Hunted: A fae fantasy romance (Fae Magic Book 1) Page 28

  “Did it work?” Logan pushed himself up, and with Stephan and Angus’s help, staggered to the casket.

  Trina lay beneath the glass. No movement. No breath. No sign of life.

  He tried and failed to focus his sight and see if any of the green of the spell was still there. But he couldn’t gather enough energy from his depleted body to see if Trina’s soul had accepted his offering.

  “She’s not moving!” He seized Aoife’s arm, his eyes burning.

  He’d lost her.

  The biggest sacrifice of his life, wasted. He let go and threw himself on the coffin, pressing his face to the hard glass and staring down where Trina lay unmoving.

  “It’s not finished.” Aoife’s voice rasped out, unbearably loud in the stillness of his loss. “You must finish it.”

  “What else do I have to do?” He worked to pull himself up on heavy, weak limbs and face her. “You’ve taken so much, I can hardly move.” He was almost too tired to be angry. He didn’t have much left, but what he had would be spent in Trina’s service.

  Aoife leaned heavily on his uncle, no longer looking young, her formerly luminescent skin creased and wrinkled with her thousands of years of life. “Open the lid.”

  Logan wrestled with the weighty wooden lid of the coffin. “What should I do? Tell me!” Stephan and Angus rushed to help him lift the lid off and slide it to the side.

  A scratchy laugh came from Aoife. “Kiss her, silly boy.” She leaned heavily on Rinnal. “What else would you do?”

  Logan brushed a long stray hair off Trina’s icy cheek. He leaned into the coffin, bracing his arms on the thick wooden walls, and tentatively brushed his mouth against her cold, unresponsive, ruby lips.

  She didn’t move.

  Desperation pushed him to kiss her again. Deeper. Pressing against her cold mouth and grinding his lips against hers, willing a response. “Come on,” he murmured against her lips. “Please.”

  A tiny bit of warmth touched his mouth. He pulled back.

  The frightening red of her mouth rushed from her lips into her cheeks, suffusing them with a delicate, pink glow. Pink flushed her neck, down through her arms, all the way to the beds of her fingernails. Trina’s mouth opened and she gasped. Her chest shuddered. She struggled to breathe, a small, rough cough wheezed out of rattling lungs. Blessed air moved past her parted lips and blew on his cheek.

  Her black eyelashes fluttered like snared birds, and Logan held his breath.

  She thrashed, flailing limbs hitting the sides of the coffin. Her frantic hands scratched the sides of the wood as she endeavored to sit up. Logan reached in, using the last of his strength, and pulled her into his arms. The force of another hard, racking cough shook her body and, out of her mouth, flew a chunk of apple. Trina inhaled a huge gasping breath...

  ...and opened her eyes.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Air flooded Trina’s lungs and she went dizzy with the rush. Blood coursed through her veins, lighting up every nerve and making her skin prickle with pain. Disoriented, she gazed around the dark torch-lit cavern at the crowd of men. “What in the name of Danu is going on?” Her voice was only a ragged rasp from her very sore throat.

  Logan pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms, her face pressed to his chest. “You’re alive.” His face cracked and stretched into a huge smile. “How do you feel, lass?”

  “I’d feel better if you weren’t crushing me.”

  He loosened his hold, but didn’t let go, keeping her held tight in his arms. “Better?”

  “How did I get here?” She stared at his him in the dim light. Tiny lines that hadn’t been there before, were now etched at the corners of his eyes and his skin was a pasty shade of grey. “And what’s wrong with you?” She brushed his too-dry forehead with her hand. “You look drained.”

  “He’ll feel fine in a week or so.” A tall, pale woman with definite Tuathan ears peaking out of her long white hair leaned heavily on Logan’s Uncle Rinnal. “That much energy takes time to replenish.”

  “What happened?”

  “He saved your life.” The woman’s dark purple eyes glittered at Trina and she shrank back into Logan’s arms.

  “Who are you?”

