. “Because I don’t want you to make the same mistake I did.” She grabbed Aelynn’s chin in one surprisingly strong hand and lifted her head until they stared at each other. A myriad of stars glittered like diamonds in the sky above them, many reflecting in Magthana’s eyes. “Don’t love a man who can’t love you back,” she said, her thumb stroking Aelynn’s face. “And don’t love him when you can’t savor him like a woman should.”

Chapter Five Black shadows danced upon the wall of the castle, the dreary wisps suited to Seanan’s dark thoughts. She shouldn’t have said anything. When the king had announced his decision, Aelynn should have kept her mouth shut and let him accept his mission for the honor it was. Instead, her outburst had not only stripped him of his chance to respectfully accept, but it also served to insert another shadow of doubt into his normally selfpossessed, confident manner. Damn her. Yet, here he was, hovering outside her window like an imbecile. What had prompted him to sneak into the future Inamorata’s chambers when what he really should have done was stay as far away as possible from her? He dug his fingers into the narrow confines of the well-worn handgrip and hoisted himself a little higher. He could see inside her chamber now and the smell of incense and rose petals assaulted his nose. If anyone caught him, he was a dead man. Aelynn lay on a large four-poster bed, her eyes closed in meditation, her lips moving soundlessly in prayer. Her luscious mouth glistened in the lamplight with the slightest hint of moisture as she uttered the sacred words, inviting him closer, tugging at his senses. He swung his legs over the windowsill without conscious thought, as if pulled inside by an invisible thread leading him straight to her. Aelynn’s eyelids fluttered open. If she was surprised to see him standing in her chambers, she didn’t show it.

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“Security’s gotten a little lax around here,” she said, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “I wouldn’t blame the guards. It was my turn to patrol this area tonight and I saw the light at your window.” “And you thought you’d climb up to tuck me in?” Her sultry question sent a wave of sensation running to his cock. “Something like that.” He crossed the distance to the bed, hovering just within arm’s length. She was so close, so tempting. Aelynn crossed her arms over her chest, effectively hiding her luscious mounds and putting a barrier between them. He sighed, trying to guide his thoughts away from her inviting curves. “Why are you really here?” she asked. “I leave in the morning.” “That much I already know. But why are you here?” She indicated the room around her with a sweeping gesture of her hand. “There are guards just outside. If they suspect anyone’s in here with me, they’ll storm that door in the blink of an eye.” Her eyes darkened and he glimpsed a moment of pain on her delicate features. “Trust me. They won’t hesitate.” He nodded, aware that she was right. Being here was foolish, dangerous, but he didn’t give a damn. “I had to see you.” Her hands fluttered to her lap and she bit the side of her bottom lip before lifting her chin. “Why?” “I thought you might be worried.” This time it was his turn to look away. He suddenly felt stupid standing here, admitting his feelings. “I wanted to say I’ll be all right.” She laughed, the crystalline sound filling the room. “I have no doubt you’ll take good care of yourself.” There was sarcasm in her voice and her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

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“I know what you think.” He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. “But there could be a chance the goddess is wrong.” Aelynn lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Say that again. I don’t think I heard you right the first time. I could have sworn you just questioned the wisdom of the goddess.” “Not exactly.” He groped for words, trying to find a way to explain. “Perhaps you misunderstood the vision.” “Ah. So you weren’t questioning her wisdom. You were questioning mine.” This wasn’t going the way he’d expected. He’d only wanted to come up here, say goodbye and leave. He hadn’t thought she’d beg him to stay, but every word seemed to antagonize her and a heartfelt farewell scene looked less and less likely. “No. I only mean that things aren’t always as they seem. Visions are complicated, hard to understand.” “And you’d know because you’ve had so many of them.” He clenched his teeth and concentrated on a bright tapestry on the wall in front of him. Two lovers, limbs entwined, stared longingly into each other’s eyes. “I don’t want to argue with you. If you’re right and this is the last time we’ll see each other, I don’t want to waste this opportunity.” She released a deep breath, turned her palm up beneath his hand and squeezed gently. Tears coursed down her cheeks. They looked so out of place, so different than the teardrop tattoo, it took his breath away. She was crying. For him. His heart hammered, threatening to break out of his chest. He wanted nothing more than to envelop her in his arms, tell her not to worry, assure her that everything would be all right. But he wasn’t so certain anymore. “The king has entrusted me with this mission,” he said softly. “I can’t let him down.” She nodded, understanding clear in her eyes. “I know. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

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Seanan grinned despite himself. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She sniffled, then shuffled closer to him. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. No one but the goddess does. But if this is our last night together, let’s make the most of it.” Her lips against his sent a wave of arousal through his body, and his cock responded to the intense longing. Her sweet tongue found its way inside his mouth, searching, prodding, teasing with gentle flicks. He pulled at the ribbon holding her braid together and untied it swiftly, letting her thick mane of raven hair spill over his hands and down her back. Entwining his fingers in the tumble of her tresses, he pulled her closer to him, sucked her velvety tongue and breathed in her scent, wanting to imprint all of her upon his senses. She broke away, her body shifting away from him, but her hand sought out his cock and gripped his now rock-hard length. “You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered breathlessly. “We need to make this quick.”

*** Aelynn lay back, letting the heat of Seanan’s hands flow through her. Kneeling between her spread legs, he caressed her stomach before moving his attention higher to the underside of her breasts. She sucked in a breath as his fingers tweaked an erect nipple; his hand cupped the full weight of her breast. It was as if his hands had been made to touch her. She frowned, realizing how absurd that sounded. His hands had probably touched dozens of women, learning just the right pressure to apply to a fevered nipple, a drenched pussy. In response to her lustful thoughts, a fresh wave of moisture dripped from between her thighs. She moaned loudly and Seanan covered her mouth with his hand. “If we’re going to do this here, now, you need to be quiet.” She nodded, flicking the tip of her tongue against his palm. He rewarded her with a deep groan of his own.

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“I want all of you tonight,” she whispered, hungrily eyeing the massive bulge straining against his breeches. “I want to see your cock, feel its velvety hardness.” His eyes widened and a slow, lazy smile spread across his features. With one hand he unbuckled his belt, while the other worked to loosen the close-fitting ties of her dress. The bodice was tight, covered in a myriad of ribbons and lace, but his expert fingers made their way beneath the knots. A moment later, the garment fell loose from her shoulders and she shimmied out of it. She reached out to help him out of his breeches but he was much faster, peeling them down and discarding the garment by the bed. Instead, she closed her hand around his cock, her thumb sliding over the wetness beading at the tip of the shiny, pink head. “You’re incredible.” She watched as he shrugged out of his tunic and kneeled on the bed in all his masculine naked glory. Seanan’s body glistened in the faint lamplight, the well-muscled, sinewy arms and broad chest capturing her attention before her glance fell lower, over the hard planes of his flat stomach and the nest of curls between his thighs. And his cock -- oh, goddess, his cock -- was magnificent, spearing the air proudly, another bead of cum glistening on its tip, soft veins throbbing against the pale shaft. “You’ve seen enough,” he said, slowly removing her hand from his pulsating cock. She opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her by claiming her lips. His tongue forced its way between them, demanding entry, and she eagerly opened herself to him. She spread her legs wider, the gesture almost subconscious, driven by extreme need and desire. She wanted his cock. Goddess, she needed his cock. She wanted to be filled by more than his fingers, regardless of the effects on her magical powers. Aelynn closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, enjoying the feel of her cunt throbbing with arousal, knowing that it was only a matter of time until she’d have exactly what she sought.

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The cool texture of silk slipped over her forehead and tightened over her eyes. She struggled to blink, but the blindfold was perfect, keeping her from feasting her eyes upon his glorious body. “Damn you,” she whispered, but the words didn’t sound convincing even to her. Whatever he wanted to do to her tonight, she’d welcome gladly. “Let’s play a game,” he murmured against her lips. “What kind of game?” Aelynn’s pulse quickened, and her cunt clenched in anticipation. “I’m going to do things to your body tonight, Aelynn. Wonderful things. I want you to identify them and tell me how they feel. I want to hear your words. If you stop, I stop. Understood?” She moaned in response, her back already arching toward him. Whatever he was going to do, he’d better start soon before she lost all control and impaled herself upon his tantalizing cock, games and goddess be damned. “Your mouth… oh!” His teeth nibbled at a hardened nipple and she sucked in a deep breath. “You’ve got my nipple in your mouth and you’re flicking it with the tip of your tongue.” He murmured his approval against her skin, the sensation sending a shiver through her body. “And now you’re cupping my breast, squeezing, pinching my other nipple while your tongue still laps at the first one. It feels heavenly,” she admitted, letting her head roll from one side to the other on the fluffy pillow. “Tell me what you want.” His breath caressed the wetness on her breast. “My pussy,” she said, breathing the word aloud to a man for the first time and feeling strangely shy. “I want you to touch my pussy.” He obeyed, thrusting a finger between her engorged, sensitive folds. “Tell me how that feels,” he said. “It feels…” Words escaped her as he inserted two fingers inside her narrow tunnel, then added a third, widening the space. “Amazing.”

