Passion Untamed (Feral Warriors #3)(83)

He saw Skye's hand reach out and take Vhyper's. To his surprise and relief, his friend didn't pull away but curved his hand around her smaller one and held on as if her touch alone kept him from flying apart into a million pieces. A tiny curl of jealousy slid around Paenther's heart, then dissipated. He was about to take as his mate a woman, an enchantress, to whom all the Ferals would be drawn on some level. And while she'd told him she had no particular affinity for snakes, she had a heart big enough to care for all creatures, two-legged and four-. And those without any legs at all, for that matter.

It was a moment before his mind backpedaled to the words he'd thought without hesitation. He was about to take as his mate...

He stared out the window, stunned, and yet...certain. He was taking her as his mate. If she agreed, if she wanted him, he would willingly bind himself to her for all eternity.

They wouldn't be able to live at Feral House, of course. Not with her being Mage, but it didn't matter. He'd find a safe house nearby and split his time between them. This woman wasn't getting away from him. Ever. He just hoped whatever was going on inside him gave him the time to make good on that promise.

Chapter Twenty-six

Once more, Skye stood on the goddess stone, dressed in nothing but a filmy ritual gown, Kara and Delaney on either side of her as they waited for the Ferals to raise the Feral Circle. The winds weren't as bad this far from the mountains, and the rains had ended, but the sky was still dark despite sunrise being nearly upon them.

Paenther stood with the others, his strong form tense with a pain she prayed she could ease. Inside him, the panther no longer leaped to greet her. He barely lifted his head at all. But she felt his will, felt him demanding help that only she could give.

Tighe had called Lyon as they'd driven in from the mountains and told him Paenther was in bad shape.

When they'd arrived at Feral House, the Shaman had been waiting, ready to clear Birik's spells from her cantric now that the Mage was dead. Kara had helped her change into the ritual gown once he was done. The moment she was ready, Lyon had ushered them all down to the goddess stone.

All but Vhyper. Vhyper alone remained at Feral House, at Lyon's command. He was glad to have the warrior back, but he didn't entirely trust him yet. None of the Ferals did, except Paenther. Sadly, they seemed to trust her not to hijack the ritual more than they trusted one of their own.

Paenther came to her and took her hands. "Are you ready?"

"I need to know something. I've been thinking about how to make this work, and I need to know what Ancreta did to you to cause this rift in the first place. It might be important to repairing it." She touched his face, loving him with her eyes. "Tell me what you remember."

"As little as possible." He gazed down at her, his eyes pained, yet filled with love. Once more, the feral mark across his eye was nearly gone. "She opened my mind, then chanted some words I can't begin to remember."

"I don't need the words. My power's enough. But I think we need to open your mind as I pull the power."

He released one hand to stroke her jaw, his eyes gentle on her face. "Do you want to do this somewhere more private?"

She gave him a rueful smile. "I got over any shyness about my body a long, long time ago. No, I think we need to do it here. We're going to need to raise the power of the panther again. He's the one who has to do most of the work, and he's weak, Paenther. He has to breach the gap Ancreta formed between you, and he's going to need all the strength you can give him to do it."

She pressed her palms to his bare chest. He was wearing his leather pants again, but all the Ferals had doffed their shirts to prepare for the ritual. Through the link of flesh, she stroked the animal spirit inside him, telling him with her heart that she would do what he wanted and try to get him the power he needed to find his way back to Paenther.

"Does he know what we're doing?"

The panther brushed her mind, a growl of gratitude and approval. She nodded. "He knows. He's ready."

"It amazes me you understand him."

"If this works, you will too, soon enough."

"Then let's do it." He led her down to the circle, told his friends what they were going to do, then swept her into his arms, kissing her with a hot, deep-throated kiss. When he pulled back, he growled to his men, "Close your eyes. This is about to get private."

Grunts and groans rose around them, but Skye closed her eyes, shutting them out. The only thing that mattered was healing Paenther. The only one who mattered was the one she loved.

"Look at me, Skye."

She did, gazing into Paenther's strong, beloved face, and tumbling into the dark depths of his eyes.

Holding her gaze, he reached for her breast, kneading, teasing, then grabbed the back of her head and tilted her face to meet his hard, passion-ate kiss. She knew his intent was to drive her up, hard and fast, and he knew just how to do it. The hand on her head slid down her back and grabbed her rear. Then he yanked on her gown until he was able to reach beneath. His warm hand slid between her thighs. His fingers stroked that sensitive flesh, nearly melting her, before they dove deep inside.

His scent, his taste, the feel of his muscled shoulders beneath her hands combined with the blissful feel of his fingers inside her, had her quickly weeping with need.

He pulled away, unfastened his pants to free his erection, then grabbed her hips.