  “This is Aoife. She saved you. She saved us both.” Logan’s voice was husky with fatigue. “You nearly died.”

  “Aoife, this is Aoife?” She looked around at all the concerned faces staring at her. “What the hell happened? How did I get here? How did she get here? And what’s with the coffin?”

  “I want to get you home.” Logan rose and pulled her to her feet.

  “Nay, lad.” Rinnal put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think we’ve anywhere safer than this at the moment. Ye’ll have to take refuge here like we did during the worst of the wars.”

  “Stay here?” Trina glanced around the dark, damp, cavern. Her skin tingled and her brain whirled as she tried to figure out what was happening. Sounds seemed very sharp and as the minutes passed and her body recovered, she felt juiced, like she could run forever.

  Logan, on the other hand, looked like he was about to fall over.

  “We may have to stay in the tunnels for a little while,” Logan ran his thumb along the side of her wrist. “Just until we find a place to go, my love.” His intense, tender expression sent frissons of excitement prickling under her skin.

  “I might have a suggestion.” Aoife crossed the room and looked down at them. Trina pulled in closer to Logan. “There’s a resort in the Adirondacks owned by King Oberon. It’s private, and the queen wouldn’t dare to challenge the Golden King. You’ll have a place to recover and to plan your next move.”

  “Oberon will never allow me into his demesne.” Logan shook his head.

  “He will if I say so.” Aoife lifted her chin, her voice growing stronger. “I’ll arrange it.”

  Logan shook his head. “I’m too damn tired to ask now, but be assured, it will come up...why you seem so sure the Sun King of the Gold Court will hop to your wishes and protect a miscreant like me.” He let go of Trina and crossed to where Aoife stood. “I owe you my life, and Trina’s.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You owed me this forfeit. We are even, Huntsman.”

  “Thank you.” He bowed.

  “But after I arrange sanctuary with Oberon, then you will owe me again.” She swept her enigmatic gaze over Trina. “You’ll both owe me.”

  Trina bristled. “But what about the prophecy? What about my family?”

  “The huntsman knows.” And she left the room, following a bobbing globe of light into a tunnel.

  Trina turned back to Logan. “Okay, I’ve waited long enough.” She tilted her head up and did her best to pin him with her gaze. “Explain why you all think I was near death, yet I feel like lemon-lime soda has replaced all my blood. Why we’re back in the tunnels. And most of all, why you look like crap.”

  “We’ll be outside, lad,” Rinnal said, ushering the other two men out of the cavern and leaving Trina and Logan alone in the flickering torchlight.

  Logan picked up her hand, idly tracing the lines in her palm. His blue eyes were dark and serious. “We need to talk, lass.”

  Trina’s stomach flipped. “This doesn’t sound good.”

  “When we did the spell, when Aoife saved your life, we had to do something I never thought could be done.” His hand squeezed hers. “She helped me transfer some of my life force to you.”

  Her breath hitched. “What does that mean? I’m part fae now?”

  “You’ve always been part fae, that’s your witch’s heritage. And that may be why we were able to do it at all. I don’t know.” He sat on the coffin and pulled between his spread thighs, wrapping his hands around her hips he cupped her backside. “What it means is that you’ll live a very long life for a human, much longer than the already extended witch life that was yours.” His hands dug into her muscles, massaging her hips. Her center softened and she moved even closer. “There may also be other repercus
sions.”

  “Is that all?” Her breathing quickened as he stroked up and down her hips and back, curls of excitement racing through her core. “I almost die and now I get to live a long life? What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing.” Logan pulled her down to her knees and she settled between his thighs. The energy racing through her blood tingled as she leaned into him, fitting her pelvis to his erection.

  “It’s a good thing. A very good thing,” he murmured, continuing to stroke down the small of her back, the length of her hips, the curve of her ass. “But there’s something else, lass.” He swallowed and his voice dropped low. “I need to let you go.”

  A hard, cold lump settled in Trina’s ribcage.

  He didn’t want her.