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“Good.” He withdrew his fingers and lifted her legs off the bed, spreading them wide, placing them over his shoulders. At least, she assumed that’s what he had done, and when he buried his tongue within her slit, her assumptions were confirmed. “I need to hear you,” he said, lifting his head from within her depths and leaving her aching for him. “Your tongue against my clit, teasing, flicking… oh, Seanan.” She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to her aching core. “I want your fingers as well as your tongue.” He obeyed, thrusting two fingers inside her while his tongue laved at her clit with long, slow, firm strokes. Her cunt lips pouted, their full, puffy softness enticing him further. Unable to hold back his growing need, he licked frantically down along the length of her slit to join his fingers and back up again until she didn’t think she could stand it anymore. Instead of stopping, he changed his technique, lapped feverishly at her cunt. The width of his tongue wiggled and swirled in large lazy movements across her pussy. Aelynn gripped his head tighter, pulled him in deeper. His tongue and fingers just weren’t enough. They couldn’t fill her the way she craved to be filled. “Your cock. Please. I want your cock.” He flicked his tongue faster, harder against her clit and she bucked her hips on the bed as her body writhed in response. “Fuck me, Seanan. I need you.” He stopped abruptly, the loss of pleasure almost a physical thing. She brought her hand between her legs to quench the need, but he moved it away, replacing it with something else, something hard and long… Dear goddess, he was really going to do it. A flicker of doubt registered through her mind before arousal took over. He rubbed the tip of his engorged, throbbing shaft against her pulsating clit, its velvety hardness a sharp contrast to the softness of his tongue.

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His fingers found their way inside her again while his cock continued to slide over her clit. She slid her hand over his and guided his shaft, now fully understanding his intention. He fucked her with his hand while his cock continued to tease her clit, the movements fast and demanding, her cunt responding to his thrusts by clenching around his fingers. The sensation of the powerful orgasm, coupled with the fact that she couldn’t see anything and was able to focus on the clenching and unclenching of her muscles, carried her away. The ball of fire and need built deep in her belly and rolled through the rest of her body. She choked back a scream, knowing that if the guards walked in right now Seanan didn’t stand a chance. And more than likely, neither would she. Aelynn felt his rhythm increase, the friction of his cock against her clit growing more fevered with each motion. As her orgasm died down, Seanan stilled, then groaned. His seed spilled over her stomach, down her legs, between the now drenched folds of her cunt. She brought her hand down and spread the slickness over her body as his fingers slowed their demand on her pussy. He pulled off her blindfold. The desire in his eyes was unmistakable and she glanced down to the wet mess spilled upon her body, feeling more content than ever before. “We should clean you up,” he said with a smile. She ran her fingers through his cum, brought one to her mouth and licked the salty wetness from it. “Leave it,” she said. “Tonight, I want you all over me. And tomorrow, I want to wake up smelling like you, knowing you’ve left your mark upon me, if not in me, forever.” He nodded, his eyes suddenly hooded as if the reminder of the inevitable mission pained him more than it had an hour ago. “I should go,” he said, reaching for his tunic.

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Aelynn lifted herself on an elbow, watching him. This was it. He’d climb out that window and it would be the last time she’d ever see him. “Stay,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, she wondered if he’d even heard her. He looked at her, his eyes dark and mysterious. She knew he’d refuse. If the guards caught him… if anyone noticed he wasn’t at his post, there wasn’t an excuse in all the world that would get them out of this. “Yes,” he said after only a moment’s hesitation. “I want to be with you tonight.”

Chapter Six Aelynn sat cross-legged on a plush pillow, letting the scent of sharply spiced incense and burning candles envelop her. She could feel the tendrils of her sexual magic just out of grasp, floating with an almost visible presence around her body. She relaxed, breathing deeply, trying to clear her mind of all thoughts of Seanan. “Why deprive yourself of sex?”

Well, so much for that.

Aelynn blinked her eyes open, struggling to focus through the thick, aromatic

smoke permeating the room. Midolen, her attendant for the past two years, perched upon a matching pillow an arm’s length away. “You ask me that at least once a fortnight. Don’t you get tired of receiving the same answer?” “Not until I get an honest one.” Aelynn sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. The elusive magical strands that cast intricate shadows throughout the prayer chamber beckoned to her but remained out of reach. “It’s fate, Midolen. It’s been preordained since before I was even born.” “I know all that,” Midolen said, waving a slender hand in the air. “What I want to know is why you don’t fight it.” “Fight the will of the goddess?” A sharp-pitched laugh erupted from Aelynn’s throat. “Have you gone mad?” Midolen shrugged her small shoulders. “It’s not as if it hasn’t been done before.” “You’re talking nonsense. Besides, we’re here for you. And if you want this contraception spell, then be quiet and let me cast it.”

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“Fine. At least that way one of us can have some fun tonight.” Her wicked grin flashed in the dimly lit room and despite the stab of envy that pierced her heart, Aelynn smiled back. Sometimes, she felt like the only virgin still left in all of Reonyc. And she’d stay that way for the rest of her life, casually partaking in the love lives of others through an occasional hastily cast spell. She was determined not to give in to such thoughts. That path led to nothing but doubt and second-guesses. She wasn’t in the mood for either. “Tell me his name.” Aelynn reached for Midolen’s hand. Faint tendrils of blue light whizzed by her head, gathering in a ball of illumination to hover between the two women. “Xanward,” Midolen whispered, a faint blush of color staining her cheeks. “You haven’t indulged in Xanward’s talents before coming to me, have you?” “Maybe a little,” Midolen admitted, ducking her head. “How much is a little?” Aelynn tightened her grip on the girl’s hands. An unwed mother at the castle would be frowned upon at best, kicked out at worst. Royalty wanted nothing to do with bastards and this was one reason the Inamorata was so highly revered. “Well, a little more than might have been prudent.” Midolen glanced at Aelynn from beneath lowered lashes. “But he stayed away from the one place that really matters. I’m in no danger of getting pregnant, Aelynn. And if you do your job, that’ll be something I won’t have to worry about at all.” Aelynn sighed, opened her mouth to reprimand her friend, then closed it abruptly as memories of last night came flooding back. Moisture gathered between her legs and she squeezed her thighs together, applying pressure to quench the need suddenly erupting through her core. Damn him. She blinked hard, the smoke suddenly irritating. Inhaling another deep, lungclogging breath of incense, she released Midolen’s hand and spread her arms wide.

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“Arath ramin mith,” Aelynn murmured, ready to embrace the heat that accompanied the soothing words of the enchantment. Nothing happened. “Arath ramin mith,” she repeated, louder this time. She tossed her head back and titled her chin up, glancing at the painted ceiling. Two women lay upon a field of daisies with six men surrounding them, providing different erotic delights. Aelynn bit back another sigh as frustration knotted her muscles. The tendrils of magic clung together, then began to dissipate, their sparkling blue light scattering throughout the room. “What’s wrong?” Midolen asked, a frown creasing her brow. “Nothing,” Aelynn lied. “I’m just tired, that’s all. Can we do this tomorrow?” Midolen shifted on her pillow. “I’d hoped to see him again tonight.” “I’m sorry, Mid. It’s just not happening.” Midolen nodded, stood up and reached for Aelynn’s hand to help her to her feet. “Perhaps you’re the one in need of a good night of fucking,” she said, eyeing Aelynn with a brazen stare, her wide, generous mouth twitching with barely-contained laughter. “You’re impossible. It’s impossible!” Aelynn blew out an exasperated breath. “Why do you keep doing this? Do you enjoy torturing me?” “I just want you to think, that’s all. Coratis had a lover. Why can’t you?” “Coratis is a myth,” Aelynn snapped, unable to keep the irritation from her voice. Unease had been building in her since she awoke this morning to find herself alone in her immense bed. She’d run downstairs, only to be told that Seanan had departed at dawn. She didn’t get to say goodbye. What they’d shared last night had been incredible, worthy of a lifetime of memories if she never got to experience anything like that again. But she would have traded it all for a whispered word, a lingering kiss before he left. “Hey.” Midolen laid a cool hand on Aelynn’s arm. “You all right?”

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Aelynn nodded, knowing that if she opened her mouth to speak, tears she barely held at bay would careen down her cheeks and probably never stop. Her magic was failing. Seanan was gone. Her world had been turned upside down in a few short days and she didn’t have a clue what to do about it. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” Midolen said, clasping her elbow and leading her through the door of the prayer chamber into the brightly lit hall of the coven. “But Coratis was real. As real as you and me.” Aelynn stopped in mid-stride to stare at her friend in astonishment. “How can you say that? The sorceresses don’t utter her name, because she’s been deemed a myth, nothing more than a legend to give false hope to future Inamoratas.” “Believe what you will.” Midolen’s voice was a whispered shadow, trailing along Aelynn’s fevered thoughts. “But Coratis existed and so did her Protector. Her lover.” Without another word, Midolen marched through the hallway and out the front steps of the building. Aelynn wasn’t able to follow. She sagged against the wall. It was all she could do to keep her quivering legs from giving out from under her. If Coratis was real and she had a lover, then I… I… No. It was too much to consider and false hope would only lead her astray. She couldn’t afford to give up her destiny, her training for the last twenty years. Not for the longing that continued to build deep within her heart, not for the fear of living her life alone and not for the shadow of a chance at love. And certainly not for a man.

*** Seanan stood in the middle of Wildertor Woods staring out at nothing as loneliness gnawed at his insides. He’d only been away from Aelynn for a few hours and already he needed the sight of her beautiful face more than he’d ever needed anything in his life. “Are you going to be able to concentrate?”

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Seanan cast a wary look over his shoulder and fixed Xanward with a harsh stare. “I am concentrating,” he said between clenched teeth. “I’m trying to make sure we’re going the right way. Even a ranger could lose his way in this forest.” “And goddess knows, you’re no ranger.” Xanward flashed him a toothy grin. Usually Seanan liked the swarthy soldier, but today Xanward’s teasing remarks were quickly beginning to aggravate him. “That may be, but I know more about this forest than the three of you put together.” He gestured toward the other members of the war-band sent to accompany him. “Very well, oh wise leader,” Xanward rumbled in his deep voice, his lips still twitching in amusement. “Which way now?” Seanan held up a hand, commanding silence. There’d been a sound a moment ago, something unlike the soothing noises of life in the forest. There -- there it was again. A scraping, followed by a loud crash. Like branches being torn from trees. “We’re near.” His voice was tense and low. “Stay close.” The others didn’t hesitate and fell into step behind him as he trudged through the forest, every snapping branch beneath his foot making him grimace in dismay. A flash of light speared the foliage ahead and Seanan halted abruptly. A giant leaned against a massive oak, its branches brushing the top of his head. Seanan bit back a curse and signaled to the others. He moved quickly, silently, behind the giant, careful to scope out the surrounding area before going any further. One giant he could deal with. A dozen or more meant none of them were going home. What if Aelynn was right? He clenched his teeth and tightened his grip on his thick oak bow. She couldn’t have been. He wasn’t meant to die here like this, in the powerful grip of creatures almost twice his size. He’d break through the barriers to the encampment, rescue the girl and go back to Aelynn.

