Passion Untamed (Feral Warriors #3)(60)

Paenther tried to resist her for three full seconds and lost. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, sliding his hand down her bare back to her finely rounded rear as he slid his tongue inside her mouth to taste hints of dinner mixed with the clean, fresh taste of her.

She pulled away. "I can feel it coming."

Watching her begin to turn, her excitement a palpable force around her, he felt his chest tighten until it pained him. She chanted the words Ezekiel had taught her, dancing as he'd watched her practice for hours.

But little by little, her excitement died, her moves losing their grace and turning frantic.

"Skye, what's wrong?"

"It's not working."

"I'm going to kill him," Paenther vowed between clenched teeth.

"No, it's not him." She looked at him, her eyes turning bleak. "The Shaman bound my magic," she whispered, and arched with pain as the first of the cuts tore across her bare chest.

Paenther lunged forward and slammed his thumb beneath her ear, knocking her unconscious, then swung her into his arms, fighting not to roar his fury to the heavens.

"Bring her in," Ezekiel said, sticking his head out the back door.

Paenther struggled for control and forced himself to look down at her, not sure he could watch her suffer again. To his bone-deep relief, only three harsh cuts marred her skin. Knocking her unconscious had disabled the curse. This time.

Goddess, but he wanted her safe. He turned toward the Mage, jealousy fighting with his deep need to protect her. It wasn't like he could ever keep her himself. Even if he wanted to. She'd be better off here where Birik and Inir would never find her.

"What happened?" Ezekiel asked, holding the door as Paenther swung inside with Skye in his arms.

"The Shaman bound her magic so she couldn't enchant anyone in Feral House. Birik planted punishments in her cantric so she'd bleed if she didn't perform the ritual."

Ezekiel growled. "Damn them both, especially that distrustful Therian. All he had to do was look at her to see she was pure."

"Can you unbind her magic?"

The old Mage stared at her, then shook his head. "I might have been able to at one time, but I...no. I don't have that kind of power anymore."

Standing in the middle of the kitchen, Paenther turned to the old Mage. "Can she stay here with you? Will you keep her safe?"

"For how long?"

Paenther felt the words like gravel in his mouth. "For as long as you'll allow. Forever."

Ezekiel looked at him curiously. "She's your only real chance, warrior. Once that damned Shaman unbinds her magic, she should be able to help you reconnect with your animal. Without her, I fear your days are numbered."

"I'll be okay. There's nothing for her back there. I'm not sure I can keep her safe."

"You protect her at your own expense, yet you don't love her?"

"I just...don't want her to get hurt. She's too damned fragile."

The Mage laughed. "She may look as delicate as a dandelion puff, but she's strong, warrior. You know it as well as I. I don't think you'd care for her the way you do if you didn't recognize a strength in her that was a match for your own."

Ezekiel met his gaze with a piercing intensity, the wisdom of the ages in his eyes. "Know this, Feral. You are stronger together than either of you will ever be apart."

It was well past midnight when they arrived at the beach house in south Nags Head owned by the Shaman. The house was dark but not uninviting, with a colorful windsock blowing cheerily from the upper deck in the moonlight. The house was two stories atop the requisite stilts, weathered gray wood siding, each story with its own wraparound deck.

Skye looked up at the house, exhausted and bitterly disappointed the ritual had failed. She'd thought she'd finally found a purpose for her gift, but nothing in her life seemed destined to go right.

Paenther parked the car in the space beneath the house. Part of her wanted to curl up and go to sleep, but she was afraid Birik would only send her another nightmare.

What she needed more than sleep was freedom. She needed to feel the wind.

As Paenther opened her door, she looked up into his rugged face. "I'm going to stay outside for a while if that's okay."

He held out his hand for her and helped her out of the car. "If you can get me back into my animal, I need a run. We can go down to the beach."

She smiled. "I'll get you into your animal, then we'll both take a run."

"You are a nature spirit, aren't you?"

"I spend almost all day every day in the woods. I'm happier outside."

They went into the house, a casual, comfortable mix of rustic woods and bright upholstery. Three bedrooms took up the first floor. A high ceiling soared over the living areas on the floor above.

Once they'd taken a look around, they deposited their overnight bags in the largest of the bedrooms. Skye eyed the bed with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Anticipation because she'd be sharing it with Paenther. But beds ultimately meant sleep. And the risk of nightmares.

Paenther stripped out of his clothes, tossing them on the bed. He turned to her, his large, hard body unmistakably aroused.

A small smile tugged at her mouth. "I thought we were going for a run."