  She struggled against his grip. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  After all of her attempts to leave, now he was going to let her go. Just...like...that. Now that she knew she was in love with him and that they had a chance to be true partners, she didn’t want to leave.

  “When Aoife has convinced the Golden King to offer sanctuary, you and your family will be safe. You can make a permanent home under his protection. But I have left my quest too long. I’m bound now to discover what has become of Prince Kian. I swore an oath.” He leaned his forehead against her. She could feel the unhappiness in his aura. “I can’t take you with me, lass, and I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

  His words said he was leaving her, but he held her close, his hands caging her possessively.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “I need to leave you somewhere safe. Somewhere I’m sure you’re protected.” He leaned in and rested his head on her shoulder. “And that’s not with me.”

  “I can protect myself.” She lifted his face up and held his cheeks between her palms. “I just need to change how I work. Prepare spells and potions ahead of time. Learn some hand-to-hand skills instead of trying to hide. I can’t hide, anymore Logan. It’s done no good. I need to learn more than lengthy trap spells. You can teach me.”

  “It’s too dangerous. Now we know the queen is aware of my deception, she’ll be looking for me, too. You must stay somewhere safe. And it isn’t with me.”

  But what about the prophecy? You say we’ll be safe, but are you abandoning the quest to keep us safe forever? The queen won’t give up her quest to kill my family or me.”

  “Aoife gave me the prophecy. I’ll share it with you. Your quest for answers is over, now you need to consult learned men and women to find out how to circumvent the prophecy. You’ll have access to that with Oberon. And the queen will leave you alone.”

  Her chest tight she rubbed the back of her neck. “You’re leaving me. Again.”

  Was there no way he would stay with her? Did he even want to?

  “It’s what’s right.” His hands clenched her hips. “I feel badly that I took advantage of you before.” He let go of her, standing up and reaching into his pocket, he took out the rolled up contract. “Trina MacElvy, I release you from your bond. You are freed from my service, without obligation.”

  The rock in Trina’s chest fell into her stomach. She struggled to her feet, tears clogging up her still sore throat.

  “You don’t want me?” After all this, she’d lost her heart to a man who wasn’t destined to stay, didn’t even want to stay with her.

  “No. I didn’t mean...” Logan’s face contracted. “That’s not what I said.”

  He clasped her hands between his. “Trina, I need you. You are under no obligation to stay with me. You’re not my servant. You’re free to choose.”

  She stopped struggling and stared at him. “What are you saying?”

  “I love you, Trina MacElvy. I’m giving you your freedom so you can choose.” He bowed his head, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Please choose me.”

  She stared at him, his shaking hands clinging to hers.

  “I love you, Logan Ni Brennan.”

  He lifted his face, fire lighting his eyes.

  “But I can’t choose you unless you know that I will not go into hiding. I want to learn more than just defensive spells that take too long to work. I want to learn better spells that will work faster, and be more effective. I know I can’t be your magical equal, but I can be a warrior in this fight against the queen.”

  They were bound now by more than circumstance, more than a contract, and more than personal loyalty. His life ran in her veins. He’d sacrificed everything to save her. Could he do more? Could he become a new man, one who accepted that, even with the dangers lying in wait for her, she was the kind of woman who faced them head on?

  “Logan Ni Brennan, can you take me on as a partner? Someone to mentor, not lock away when danger threatens?”

  His hands tightened on hers.

  His breathing quickened.

  “I don’t know if I can bear to risk you. You are more important to me than myself.” His hand rose to her cheek and slid warm against her jaw. “If you can put up with my occasional tendency to lock you away,” his lips quirked into his familiar cheeky grin, “I will try to respect your need to fight your own battles. Is it enough? Will you choose me?”

  The tightness in her chest loosened as everything fell into place. He wouldn’t change overnight, but he was willing to try. For her. Try for them both.

  “You’re far from perfect.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “You’re arrogant and conceited, and more than a little high-handed.”

  His answering grin spread wide.