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All in all a good plan, he admitted to himself as he neared the giant. Except Aelynn would never be his and he’d go back to the inn to drown in Jeza’s best black ale and a handful of her finest courtesans. The giant grunted. Seanan paused, his heart hammering in his chest. He wiped his sweat-covered brow with a trembling hand and tightened his bowstring, pointing it up, the arrow focused on the softly pulsating hollow in the giant’s throat. “I smell you, fleshling.” The giant pushed away from the tree. His massive boot crunched down on dry branches that snapped beneath his footstep and Seanan leapt away, halting as his back brushed against a thick oaken trunk. He was trapped. The giant had but to turn his head and he’d spot him. Without warning, Xanward jumped out from behind a thick patch of undergrowth and plunged his short sword into the giant’s leg. His best thrust came up to the top of the giant’s thigh and the powerful attack caused the beast to howl in pain. The forest floor vibrated, branches rattling in agony along with the creature. “He’ll call the encampment on top of us!” Seanan shouted, aiming his bow. He unleashed the arrow, watched it find its mark in the giant’s fleshy throat. A gurgle, much softer than his shouts a moment earlier, and the creature swayed on his feet, finally falling to the forest floor with a loud slam. “We have to hurry!” Seanan rushed through the forest, the colorful leaves blending into a blur around him. His pulse pounded in his ears as he leapt over fallen logs and ducked out of the way of sharp-edged branches. They couldn’t be far off. All the signs pointed to a nearby encampment and the giant on guard was the best indication they’d had all day that they were on the right track. The smell of burning meat made him gag and veer sharply to the left. Following the acrid aroma, he plunged through foliage without giving the impulsive action a

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second thought. He skidded on the soft grass as he burst through the perimeter to the encampment, coming to an abrupt halt when he saw the girl. Renne lay on the ground, her feet bound together; hands tied behind her. Her face was dirty, but brilliant blue eyes shone with intensity as she looked upon him and widened with recognition. “Hurry,” she whispered hoarsely. “Before they return.” Seanan glanced around him, fervently hoping the giants wouldn’t break through the foliage to swarm around him. He fell on his knees to free the girl. The rest of his small party scattered through the clearing, searching for any signs of danger. “Where did they go?” Seanan asked, yanking at the tightly knotted rope. “They went after the howl.” Renne arched a thin eyebrow. “I suppose that was your doing?” “You could say that.” He threw the rope to the ground and offered her his hand. “Can you walk?” She nodded, lifting herself to her knees, then to her feet. “They haven’t done much to me but tie me up and leave me here. I don’t think they had a real plan.” “Good. Come, this way.” They ducked beneath a long branch and stepped back into the comforting confines of the forest. The three war-band members melted out from the trees and joined them, each offering a deep bow to Renne in recognition of her ordeal. “Take me home,” she said. They set off at a rapid pace, though Seanan kept a careful eye on Renne until he was certain she was strong enough to keep up with the rest of the group. When she didn’t seem to tire easily, he upped the speed to a leisurely jog, then a full-fledged run. To his surprise, Renne matched him step for step, even offering a wide grin at his look of astonishment. “All those years of chasing boys around the castle,” she said with a wink. She didn’t even sound winded he realized. A surge of annoyance tore through him. He

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hadn’t really expected to play the knight in shining armor to a damsel in distress, but Renne could probably have rescued herself if he hadn’t come along. The white walls surrounding Reonyc came into view and he slowed down, a sense of security and longing coursing through him at the sight of home. Renne placed her small hand in his and squeezed tightly. “Thank you for coming for me.” Seanan gulped, the contact of her skin against his bringing back vivid memories of the night before. Aelynn’s dark, bottomless eyes swam before him and he could almost feel her lush curves beneath his hands. He cleared his throat. “It was my duty.” Renne waved a hand dismissively. “Call it that if you will.” He was almost afraid to ask, but curiosity got the better of him. “And what would you call it?” “I think it was fate.” “Fate?” He was stricken. The word sounded hollow, perverse somehow. “You and me, together.” Her wide mouth broke into a slow smile. “Taking on the world.”

Chapter Seven Aelynn slid her fingertips across the cool surface of the stone wall before her. The chill in the old castle dungeon played over her skin, teasing her with whispers of longforgotten terror. She should have been afraid. No one came down here anymore, as proven by the thick cobwebs that stretched around the shackles embedded in the walls. The low moan slithering through the dungeon sent a chill racing down her spine, but it wasn’t born of discomfort or apprehension. Water dripped freely from the ancient walls and over Aelynn’s hand, dampening the air. The moisture caused her thin shift to cling to her body. There was magic here. Ancient magic. She inhaled the cold, mildewy smell and willed the faint blue twirls of smoke to appear. Her powers obeyed, bringing soft traces of light to the shadowed dungeon. Pressing the palms of her hands against the rough rock, she tossed her head back and began to chant. “Erriswen, snarthey, marantia.” The words of power washed over her, soothing in the comforting rhythm. Empathy, wisdom, love. The foundation and basis of the Inamorata’s power, each one as vital as the next. I have them all still, my Lady. But she didn’t. A nagging shred of doubt flickered across her mind and Aelynn willed it away. I’m the same person I was a few days ago. I have empathy for all the creatures of the land, the hard-earned wisdom of my years of study and the love of my people.

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The thrum of footsteps on the damp floor jolted her out of her reverie. She’d rested her head against the wall and as she turned toward the sound, she wiped some of the water away from her forehead. “Who’s there?” she called out, squinting in the swirling blackness. The blue glimpses of light hovered close to her head, illuminating no more than an arm’s length in front of her. The steps grew louder and the brightness of the magical light intensified. The force of the spirit threads binding her power became almost blinding; she lifted her hand to shield her eyes. Hope flared in her chest. “Seanan?” “I came to you as soon as I could.” He stepped closer, half his face bathed in the brilliant light, the other half still shrouded in shadow. He looked sexy, mysterious and unmistakably dangerous. Aelynn’s breath caught in her throat; her heart hammered in her chest. “How did you find me?” He laughed, the tone low and husky. “You’ve told me about this place so many times, I thought it was about time I came to see it for myself.” She glanced at the walls, where the ancient rusted shackles swayed with a force of their own. “What do you think?” “I think it’s creepy.” His brow furrowed and she resisted the urge to laugh. He looked so handsome, so sexy standing amid so many memories, the shadows and ghosts of old souls hovering around him. She couldn’t see them any more than he could, but she knew they were there, watching them. “They’re harmless,” she said. “They?” Seanan echoed, casting a wary look around him. “I thought you came down here alone.” “I did.” Another fiery rush flew through her veins, the blue tendrils flickering with a renewed glow.

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She felt the strength of her magic return, race through her with swift, demanding force. Flexing the fingers of her right hand, she lifted her arm and pointed at Seanan. “Sentra metchana.” The light dimmed slightly, broke into a thousand tiny sparkles and darted around Seanan. In the blink of an eye his clothes disappeared, leaving him gloriously naked, the sight of him more intoxicating than the best fine wine. “Neat trick,” he said, the corners of his lips twitching with amusement. He made no move to cover himself. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I don’t know how to do that to you.” “That could be debated,” she said, lifting her other arm. “But either way, it’s irrelevant. Right now, you’re at my mercy. Cal’ara vendrania ther a’mar.” “What does that mean?” The words barely had time to spill out of his mouth before the force of her magic whipped him back, slamming him against the wall. The clanking of shackles filled the dungeon as they snapped around his wrists, his ankles. “You’re starting to scare me,” he said, though his dark eyes held no hint of fear. Only desire and that strong, stubborn streak she’d gotten to know so well. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She trailed her fingertips over his rock-hard, sinewy abdomen. His cock speared the air, casting a huge shadow on the ground. Goddess, but he’s perfect. So unlike any of the men she’d personally known; the fat, lazy courtiers who visited the palace and asked her for the goddess’s favor in yet another of their attempted conquests. The ones who sat around, scratching their private places in public, belching loudly after another full meal and grabbing at women’s skirts as they passed by before losing interest and moving on to the next pretty girl to glance their way. Seanan had never made her feel less than perfect and his attention had never wavered from her when they were together. The lust in his eyes had been as clear then as it was now, those beautiful limpid pools fixed upon her with a brilliant stare. “So now that you have me, what are you going to do with me?” His breath fanned her cheek, his voice no more than a low growl.

