Read Online Once in a Blue Moon: Beaux Rêve Coven, Book 1 by Delilah Devlin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Delilah Devlin
Ads: Link
moon before its power wanes completely. We have to be ready tonight.”
Renner nodded. “What are you going to tell the women?”
Ethan grimaced. “The truth. They have a say in this—whether to fight or surrender.”
“And Bryn?”
Ethan recalled the worry haunting her eyes and hated that he was going to have to bring her more bad news. “I’m not letting her go, Renner. She’s mine. We’re bound. And since her bond with Merrick was broken completely last night, he won’t want her back. If he captures her, he’ll kill her. The council will demand her death as well—as an example to all witches.” He curled his fists tightly.
Renner’s expression grew grim. “Would it be smarter to run?”
Ethan shook his head. “I’ll ask, but I doubt the women will be willing. They’ve worked hard to build a life here. They’re not going to give it up without a fight.”
Ethan left Renner as he gathered the men to tell them what they’d learned. He headed back to the kitchen but found the women in the parlor, peeking behind the curtains at the men outside.
“So you heard?” he asked as he entered the room.
Radha dropped the curtain. Her pale face was nearly translucent. As was Aoife’s.
Bryn walked to his side and laid her hand on his arm. “Are we being selfish, asking you to stand and fight?”
Ethan cupped his free hand over hers. “If we run, we’ll be hunted for all our days.”
“Do you think we stand a chance?”
Her eyes glistened with tears, and he felt a pang in his chest. He’d do anything to keep her safe, even give his life. But her fate had been sealed with the resounding echo the night before. They had no choice except enter the battle. “I don’t know. It depends on the council members. They’ll sanction a battle, but they can set the rules. We have to hope they’ll allow champions to fight.”
“Our champion would be you?” Her voice wavered.
He cupped her cheek. “I have the most to gain or lose. And Merrick will demand it.”
“But he’s a hellhound. How can you win?”
“Baby, I’m a troll. Have a little faith.” He gave her a crooked smile. “But I could use some magic.”
“Merrick will have Liliana at his side. She’ll have funneled every bit of energy she can to aid him.”
“And I have five witches with so much more at stake than just personal gain. Don’t you think your Goddess will have our backs?”
Bryn’s smile began slowly and then stretched across her face. She sniffed and tilted her head, a silent plea for a caress, which he gave her. He slid his hand along her cheek and threaded his fingers in her hair. He bent and kissed her soft mouth.
“Sex magic works well too,” Darcy said, her tone wry.
When he shot her a glance, it was to see her eyes alight with mischief. So maybe Darcy wasn’t completely anti-troll.
She shrugged. “We can do some spellwork, prepare the herbs and the crystals. When night falls, we’ll gather at the oak.”
An open plain. A place for the Others to move freely. Protecting a structure like a house was confining for demons. Ethan nodded. “Why don’t you let the men know? They’ll prepare the field.” He glanced down at Bryn.
Her gaze slid sideways. “You’ll have to finish preparing the steaks on your own,” she said to her sisters.
“I think we can manage,” Radha said. “Go do what you need to do. We’ll batten down the glassware if the house shakes.”
Bryn’s blush was a deep pink. “She’s exaggerating.”
He snorted. “Is she?”
Laughter followed them as they left the room hands clasped. At the stairway, Ethan swept her up into his strong arms.
“You should be saving your strength.”
Ethan ignored her. She was as light as a feather. He didn’t break his stride. His breathing remained even. At her door, he shouldered it open, then walked to the bed and dumped her on top of the mattress, where she bounced, giggling.
Not bothering to remove clothing because he was already too eager,
Renner nodded. “What are you going to tell the women?”
Ethan grimaced. “The truth. They have a say in this—whether to fight or surrender.”
“And Bryn?”
Ethan recalled the worry haunting her eyes and hated that he was going to have to bring her more bad news. “I’m not letting her go, Renner. She’s mine. We’re bound. And since her bond with Merrick was broken completely last night, he won’t want her back. If he captures her, he’ll kill her. The council will demand her death as well—as an example to all witches.” He curled his fists tightly.
Renner’s expression grew grim. “Would it be smarter to run?”
Ethan shook his head. “I’ll ask, but I doubt the women will be willing. They’ve worked hard to build a life here. They’re not going to give it up without a fight.”
Ethan left Renner as he gathered the men to tell them what they’d learned. He headed back to the kitchen but found the women in the parlor, peeking behind the curtains at the men outside.
“So you heard?” he asked as he entered the room.
Radha dropped the curtain. Her pale face was nearly translucent. As was Aoife’s.
Bryn walked to his side and laid her hand on his arm. “Are we being selfish, asking you to stand and fight?”
Ethan cupped his free hand over hers. “If we run, we’ll be hunted for all our days.”
“Do you think we stand a chance?”
Her eyes glistened with tears, and he felt a pang in his chest. He’d do anything to keep her safe, even give his life. But her fate had been sealed with the resounding echo the night before. They had no choice except enter the battle. “I don’t know. It depends on the council members. They’ll sanction a battle, but they can set the rules. We have to hope they’ll allow champions to fight.”
“Our champion would be you?” Her voice wavered.
He cupped her cheek. “I have the most to gain or lose. And Merrick will demand it.”
“But he’s a hellhound. How can you win?”
“Baby, I’m a troll. Have a little faith.” He gave her a crooked smile. “But I could use some magic.”
“Merrick will have Liliana at his side. She’ll have funneled every bit of energy she can to aid him.”
“And I have five witches with so much more at stake than just personal gain. Don’t you think your Goddess will have our backs?”
Bryn’s smile began slowly and then stretched across her face. She sniffed and tilted her head, a silent plea for a caress, which he gave her. He slid his hand along her cheek and threaded his fingers in her hair. He bent and kissed her soft mouth.
“Sex magic works well too,” Darcy said, her tone wry.
When he shot her a glance, it was to see her eyes alight with mischief. So maybe Darcy wasn’t completely anti-troll.
She shrugged. “We can do some spellwork, prepare the herbs and the crystals. When night falls, we’ll gather at the oak.”
An open plain. A place for the Others to move freely. Protecting a structure like a house was confining for demons. Ethan nodded. “Why don’t you let the men know? They’ll prepare the field.” He glanced down at Bryn.
Her gaze slid sideways. “You’ll have to finish preparing the steaks on your own,” she said to her sisters.
“I think we can manage,” Radha said. “Go do what you need to do. We’ll batten down the glassware if the house shakes.”
Bryn’s blush was a deep pink. “She’s exaggerating.”
He snorted. “Is she?”
Laughter followed them as they left the room hands clasped. At the stairway, Ethan swept her up into his strong arms.
“You should be saving your strength.”
Ethan ignored her. She was as light as a feather. He didn’t break his stride. His breathing remained even. At her door, he shouldered it open, then walked to the bed and dumped her on top of the mattress, where she bounced, giggling.
Not bothering to remove clothing because he was already too eager,
Similar Books