  “Despite all that, Logan, I choose you.” She rose up on her toes and kissed him. “Freely, of my own will. I choose you.”

  Logan pulled her close in, crushing his lips to hers. Trina opened her mouth, taking his tongue in and deepening the kiss, licks of desire revving up her already sparkling blood.

  “Wow.”

  “What?” He nuzzled her neck, sliding his fingers into her jeans at the small of her back.

  She shuddered and pressed into him. “Everything is different, brighter, sharper.” She kissed him again, a deep purr rising in her throat. She sighed. “You taste...like nirvana.”

  “Mmmm.” He caressed the skin of her back, tracing teasing fingers along the skin under her jeans.

  Liquid heat pooled between her legs, her folds growing slick and wet. She slid her hands under his shirt and around his waist, pulling him in closer to settle against her jeans. He rocked into her and she ground against him.

  “Take this off,” she urged. Tugging first his jacket and then his shirt from his shoulders she took the time to touch and explore the muscles ridging his stomach, licking kisses down to his pants.

  “Hold on,” he gasped, tugging her up. “Let me touch you or I’m never going to last.” He sat on the wide side of the casket and pulled her to him. “Come up here.” He patted his lap and braced his legs as she straddled him, her slippered feet dangling down inside to touch the silk, padded lining.

  Hands trembling, he stripped her of her shirt and bra. When she was exposed, he lay his head on her breasts and breathed on the sensitive skin in the valley between.

  “I love the way you smell.” He licked out, skimming the side of her breast. She wrapped her legs tighter around him and shook.

  “And I love the way you taste.” He growled, the sound vibrating against her skin.

  Trina rocked against him. Logan tightened his hands on her waist and his tongue flicked out and skimmed her nipple causing it to peak and pearl. She moaned. He lifted his head and licked it again, sucking and running the edge of his teeth along the wet, tight bud, his fingers digging into her waist.

  She threw her head back, glorying in the connection between his mouth, her breast, and the open, widening sensation between her legs.

  “I need you.” He rasped against her breast. “I can’t wait any longer.”

  With fever-hot hands, Trina undressed, watching Logan tug off his pants. He sat back on the edge of the casket, his engorged cock rose up, weaken
ing her with desire. “Come here.”

  He patted his thighs and she climbed on, teasing her wet folds against his tip.

  Logan groaned. “I’m going to spill right here. I want to come inside you.”

  Trina laughed. Secure in his desire, she slid onto his shaft. “Oh,” she said, suddenly serious. She held still and gazed into his now familiar eyes, her inner muscles tightening around him.

  “I love you, Trina MacElvy. Spend forever with me.”

  “Yes,” she hissed and arched her back, pushing him deeper inside. He dug his fingers into her waist and helped her slide up and down. She leaned into him. Their weight over-balanced and they toppled over into the white, satin-lined coffin. Logan twisted, controlling their landing.

  “Umph,” she said, and they both started to laugh.

  Logan’s eyes grew serious. “Now, my lady.”

  Joy surged through her body making everything shake. This was what she’d been waiting for, this man accepting her for who she was, who she chose to be—independent, determined, and always, always, his.

  She leaned down, tasted the love on Logan’s mouth, and moving in an easy rhythm, she rode him to her crescendo.

  CURLED TOGETHER IN the coffin, Trina scrolled her fingers on Logan’s chest and looked at the flickering torches. “So, I have to know. What is the prophecy?”

  Logan’s eyes sparkled. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  “Yes.” She pummeled him on the arm. “What is it?”

  His voice dropped low.

  “One like ivy shall entwine

  An elven prince wilt then be bind

  This downfall then the queen’s shall be

  Enacted by the MacElvy”

  “What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know, my love, but I don’t think you or your family will be entirely safe until we have found Prince Kian and solved the puzzle. You see, our quests are tied together.”

  Trina locked her hand around Logan’s ribs and held him tight.

  He squeezed back. “Easy, lass. I’ll keep you safe.”