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“I’m going to love you.” There it was. So simple. So impossible. Before he could say anything that would make her question the wisdom of all this, she slammed her mouth against his. He responded instantly, his tongue thrusting between her slightly parted lips, his cock hard against her belly. Her tongue met his in a passionate dance, seeking the pleasure only he could provide. She hadn’t seen him in three torturous days. Although he’d returned quickly with Renne, Aelynn’s need for him grew with each moment he was absent, until she cursed the king for keeping him occupied, keeping them apart. And with the ceremony only a night away, her time with him was rapidly slipping through her fingers. She hadn’t been able to perform even the simplest of spells until -She broke the kiss and took a step back, her hand rushing up to cover her swollen lips. “What have you done to me?” He narrowed his eyes. “I think you’ve got that question all wrong. I believe I should be asking you that.” He shook his wrist, the clang of metal ringing through the dungeon. “My magic. It hasn’t worked since you left.” He shrugged, the gesture tightening his powerful muscles and drawing her attention to his broad chest. “Maybe you’ve been preoccupied.” “Yes,” she murmured, moving back to him and encircling her arms around his neck. “That has to be it.” She ran her hand through his thick red hair and down the side of his neck, pausing to stroke the slight stubble along his chin. Her fingers wandered lower, circling a tight nipple, and he groaned again, the sound sending a rush of liquid pleasure to her pussy. She grasped his hips and lowered herself to her knees before him, until her mouth was poised over his magnificent cock. She flicked her tongue lightly over the bead of moisture at its tip, loving the way the hard shaft stood out against the darker hair between his thighs, the way it throbbed when she grasped it.

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Circling his hard length with her thumb and forefinger, she gripped him near the base of his cock and let her mouth slowly envelop his shaft. She felt his body spasm beneath her ministration and sped up her rhythm, allowing his cock to touch the back of her throat before pulling back, the head escaping her mouth with a wet pop. Her hands moved in unison, taking over where her mouth had been, squeezing him firmly, stroking him before she took his length back inside her. Seanan groaned and thrust his hips out, his movement limited by the shackles holding him close to the wall. His cock pulsed in her mouth, thrumming with an energy of its own as she pumped it in and out between her lips. “Aelynn,” he whispered hoarsely. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to --” In response, she gripped his balls in the palm of her hand and squeezed gently, his cock reaching the furthest depths of her throat. She whipped her tongue around his shaft, eagerly sucking it, loving it, possessing it with a fury she hadn’t known she was capable of. Denfinite antheena. This time her spell was nothing more than a thought; she wasn’t sure it would even work. The blue light flickered and burst into a bright flare, making her eyes water. Seanan tossed his head back and shouted out his pleasure as his seed spilled deep within Aelynn’s mouth, overwhelming her with the intensity of his release. She sucked his cock, swallowing the essence he offered, taking him deeper with each pulse of his ejaculation. The spell held, prolonging his orgasm, letting his seed fill her until she wasn’t sure she could swallow any more. His cock continued to pump and squirt within her mouth. When the stream finally subsided, she licked every last drop off his skin, wiped her mouth and stood up to place a firm kiss on his full lips.

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Seanan looked spent, his forehead dotted with perspiration, his hair wet from the moisture of the walls. A thin rivulet of sweat ran down his chest and Aelynn followed the trail with the tip of her finger. Reluctantly, she backed away and flicked her wrist through the air, uttering the same magical words that had shackled him. This time the spell released him and he fell to one knee, his hands braced against the stone floor. He looked up at her, the force of his glare propelling her a step back. Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Did that not please you?” His laugh was halfway between a genuine chuckle and a low growl. “If you only knew how much it pleased me, you might never do it again.” She lifted an eyebrow, confused at his words. Around them, the blue magical forces drifted away to fade completely into the darkness of the dungeon. “My initiation ceremony is tomorrow,” she murmured, trying to seek him out as her eyes adjusted to the inky blackness. “And when you came to me, I knew I had to say goodbye.”

Chapter Eight So much can change in only a few days. Aelynn strolled through the castle halls, her hands deep in the pockets of her dress. She kept her head down, hoping to avoid conversation with any well-wishers. The start of the initiation ceremony was only twelve hours away. What should have been the most exciting day of her life had become something else, a day of doubt and dread. She squared her shoulders and turned a corner. It was early and few people were in the halls. As much as she tried to avoid eavesdropping, the whispers and shreds of conversation from a group of women reached her ears. “Poor Renne, everything she’s been through at the hands of those monsters.” “It must have been horrible for her. But she’s engaged now, did you hear?” “Yes! The castle’s buzzing about it. She deserves a little happiness after all she’s been through.” The voices faded as Aelynn passed the cluster of courtiers and she quickly changed direction toward Renne’s chambers. She’d been so focused on her own problems, she hadn’t heard the news about Renne’s engagement. Why hadn’t Seanan mentioned it last night? A faint rush of heat brushed her cheeks as she remembered the way they’d spent their time in the dungeon. She’d kept him busy. She doubted she would have been in the mood for any real conversation anyway. Not with him shackled to the wall, his perfectly muscled body pressed against the unyielding, ancient stone behind him, his cock rigid and ready for her. Wetness flooded her cunt at the thought and she quickened her pace. She needed a distraction, something to get her mind off Seanan and the initiation ceremony.

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Hearing about Renne’s upcoming wedding would provide the perfect opportunity to do just that. Aelynn stopped in front of Renne’s chambers and tapped slightly against the door with her fingertips. “Come in.” Walking into this chamber was like stepping into another world. Aelynn stifled a sigh as she closed the door behind her, blinking rapidly against the splendor of the room. There were more gold and glittering jewels in Renne’s chambers than anywhere else in the castle. Precious stones covered every inch of her bedposts. Her tables and even the chairs were gilded in gold and inlaid with diamonds. So much waste. Half this wealth would feed the poor of Reonyc for twenty years. Aelynn forced herself to look away from the riches in the room and meet Renne’s brimming stare. Her bright blue eyes shone with an unmistakable joy, her wide mouth frozen in a broad grin. Aelynn returned the smile and took Renne’s hands in her own. “I’m so glad to see you unharmed. I prayed for your safe return.” Renne leaned in and kissed Aelynn’s cheek. “You’ve always been so kind to me. Those monsters --” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “I was afraid of what might happen if I didn’t get rescued.” “The king would never allow that,” Aelynn said, a pang of guilt sweeping through her. She’d tried to change the king’s mind about sending Seanan, knowing he was the best. If the giants had killed Renne, the fault would have been Aelynn’s as much as anyone’s. “Besides,” Aelynn continued. “It’s over now. And I hear you have good news of your own.” “You’ve heard about the engagement?” Renne’s face turned a becoming shade of red and her hand fluttered to her chest.

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“Apparently! The castle’s buzzing about it.” Aelynn sat on the edge of Renne’s bed, patting the bedspread beside her in invitation. “I want to hear everything. Who is he?” Renne grabbed a jeweled pillow and pressed it to her petite chest before sliding onto the bed beside Aelynn. “You know what they say about meeting your soul mate in the most unusual places? Well, that wasn’t quite the case with me. I’d known him for years, but it wasn’t until my ordeal that I realized we were meant to be together.” “One of your captors?” Aelynn giggled at Renne’s indignant look and swept a lock of hair out of her eyes. “One of my rescuers.” “Oh. If it’s Xanward, I should warn you that Midolen isn’t going to be happy about the news.” “Xanward? The tall, dark one with the steely gaze?” She shook her head. “It’s not him, though he’s handsome enough. He doesn’t hold a candle to my Seanan.” The room spun. The sparkling jewels and glint of gold made Aelynn’s eyes water. She reached out and grabbed the bedpost beside her, hoping to halt the room’s twirling. “Seanan?” she whispered, fervently wishing against all rational thought that she’d misheard. “My -- our Seanan? The chariff?” Renne’s silvery laugh filled the chamber. “Do you know another one? Oh, Aelynn, he’s perfect.” Aelynn knew exactly how perfect he was. She’d known all her life, since they were children and she’d sneak out of the castle to meet him, knowing that he’d treat her like a real child and not like miniature royalty. She’d watched him grow from a serious young man to a maddeningly handsome adult. His lanky teenage frame had slowly transformed into a splendid mass of muscle and sinew and filled out his soldier’s uniform perfectly now, but that innocence and idealism had stayed with him over the years. And now, she’d lost him forever.

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“Hey.” Renne squeezed Aelynn’s hand. “Are you all right?” Aelynn swallowed repeatedly, trying to keep the tears at bay. Despite the comfortable warmth in the room, a chill had settled over her skin making her shiver. “I’m very happy for you.” But she wasn’t. And in the past few days, lying had become second nature. “Take good care of him,” Aelynn said, standing up. She suddenly needed to be alone, away from the exasperating joy in Renne’s eyes as she uttered Seanan’s name. She slipped through the door and into the hallway before Renne could say another word. Aelynn ignored all the wary glances cast her way and leaned against the door to Renne’s chambers, unsure her legs could hold her if she tried to make the trek to her room. Bile lingered on her tongue. She needed time to think, to consider the implications of what she’d just heard. What’s there to think about? She can give him everything you can’t. The maddening voice inside her was right. Renne could give him children. A family. A deep, unshakable commitment. And most important of all, she could love him the way Aelynn couldn’t. Everything changes. She’d expected this. Seanan was bound to find a woman he’d want to spend the rest of his life with eventually, so why not now? Why not on the day of her initiation ceremony? But why couldn’t he at least have told her? She squeezed her eyes shut, and a tear escaped down her cheek. Seanan would marry Renne and Aelynn would watch them go through life together with their children while she remained outside it all, continuing to ensure the well-being of Reonyc’s citizens. Their relationships were more important than those she’d never have. Her celibacy was a small price to pay for the happiness of countless couples. Aelynn squared her shoulders and moved away from the door. Renne’s news was irrelevant and of no consequence to her. She’d made her choice long ago.

