reaching for her release. Sliding a hand between them, he massaged her with the ball of his thumb as his eyes stared down into hers.
“Mine.” For the first time he allowed himself to speak the word out loud. Then he thrust into her hard and carried them both over the edge. He lowered his head and silenced her scream with his mouth on hers.
“Always,” she murmured against his lips.
He rolled over taking her with him, so he lay on his back with Cass sprawled across his body. He knew they had to move. But he wished they could lie here forever beneath the witches’ moons.
But the sullen red glow mocked him. If they stayed here, how long would the moons continue to shine? “We have to go,” she said as though reading his mind.
They didn’t speak while he pulled on his clothes. All Cass had to do was add the cloak and she stood watching him dress.
For the first time since his return, she seemed almost happy. The hardness had gone from her features, and he could see glimpses of the carefree girl she had been.
He slid his palm in hers and they walked hand in hand back to the spot they had left Tallon and Shayla. They found them standing at the edge of the tree line staring at the dark shadow of the Keep. The sun was rising behind the high stone walls outlining the darkness. As they stepped up to stand beside them, a lantern flickered in one of the windows. Once, twice, three times.
The signal.
“Let’s go,” Tallon said.
~*~
They walked almost touching across the open ground, skirting around the edges of the Keep. For the first time in so long, Cass felt at peace. This time with Callum was something she had never expected, a gift, and she would treat it as such and not yearn for more.
Right now, it was enough to be with him, her body still warm and sated from his lovemaking. But as they walked, a sense of pervading evil stole over her. Out here, there was more evidence of the destruction of Arroway. When she had known this place, it had been a meadow of wild flowers. Now only a sparse blanket of dried grass covered the bare soil. Up ahead, where Shayla’s footsteps fell, flowers sprang from the ground as though she bought life to the land. But there was no such reaction to Cass and sadness welled up inside her. This place was no longer her home, the very ground beneath her feet rejected her. She shivered in the warmth of the night.
“Are you all right?” Callum asked.
“Maybe coming face to face with what I did is harder than I imagined.” He slid his palm in hers and squeezed but didn’t attempt to deny her words. Why would he? He was part of her and could feel her emotions.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll do what is needed.” She hoped she could. Inside her, the moon magic rested, slow and sullen, sleepy. Would it be enough? They came to a halt around the back of the Keep where a small wooden gate broke the monotony of the smooth black wall.
It swung open as they approached revealing Jarrod and Freya.
Jarrod’s eyes widened. He looked at her then at Callum and back to her. “Hey, sis, you look like...” He trailed off.
“Like I just got laid? Mind your own goddamned business.” She strode past him, scowling as she heard him chuckle. Inside the Keep, her sense of evil increased.
“We’ll head straight for the tower,” Freya said, standing aside to let them pass. “Hopefully if anyone sees us they won’t think three pleasure slaves an odd sight. The other slaves have promised to help us. They’re keeping watch and will intercept anyone who heads this way. Most of the Keep is asleep now anyway, and the tower is at the opposite end from the living quarters.” Cass slipped off her cloak and tossed it to Callum. He grinned and caught it, his gaze immediately sliding down over her body.
The grin faded to be replaced by hunger. God, she wished she could drag him back to the forest and make love to him again.
“Get that expression off your face,” she said, then turned and
“Mine.” For the first time he allowed himself to speak the word out loud. Then he thrust into her hard and carried them both over the edge. He lowered his head and silenced her scream with his mouth on hers.
“Always,” she murmured against his lips.
He rolled over taking her with him, so he lay on his back with Cass sprawled across his body. He knew they had to move. But he wished they could lie here forever beneath the witches’ moons.
But the sullen red glow mocked him. If they stayed here, how long would the moons continue to shine? “We have to go,” she said as though reading his mind.
They didn’t speak while he pulled on his clothes. All Cass had to do was add the cloak and she stood watching him dress.
For the first time since his return, she seemed almost happy. The hardness had gone from her features, and he could see glimpses of the carefree girl she had been.
He slid his palm in hers and they walked hand in hand back to the spot they had left Tallon and Shayla. They found them standing at the edge of the tree line staring at the dark shadow of the Keep. The sun was rising behind the high stone walls outlining the darkness. As they stepped up to stand beside them, a lantern flickered in one of the windows. Once, twice, three times.
The signal.
“Let’s go,” Tallon said.
~*~
They walked almost touching across the open ground, skirting around the edges of the Keep. For the first time in so long, Cass felt at peace. This time with Callum was something she had never expected, a gift, and she would treat it as such and not yearn for more.
Right now, it was enough to be with him, her body still warm and sated from his lovemaking. But as they walked, a sense of pervading evil stole over her. Out here, there was more evidence of the destruction of Arroway. When she had known this place, it had been a meadow of wild flowers. Now only a sparse blanket of dried grass covered the bare soil. Up ahead, where Shayla’s footsteps fell, flowers sprang from the ground as though she bought life to the land. But there was no such reaction to Cass and sadness welled up inside her. This place was no longer her home, the very ground beneath her feet rejected her. She shivered in the warmth of the night.
“Are you all right?” Callum asked.
“Maybe coming face to face with what I did is harder than I imagined.” He slid his palm in hers and squeezed but didn’t attempt to deny her words. Why would he? He was part of her and could feel her emotions.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll do what is needed.” She hoped she could. Inside her, the moon magic rested, slow and sullen, sleepy. Would it be enough? They came to a halt around the back of the Keep where a small wooden gate broke the monotony of the smooth black wall.
It swung open as they approached revealing Jarrod and Freya.
Jarrod’s eyes widened. He looked at her then at Callum and back to her. “Hey, sis, you look like...” He trailed off.
“Like I just got laid? Mind your own goddamned business.” She strode past him, scowling as she heard him chuckle. Inside the Keep, her sense of evil increased.
“We’ll head straight for the tower,” Freya said, standing aside to let them pass. “Hopefully if anyone sees us they won’t think three pleasure slaves an odd sight. The other slaves have promised to help us. They’re keeping watch and will intercept anyone who heads this way. Most of the Keep is asleep now anyway, and the tower is at the opposite end from the living quarters.” Cass slipped off her cloak and tossed it to Callum. He grinned and caught it, his gaze immediately sliding down over her body.
The grin faded to be replaced by hunger. God, she wished she could drag him back to the forest and make love to him again.
“Get that expression off your face,” she said, then turned and
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