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*** In retrospect, perhaps rescuing Renne hadn’t been the best idea. Seanan stood in the throne room before the king, his right hand gripped around the hilt of his sword. There were no enemies around but the woman standing by his side kept trying to hold his hand and he preferred keeping it exactly where it was, on something reassuring and protective. “My gratitude knows no bounds,” the king said, lifting a hand to point at Seanan and Renne. “And knowing that the two of you plan to wed makes my weary old heart sing with joy.” Mighty goddess. What have I done? A week ago, Seanan hadn’t been concerned with anything beyond a hot meal, a warm bed and the promise of a good fight to come. All right, and one other thing, a glimpse of Aelynn. That was all he’d wanted. A glimpse. Perhaps a touch. Goddess willing, maybe even a kiss. But no more. Now he stood in front of his liege, ready to commit to marrying a woman he didn’t love when his heart belonged to one he couldn’t have. “Come now.” The king shattered Seanan’s panicked thoughts. “You look spent from your travels. Seat yourselves, and let me hear of your plans.” “We plan to wed as soon as possible,” Renne chimed in, wrapping her hand around Seanan’s arm and leading him to a nearby chair. Seanan collapsed into it, avoiding the king’s eyes. Outside, rain pattered against the window, the soothing rhythm doing nothing to calm his frazzled nerves. “Is that so,” the king said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Why the rush?” “My ordeal has been such that I will never forget. I want to start a new life with my husband, put the past behind me. You understand, don’t you, uncle?” “Aye. That I do.” He leaned forward on his throne. “The queen and I weren’t very different from the two of you when we wed. Even the circumstances were alike. I’d rescued her from a half-orc intent on adding her head to his collection.” “That’s horrible!” Renne cried. Her shrill voice made Seanan cringe.

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“Aye,” the king agreed. “I remember him well. Steeleye, they called him. Ugliest half-orc I’ve ever seen.” “How did you find her?” Renne asked. “I followed his trail for days, finally coming upon his hideout in a forgotten shrine.” The king’s eyes took on a glazed, faraway look. “The place stunk of death and decay, and no wonder. He’d lined the heads of maidens along the floor, their empty eye sockets all turned toward his makeshift throne.” A wave of revulsion coursed through Seanan, but he was intrigued despite himself. “Did you slay the beast?” “And made off with the prize,” the king replied, smiling. “Of course, her family wasn’t as easy to dispatch.” “They didn’t approve of your union,” Seanan guessed. “That’s putting it mildly. If I remember correctly, they promised to kill me if I ever stepped foot upon their land again.” “But the queen seems so happy here,” Renne said, squeezing Seanan’s arm. “So happy with you.” “She is, though I don’t doubt she misses her home. Her father had offered her rescuer any prize he wanted, believing any man would want land and riches.” “But you wanted her heart,” Seanan said, his own chest contracting at the thought. He knew the feeling. He’d have done anything to keep Aelynn by his side for all eternity. Fight half-orcs and Wildertor giants, disobey goddesses. “That’s so romantic.” Renne sighed beside him, forcing Seanan to return to reality. “Our story will be just as happy as theirs, won’t it, my darling?” It took Seanan a moment to realize she was speaking to him. He managed to grunt a half-hearted assent and his bride-to-be seemed pleased with his answer. “Well then, why wait? Why not perform your union tonight?” the king suggested. Tonight! “Aelynn’s initiation ceremony is tonight,” Seanan said, stumbling to his feet.

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Renne squealed, jumping upon him with all the strength in her small body, almost knocking Seanan off his feet. “That’s perfect!” she shrieked in his ear as she clasped her arms around him. “We’ll be wed in front of everyone and both the Inamorata and the goddess will bless our union.” Goddess help me. He gritted his teeth, his head spinning to come up with a reason why this couldn’t happen. “I don’t want to impose upon the ceremony, my Lord.” “Nonsense. Aelynn’s a good girl. She won’t mind.” Sudden images of Aelynn’s sweet mouth wrapped around his cock came unbidden to his mind. Such a good girl, indeed. His cock stiffened beneath his breeches. Renne must have felt it because she leaned against him, grinding her hips against his in a quick, circular motion. He fought off a wave of revulsion and tried to calm his throbbing cock. There was no way out of this. To refuse meant he’d have to explain to everyone how he really felt. Besides, disobeying his king was out of the question and although the old monarch hadn’t given a direct order, he might as well have the way he looked upon them, his bright eyes shining with happiness. “So it’s settled then.” The king snapped his fingers and a messenger appeared at his side. “Summon Aelynn. She’ll need to prepare.”

*** She’d be damned if she’d stand here, watching Seanan and his bride-to-be holding hands, and pretend to be happy about it. Aelynn spun on her heel and fixed Renne and Seanan in turn with a scorching glare. At least Seanan had the decency to look ashamed. This was the first time she’d seen them together, the first time she’d seen him since last night’s incredible events in the dungeon. Lying bastard. He could have told her he was engaged before she spent all her magical energy worshipping his cock.

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“I desire a private audience with the king,” Aelynn said. “But we should be here,” Renne whined, her eyes wide with confusion. “There’s no need.” Seanan pulled on her arm and Renne rose obediently. “Aelynn and the king have much to discuss.” With one last look behind her, Renne followed Seanan out of the throne room. Aelynn could barely stand still. She paced the small space in front of the throne, her hands clasped behind her back. “Why have you summoned me?” she asked, stopping just long enough to stare up at the king. “You seem tense, Aelynn,” the king said in his soft, soothing voice. “I am,” she admitted, drying her damp palms on her dress. “The ceremony is tonight and I should be preparing. The spells need to be perfect and my magic hasn’t…” She nibbled the side of her lip as her words trailed off. She’d said too much. It wouldn’t do to cast doubt upon her abilities with mere hours before her initiation. “Well then, I have news that should brighten your spirits.” Aelynn glanced up, her hands balled into fists at her side. She seriously doubted that whatever the king had to say would be good for her spirits or any other part of her. “Instead of another dreary old traditional ceremony,” he continued, “you’ll be performing your first binding during the midnight hour. The goddess will have a chance to watch as you join two people together, forever.” Dear goddess. This is worse than I thought. She cleared her throat as she tried to gather her voice. “I assume you’re referring to Renne.” “And Seanan, yes. After the ordeal my niece has been through, she deserves all the happiness we can offer her.” I should have expected this. Dammit! Why didn’t I see this coming? “But, my Lord, this has never been done before. Are you sure it’s wise to change tradition in this manner?” The king’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward on his throne. “It’s not like you to hesitate at the opportunity to use your magic. And since your first binding ceremony

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is the most important one in the eyes of the goddess, I thought you’d be thrilled at having the chance to do both tonight.” Had it been anyone else… “Yes, my Lord,” she said finally, her voice astoundingly calm. “I shall prepare for both ceremonies.” The king smiled, the skin around his eyes crinkling. He suddenly looked older than his fifty-five years and Aelynn felt a rush of affection for him. She’d do as he said. What difference did it make if Seanan and Renne were to be married tonight or a year from now? After fully taking on the role of the Inamorata in a few hours, she’d be the only sorceress in Reonyc performing binding ceremonies anyway. With a quick formal bow, Aelynn turned her back on the king and hurried out into the hall. Midolen stood by the door and fell into step beside her as Aelynn tried to put as much distance between herself and anything having to do with Seanan as she could. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to rush down to the dungeon and -Damn him. Even the dungeon was no longer the peaceful sanctuary it once was. “You look pale as a ghost, Aelynn,” Midolen said as they dashed through the castle. “What did the king say to have upset you so?” “I’ll be performing Seanan and Renne’s binding ceremony tonight.” Her breath came in ragged gasps and she fought to hold back a sob. “That’s wonderful!” Midolen clasped gentle hands on Aelynn’s shoulders and spun her around until the two women faced each other. “You were concerned about your first binding. You must be so relieved to know --” “I am not relieved,” Aelynn spat out between clenched teeth. Midolen took a step back, her hand dropping from Aelynn’s shoulder. “I don’t understand. Your first test as the Inamorata will take place in front of the goddess…” She paused, her curious glance scanning Aelynn’s features until Aelynn had the strong urge to duck her head from the force of Midolen’s questioning glare. “It sounds pretty good to me, unless --”

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“Unless nothing.” Aelynn blew out a deep breath. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to share my initiation ceremony with anyone, king’s niece or no.” A frown creased Midolen’s brow. “What’s gotten into you? The goddess --” “The goddess be damned!” Aelynn spun on her heel and broke into a run, the desire to flee more pressing than any other, except perhaps for her need to feel Seanan’s arms around her, telling her this had all been a bad dream. The tapestries hanging from the walls and the round marble pillars lining the wide halls blended together into a blur as she sped past them, not knowing where she was going, not caring where she’d end up. She clenched her teeth as a barrage of blasphemous words threatened to break their way to the surface, knowing that a thousand curses, a million prayers, weren’t going to be enough to get her out of this mess.

Chapter Nine Aelynn took a deep breath and stepped up on the pedestal, keenly aware of a hundred pairs of eyes raking over her naked body. After she’d run until her legs and lungs wouldn’t let her take another step, she collapsed in the castle gardens, sobbed for nearly an hour, then realized that there was no decision to be made. She’d go through with the ceremony, including anything the king might ask of her. It was her duty. No matter how highly worshipped she’d be in a few hours’ time when she took on the title of the Inamorata, the king still commanded her and she obeyed. Besides, Seanan had clearly made his choice. He wanted to be married, to have a family with the woman he loved. How could she have considered standing in the way of that? Her purpose was to help channel sexual energy into positive, healthy, fulfilling relationships. Breaking them apart went against everything she’d been taught, everything she believed in. Aelynn lifted her arms above her head, letting the soft chill kiss her fevered skin. Heavy, threatening clouds hung low in the sky, though the rain had stopped and the scent of damp earth filled the air. She chanted the ancient words, spoken aloud by dozens of women before her, though none within the last two decades. There hadn’t been a new Inamorata chosen by the goddess in nearly that long and as she looked upon the faces of her rapt audience, she could feel their desires, their need for her. A pang of guilt pierced her heart. For a moment, she’d considered abandoning them to their fates, turning her back on her goddess, all for… for what? For a man who had chosen someone else?

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She closed her eyes, the wisps of blue magic still swimming in her vision. The rhythm, the power of her voice blossomed without any conscious effort on her part and she sang the mysterious words almost intuitively, their harsh tones and languid lilt flowing through the clearing. Behind her, the forest stirred in the night air, the tantalizing breeze ruffling her unbound hair and playing upon her skin. When her chant drew to a close, Aelynn opened her eyes to find one of the young acolytes standing before her. “State your name,” the acolyte commanded in a melodious voice. “Aelynn Kaelar.” She’d had the ceremony memorized since she was six. She knew every word to be uttered and for the first time tonight, a thrill of anticipation rushed through her. “Do you promise to worship the goddess above all else, obey her will in all things?” She glanced past the acolyte’s young face to the torches that had been settled around the clearing, the pale firelight glinting off the faces of those assembled. The king held the queen’s hand, while Magthana stood a few steps away from them, fresh tears glistening on her cheeks. Aelynn held back a smile. Since that night on the castle steps, their relationship had improved, though she still found it hard to relate to her mother. Perhaps now that she’d fully taken on the role of the Inamorata, Magthana might be inclined to have a few more heart-to-heart talks. “Do you give yourself willingly to the goddess,” the acolyte continued, “Depriving yourself of all the pleasures of the flesh, now and for eternity?” Beside Magthana, Seanan watched Aelynn, his hands clasped behind his back. His handsome features had settled into a deep frown, but he watched her, unflinching. He wore a ceremonial soldier’s uniform, no doubt in anticipation of his upcoming binding. Renne stood nearby, but they didn’t touch or hold hands as did the other couples in the group.

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Have I made the right decision? “Aelynn?” the acolyte whispered, her voice just loud enough for Aelynn to hear. “This is where you say yes.” Unable to look away from Seanan, Aelynn nodded. “I know,” she whispered back. Yes. The word wouldn’t come. She licked her suddenly dry lips, noting with growing dread that the crowd had started to fidget, apprehensive at her lack of a response. The forest murmured its disapproval as well, suddenly shifting and groaning, branches snapping under the weight of -“Giants!” The cry came out of nowhere and everywhere at once, followed by blood curdling screams that spread through the assembled group like wildfire. Aelynn stood on the pedestal, her body numb, watching the giants emerge from the forest. “Nobody’s going anywhere,” one of the giants said. There were five of them now, surrounding the clearing and herding people in a cluster among them. The one who’d spoken was even taller than the rest, his thick arms corded with muscle, massive teeth glinting in the moonlight as he grinned at them. The giants grabbed the acolytes one by one and placed them with the rest of the crowd. They gave Aelynn wide berth and when she tried to step forward to join the group, one shoved her back harshly. His strength knocked her off her feet. “Believe it or not, we’re not here to harm any of you.” A murmur of disbelief went through the crowd. The night’s chill began to creep into Aelynn’s bones and she wrapped her arms around herself. She didn’t mind being naked in front of those assembled. She was here for them, to serve them in any way she could. But the giants were a totally different matter, and as far as she was concerned they had no right to look upon the Inamorata fully clothed, much less in her current state.

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She gritted her teeth and focused on the apparent giant leader. “Then what do you want?” Her voice carried across the clearing. She drew strength from the floating glitters of magic at her side and lifted her head, staring him in the eyes. “I’m glad you asked.” As he motioned toward the forest, all eyes followed his movement. The trees parted, their branches groaning with the effort. Aelynn clenched her fists at her sides, expecting more giants, perhaps an army of them. She gasped as a creature flew out of the foliage, its tar-black wings spanning twice the height of any one of the king’s men. It was much larger than any bird Aelynn had ever seen, its orange beak standing out sharply against the contrast of the night, talon-like claws shredding through the air. It squawked loudly, the sharp noise echoing through the clearing, and Aelynn fought the urge to cover her ears. The creature flapped its wings once, sending a whoosh of cold air over the crowd, then swept behind Aelynn. She breathed a sigh of relief as it left her line of sight, but gasped when strong claws gripped her bare arms. “Let me go!” She wriggled in the creature’s grip, the bird’s talons digging painfully into her flesh. The grotesque creature effortlessly lifted Aelynn off the pedestal, hovering in the air only a few feet above ground, its wings flapping lazily as it held her. Below, the crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy. They screamed her name while the acolytes fell to their knees and chanted fevered prayers to the goddess. The goddess be damned. Aelynn grimaced as she remembered speaking the words, wishing with all her might she could take them back. The goddess had no doubt abandoned her tonight. Suddenly, it all seemed so simple. Destiny was irrelevant. It didn’t matter how much she’d struggled. Her fate wasn’t predetermined. The goddess couldn’t have predicted this when she’d picked Aelynn to be the Inamorata upon coming of age. She couldn’t have known that the threads of fate would be so easily thwarted. “Seanan,” she whispered.

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Aelynn searched for him among the crowd, but the throng of people seemed to merge into a cluster of noise and color and she couldn’t find him. She longed to look into his eyes, see them burning with that familiar glow of passion and desire once more. The crowd wriggled together as one, yelling obscenities at their captors in the same breath as they called out to her. Destiny is irrelevant. Fate is irrelevant. Love is… Aelynn’s thought trailed off as she struggled in the creature’s grip. Her arms had gone numb from the crushing constraint and her head slumped against her chest. She closed her heavy eyelids, knowing it was likely she wouldn’t be able to open them again, regretting that she hadn’t been able to see Seanan one last time. Love is all that matters, she thought, only a moment before darkness swallowed her.

*** Seanan. He heard Aelynn call his name above the shouts of the frightened crowd, the squawk of the giant bird and the harsh barking orders of the giants. But no one else seemed to hear it, and now Aelynn hung limply in the creature’s claws, unable to utter another word, her shapely, pale body a striking contrast against the bird’s black feathers. People pressed in around Seanan from all sides. He’d lost sight of Renne, but he could see the king’s crown over the heads of the panicked throng. Seanan’s breath came in ragged gasps and he gulped down the few opportunities for fresh air. The smell of sharply spiced sweat assaulted his senses as he tried to push his way through the crowd. Someone had to stop this madness. He had to get to the king, though he couldn’t understand why his monarch hadn’t done something by now. “Release these people,” came the king’s commanding voice as if on cue and Seanan breathed a sigh of relief. The mere presence of the king’s authority calmed some of his anxiety. This would all be over soon. The king would deal with the giants in whatever way he best saw fit and Aelynn would be safe.

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“Relax,” the leader answered. “I don’t wish to harm anyone. I’ve got what I came for.” The black bird flapped its wings lazily and raised itself a few more feet off the ground. Aelynn’s body hung limply, looking like nothing more than a rag doll in the creature’s grip. Her rosy, tight nipples contrasted vividly against her pale skin. Aelynn. He wants Aelynn. “Why?” Seanan shouted. “What do you want with her?” The giant’s eyes searched the now still crowd until they settled on Seanan, his huge eyes unnerving in their intensity. “Every man deserves a plaything, don’t you think?” He took a few steps forward until Seanan had to tilt his head up to stare at him. “She’ll do nicely.” Blood roared in Seanan’s ears, drowning out the giant’s words. “You can’t have her,” he said, determination surging through him. “I can. In fact, I already do.” He motioned lazily toward the creature still holding Aelynn in its fierce grip. “If anyone makes any move to rescue her, everyone here is dead. Leave her to me and no one has to suffer.” “We’ll never agree to those terms,” Seanan said, stepping forward through the crowd until he broke free of the mass of bodies. “The king won’t allow you to take the Inamorata without a fight.” “That’s enough!” The king’s voice boomed through the night air. A flash of lightning seared the turbulent sky. “Aelynn… Aelynn will be considered a casualty of war.” Seanan’s legs quivered under him as he tried to make sense of what he’d just heard. “You’re just going to let them take her?” Seanan’s mouth went suddenly dry. “Why?” “Because saving the lives of a hundred people is preferable to saving the life of one.” He glanced up at Aelynn. “Even the Inamorata.”

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Seanan opened his mouth to protest, but the king cut him off. “Stay your ground, Seanan. You will make no move to rescue her.” A sharp wail emerged from somewhere in the crowd and Seanan recognized Renne’s voice. He could stay here, watch as Aelynn was carried away and return to Renne. Someone else would perform the binding ceremony. He could do as the king commanded him, in this and all things. Or, he could go after the woman he loved. The wind howled through the branches surrounding the clearing as the giants threw their weapons over their shoulders and prepared to march away. She needs you. The voice was faint and familiar, its female lilt unmistakable, resonating in Seanan’s mind in a primal, instinctive way. He looked around for the woman who’d spoken to him, but met only teary eyes or empty stares. In turn, he eyed each of the three war-band members who had accompanied him into the forest for Renne’s rescue mission. He bent to his knee, the gesture ceremonial and submissive, but his hand went to the knife he always carried in his boot. He hoped the men saw it. In unison, two of the soldiers averted their eyes. Xanward continued to hold his stare until eventually he, too, turned away. The wind whipped Seanan’s red hair around his face and sweat ran down his brow. The giants had already begun to shuffle into the forest. Only three lingered in the clearing, together with the bird creature. This is your destiny. The voice traveled on a breath of air. Show her. Prove to her she’s not alone. Not now, not ever. Not with you as her protector. A low, guttural cry broke free from Seanan’s throat, rising until it filled the clearing. The remaining giants stopped and turned, bemused expressions on their broad faces. Seanan whipped the blade from his boot and, pausing only a moment to take aim, unleashed it. It found its mark only inches away from Aelynn’s firm breast, embedded in the creature’s black heart.

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The giants roared with fury as the bird squawked in pain. Aelynn’s body dropped to the ground with a resonant thud. Relief flooded through Seanan as her chest rose and fell with small, rhythmic breaths. She was alive. For now. In an instant, the glade was awash in screams, panic and battle cries mingling together in the air. The giants charged, their blades held out before them. Massive axes and broadswords swung from their hands, each weapon twice the size of Seanan’s favorite bow. Unarmed, Seanan stood apart from the crowd as the giants rushed for him. He steadied his trembling hands, knowing that his death had been preordained. It was going to happen just as Aelynn had predicted. However, it hardly mattered anymore. Aelynn was safe. He hoped his rash action was enough to keep her that way. Someone thrust the hilt of a dagger into his palm. This one was coated in a gold sheen; sparkling diamonds gleamed in the flickering torchlight. Seanan gripped the weapon, wishing he had his bow and quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder. Even a broadsword would have been better. But at least he was now armed. He readied himself by focusing on his battle stance; legs spread apart, arms comfortably held out with the dagger pointing toward the enemy. It might have worked, too, if his attacker hadn’t been ten feet tall. He shouted another battle cry, heard it fill the air. With it, another voice joined in. Then another. The three members of the war-band stepped forward, each clenching a weapon in a tight fist. Xanward glanced his way. “We die together, my friend.” “Not today, we don’t.” Heartened by the appearance of his friends, Seanan rushed toward the closest giant. He leaped into the air, his dagger landing just beneath the creature’s groin. Around him, the cries and sounds of battle echoed through the clearing. Metal against metal, weapons tearing flesh and the coppery scent of blood drowned out everything else in the area.

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Seanan pulled out his dagger and plunged it back into the giant’s flesh, this time hitting higher. Blood flowed freely over his arm and he withdrew his weapon for another stab. The giant’s hands grabbed hastily for him, tried to shove him away. The creature shook him, shoved Seanan’s head back with his fist. A trickle of warm blood dripped from Seanan’s temple as he struggled to take aim and shove his dagger to the hilt into the giant’s fleshy body. The giant staggered back and fell. The crowd lunged for him with loose branches and rocks. Seanan hurried to get out of the way of the angry mob. He glanced up, expecting to find another giant heading for him, but the clearing stood empty of foes. His friends were as drenched in blood as he, but the creatures were gone, having been efficiently dispatched in the short battle. The crowd seemed content to continue kicking at the giant splayed upon the blood-drenched grass. Seanan rushed to Aelynn, all other thoughts forgotten. He straddled her body, his knees on either side. She looked so fragile, so small beneath him. Her body quivered, whether with shock or cold, he couldn’t tell. Cupping her beautiful face in his hands, Seanan lowered his lips to hers. They parted for him and he drew her in, breathing her, tasting her, letting her silky lips soothe the terror that had risen in his soul when he thought he’d lost her. Protector. The word spun through his head, demanding to be acknowledged. Something moved at the corner of Seanan’s vision. Startled, he broke the kiss, reluctantly relinquishing his hold on Aelynn’s captivating lips. Astonished eyes met his. A few feet in front of them, the king stared, his countenance frozen in alarm. Around him, a hundred faces mirrored the expression. “What have you done?” the king murmured. A deep blush crept up Seanan’s cheeks. He’d been caught in perilous positions before, but straddling Aelynn in front of an audience with his rampant erection bulging beneath his breeches qualified as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of his life.

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“Has she been…” The king’s voice faltered for a moment. “Compromised?” “I have not.” Aelynn’s voice was clear and crisp as she stared up at Seanan. “Though if you don’t move,” she murmured, “I might do something unbecoming myself.” The husky tone brought another rush of heat surging to Seanan’s groin. He didn’t want to let her go. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to bury his unsheathed cock in her moist depths and stay there for all eternity. Regretfully, he swung a leg over Aelynn’s sleek body, allowing her to rise. She shook her long tresses, leaves and other debris from the clearing floor shaking free of her midnight mane, and faced the crowd. “Seanan rescued me tonight. Something none of you were willing to do.” She placed slender fingers on her curvaceous hips, her brow furrowing over clear green eyes. “You have to realize the danger we were all in,” the king said, the color draining from his cheeks. “I thought the goddess would understand --” “The goddess may have,” Aelynn said. “But I do not.” “I gave the order,” the king said. “I’ll take full responsibility for what almost happened to you.” “But nothing did happen in the end. Thanks to Seanan.” Aelynn wrapped her arms around Seanan, making his head reel. He wanted her so bad, the throbbing in his hard cock bordered on pain. “Why did you risk your life for me?” she asked, her warm breath caressing his ear. She wiped the rivulet of blood from his cheek with a soft caress. He held her close, inhaling the sweet scent of orchids on her soft skin. He considered lying, but as he looked out over the crowd, he realized nothing else mattered as much as she did. If she rejected him, then at least she did so knowing exactly how he felt.

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“Because I love you.” His voice was loud enough to carry to those gathered before them. “Because I’ve loved you since we were children, even knowing that you were forever forbidden to me.” A gasp traveled through the crowd, murmurs starting as a soft buzz then escalated to full-blown chatter. Fingers pointed, mouths gaped open. And Seanan couldn’t stop grinning. He was afraid to pull away and look at Aelynn, so he continued to hold her close, reveling in the feel of her tight nipples pressing through the thin cotton of his ceremonial tunic. Thank the goddess for small favors, he thought as she pressed herself closer to him. “You know I can’t…” she began, her words faltering. “I know,” he whispered back. “But I had to rescue you.” Aelynn released him and he straightened his shoulders, fixing the king with a proud glare. He was going to get kicked out of the war-band for this, that much was certain. Maybe they’d even banish him from the city. The king stepped forward, his hands clasped before him. “While I understand the power of love,” he cast a glance behind his shoulder at the queen, who was wiping a stray tear from her cheek, “I can’t do anything about this. Aelynn has been chosen by the goddess herself to fulfill a purpose greater than you or me. Her magic will ensure the well-being of this city for decades to come. Lasting relationships will prosper under her careful eye. Strong children will be born out of fruitful unions and they’ll have children of their own.” “I know all this,” Seanan snapped, his patience wearing thin. He didn’t need a lecture. He needed Aelynn. “Then perhaps you simply don’t understand the importance of the Inamorata’s role. As much as I’d like to give you my blessing, I simply can’t.” A shriek broke from the back of the crowd, carrying through the throng as a figure struggled to move forward through the mass of bodies pressed close together.

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“Seanan!” Renne screamed, emerging from the group. She caught herself as she stumbled and lifted her chin, fixing both Seanan and Aelynn with a fierce glare. Renne took a few hesitant steps and stopped in front of Seanan. Her red-rimmed eyes were puffy, her cheeks tearstained. “You really love her?” A sob broke free from her throat. He had to tell her the truth. He owed her that much. “I do.” Renne rose on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. Beside him, he felt Aelynn stiffen and an absurd wave of pleasure washed over him. “I should have known,” Renne said, darting a glance Aelynn’s way. “I’m sorry, Renne.” Aelynn brushed a tear from Renne’s cheek with the back of her hand. Renne nodded and in a flash withdrew back into the crowd. “The initiation ceremony must continue,” the king ordered, his voice booming above the excited prattle of the crowd. “Wait!” Seanan raked a hand through his hair, unsure how to proceed. He cleared his throat. “There may be a way.” The king raised an eyebrow. “A way for the two of you to be together? There isn’t.” “The protector spell.” Seanan turned to Aelynn. “Do you know it?” The color drained from her face. “Of course I know it, but its power is no more than a myth, a story told to --” “It’s much more than that.” The king sighed deeply, his clear eyes suddenly sad. “But it’s dangerous. For both of you, but especially for Aelynn.” Aelynn took a step forward. “Dangerous? How? And do you mean to say the spell is real? It really works?” “It only works if the goddess wishes it. She must bless your union as well as the Protector.” Fear clenched Seanan’s gut. “And if it doesn’t?” “Then the Inamorata will die.”

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Aelynn bit her bottom lip, the gesture making her appear both innocent and breathtaking. She hadn’t even agreed to anything yet, he realized abruptly. In fact, she hadn’t even said she shared his feelings. If she didn’t love him, then he’d alienated his king and destroyed his future as a member of the war-band -- all for nothing. No, not for nothing. He had to tell her. He’d wanted to tell her he loved her, and he had. But would she do this? Risk her life to be with him when she could just as easily continue with the ceremony? She turned her head, fixing him with those piercing green eyes. “Let’s do it!” Her words slammed into him like a war hammer in the chest. He had to hear her say it. “You… you love me?” A wide grin broke across her face, crinkling the fine skin around her eyes and pulling at the tip of the teardrop tattoo. “More than anything.” Seanan’s pulse pounded in his ears, his heart threatening to break out of his chest. She loved him. “Mashanwe anthe on enterety.” Aelynn’s voice soared through the clearing. Magical blue tendrils surrounded her, encircling her from head to toe as her spell rose to a crescendo and floated through the air. She stopped chanting, the sudden silence eerie in the dark expanse as the shadowy borders of the forest kept watch over the unique proceedings. A unified gasp of astonishment broke the stillness and as Seanan turned, his own astounded inhalation mingled with the rest.

Chapter Ten The scene before her tore at Aelynn’s heart, her eyes filling with tears as the enchanted dome beckoned to her. Blue flickers of magic floated around the apparition, their sparkling presence both inviting and alarming. Taking a deep breath, Aelynn entwined her fingers with Seanan’s and tugged gently on his hand. “Now?” he whispered. “Here?” The dome flickered with an inherent riot of colored light flooding the clearing and a unanimous gasp of approval echoed from the crowd. Swirls and sharp angles made up the structure, drawing the eye up to the top where a crescent-shaped moon looked down on them. “The goddess wants a demonstration,” the king said. “I think it’s up to the two of you to prove to her that the time has come for the Inamorata to choose another Protector.” Aelynn nodded, emotion welling in her throat. She’d wanted this her whole life. To be loved, to have the opportunity to be with the man who adored her. Looking into Seanan’s eyes, she saw the same desire reflecting back at her. He took her hand and together they walked inside the magical dome. “What…” Seanan began as they stepped over the threshold, the rest of his words drowned out by the sound of the door sealing behind them. At a glance, the clear structure seemed to have no other exit and the sides of the magical building were transparent. The people outside milled around in small circles, chatting and occasionally darting glances at the dome, though most kept their eyes averted from the sudden apparition.

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“I don’t think they can see us,” Aelynn murmured as Seanan wrapped his arms around her. She trembled, suddenly aware of her nakedness, and leaned back, letting the strength of his muscular chest warm her. Her bruises ached, but the comforting feel of his body eased the throbbing pain. “You don’t have to do this.” Aelynn’s breath caught in her throat. “I know,” she whispered, unsure of what he wanted to hear. “I mean it, Aelynn. You don’t have to risk your life for me.” He pulled her closer, the intimate gesture a sharp contrast to his words. “I love you.” Aelynn turned in his arms and placed a soft kiss on his jaw. The faint stubble tickled her lips and she inhaled his musky, male aroma mingled with the scent of blood. Aelynn pulled back, tugging insistently on his tunic. “Let’s get you out of those clothes. I’m starting to feel a little underdressed for this particular part of the ceremony.” He grinned, flashing perfect white teeth in the shadows. “As you wish, m’Lady.” She watched him shrug out of his tunic, his broad chest glistening in the torchlight from the clearing and the few short candles littering the ground inside their private space. A simple straw pallet had been provided on the hard-packed earth of the dome’s floor, along with a jug of wine and two slender, tall goblets. Aelynn strode over to the jug and poured the blood-red contents, offering a glass to Seanan. He took it wordlessly, drained it quickly and dropped it to the ground. His eyes never left hers, but she could see the apprehension in them, the brief flicker of fear that shadowed his face. “I’ll be all right,” she said with all the reassurance she could muster. The king had made the consequences of their coupling very clear. If the goddess didn’t approve, she’d die. And yet, would the dome be here, would the spell have worked if the goddess hadn’t already given them her blessing?

Lacey Savage


- 80 -

Aelynn couldn’t be sure, but that small thought brought comfort. She gripped her glass tightly and raised the contents to her lips, letting the sweet flavor wash over her tongue and glide down her throat. Seanan tossed his breeches to the ground. “So what do we do now?” Seanan asked, his hands on his hips. Aelynn’s gaze narrowed on his abdomen, flat and firm, with a slim trail of red hair narrowing down to the darker patch between his legs. “Now, we fuck.” Her hand slid over all the spots she’d devoured with her eyes. He groaned when she reached his cock, encircling the tip with her thumb and forefinger. She pressed herself against him, and Seanan cupped her face, his fingers gently stroking along her hairline, her cheeks, her jaw. When he bent his head to capture her lips, she couldn’t help the moan that escaped her mouth. She wasn’t sure what would happen, but certainly knew she was doing the right thing. She wanted to do everything. With him. The kiss started out gentle, but quickly turned possessive, fierce. She loved the way his tongue demanded entry, breaking through her barriers, proving that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. His hand reached her breast, the caress sending shivers down her spine, culminating in a pool of desire spreading between her legs. He brushed fingertips against the curve of her breast, found a nipple and pinched it between thumb and forefinger. His erection ground hard against her stomach, its urgent throbbing unmistakable. Even to a virgin. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the kiss, in the feel of his body against hers. She wouldn’t be a virgin for much longer. The thought made her dizzy, the ache in her cunt growing with each breath, each passionate touch. His kisses traveled lower, hot against her jaw, her neck, her shoulders. She gasped as his teeth gently scraped against her nipple, then his mouth took over, hot and demanding against her fevered skin.

Lacey Savage


- 81 -

She moaned, writhed against him, her hands roaming over the hard muscles of his arms, his back. The soft sucking sounds on her breast were the only noise resonating through the chamber, a testament to their joint need, the passion about to overcome them both. She arched her back, wound her fingers in his hair and pressed him closer to her heart. She wanted to offer herself to him in ways she never could before. “This is forever, Seanan. If you take me tonight, you can’t change your mind tomorrow morning. You’re mine, stuck with me for eternity.” He chuckled, the low sound vibrating against her skin. He released her nipple and stared into her eyes, emotion flickering over his face. “Nothing could tear me away from you. Not giants. Not goddesses. Nothing.” There was so much honesty in his voice, the truth of his words plainly etched upon his handsome features. Her heart swelled in her chest. She hadn’t realized it was possible to love someone this much. “Show me,” she whispered. The fire within her loins blazed. She didn’t think she could stand it anymore. She wanted him. All of him. “Show me how much you love me.” Wordlessly, he swept her off her feet and laid her upon the stark pallet. Bits of straw bit into her flesh, but complaining was the last thought on her mind. She would have done this on burning coals if that’s what it took. He stroked her skin gently as he lay beside her, his fingers caressing every inch of her skin. When his hand dipped lower within the wet folds of her pussy, the unmistakable shivers of an impending orgasm flashed across her body. His mouth followed the trail left by his hands, his breath hovering over her cunt in a promise of incredible ecstasy. She didn’t think she could take it tonight. It was his cock she wanted, not his mouth or his fingers, but even those thoughts fled as his tongue flicked over her slit before burying itself deep within. Two fingers joined the frenzy, finding their way deep inside her, their rhythm matching that of his tongue stroke for stroke.

Lacey Savage


- 82 -

Faster and deeper, in and out, he delved inside her, mouth and fingers as one, bringing her to the brink of orgasm. He pulled out just as she was ready to slide over the edge. Her frustrated cry filled the dome, echoing off the magical walls. She grabbed at his shoulders, his arms, needing to feel the length of his body on top of hers. She spread her knees wide apart, the aroma of her arousal escaping to tease her senses. His cock prodded at her slit, the promise of the joy it held just out of reach. She bit back a cry of protest, reminding herself this was something to be savored. It might be the last time they’d be together. “We belong together, Aelynn. Believe that.” And she did. With a slow smile, he slid his cock into her slick folds. She felt a moment of pressure, a barrier to their pleasure that broke and allowed his cock complete entry into her. She flung her head back and groaned, the delicious feel of being filled with him so much more powerful than in her dreams. He pushed inside her with slow, steady thrusts that brought her to the edge of orgasm again. Clamping her shaking, unsteady fingers on his ass, she pulled him closer, her hips finding their own rhythm beneath him. Each stroke teased her, caressed her, driving her nearer to losing control until she thought she would scream loud enough to bring the convoy outside in on them. Seanan grunted, lifted her legs around his waist. She locked them around him, squeezing him as he pressed deeper inside her, the tip of his cock nudging her inner core. His mouth pressed hard against her in a bruising kiss as his cock claimed her. She was his, now and forever. Her pussy tightened, clenched and spasmed around his cock as climax overtook her. She cried out, her fingernails scraping down his back as he tensed his muscles and gave a low, guttural growl. His seed flooded her cunt, flowing down her thighs to spill upon the pallet.

Lacey Savage


- 83 -

A bright light seared her eyelids so she opened her eyes only to blink against the blue glow lighting the chamber. Aelynn floated on the strength of their lovemaking, a serene thrill blending with the anxiety building within her as she recognized the magic around them. Seanan pulled out, leaving her pussy soaked and too empty for her liking. As Aelynn lifted herself to her knees, warm cum spilled out of her. Congratulations. “It’s the voice,” Seanan murmured, wrapping a protective arm around Aelynn and pulling her close. “Whose voice?” A light, silvery laughter enveloped them. Does it really matter? the voice asked, its lilt both comforting and familiar. What matters is that you’re together. Your love has overcome everything, including rigid rules placed upon the Inamorata by her goddess. Aelynn’s heart beat faster. Was she truly listening to the voice of the goddess? Together, you’re stronger than either one of you could dare to imagine, the ethereal voice said as a breeze stirred Aelynn’s hair. The dome around them flickered and began to fade. Enjoy your destiny. And each other. Magthana’s loud cry broke the spell. “Look!” she shouted. A moment later, the royal throng gathered near and a hundred faces stared down at them. Seanan jumped up from the ground and scrambled for his clothes to the delighted amusement of the crowd. The pallet was gone, leaving Aelynn on her knees in the tall grass, the foliage hiding most of the telltale signs of their lovemaking from prying eyes. Seanan’s cock proudly speared the air before him as he threw his tunic over his head. Aelynn couldn’t help marveling at its length minutes after it had unleashed its seed inside her. He held out his hands to her and she rose to stand by his side.

Lacey Savage


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“The Inamorata and her Protector,” the king shouted, a hundred voices joining in with their own ear-piercing cheers. Aelynn glanced at Seanan, the firelight glinting off his strong profile. He fixed her with a heated stare, a possessive, hungry groan escaping his throat. Her heart raced as he slid his hand around her neck, pulling her mouth up to his. Because love was everything. And now that they were together, nothing was ever going to be the same in Reonyc.

The End

Lacey Savage Lacey Savage began her love affair with romance at an early age. In high school, she checked out steamy romance novels from the public library and would often be found reading them in the middle of class. She still reads more than she cares to admit, and probably more than her husband would like, considering how many books she brings into the house. Her favorite genres have always been erotica, romance, fantasy, science fiction and mystery, so she tries to incorporate a little of each into her writing. She majored in Marketing, then went back to school to major in English Literature. After earning her degrees, she decided to turn her efforts to her true passion: writing. A hopeless romantic, Lacey loves writing about the intimate, sensual side of relationships. She currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her loving husband and their mischievous cat. You can learn more about Lacey by visiting her website at www.laceysavage.com, and can reach her at [email protected].

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