attraction. He didn’t, however, want her fighting him. At least not right now. Holding her in his arms, feeling her body responding to his touch…
That he wanted.
Oh, yes. That he wanted more than water, more than air.
The voices of the others returning cut off their intimacy and conversation. Duncan, Tara, and Simon, soon surrounded them, excitedly talking about Simon’s change.
All Fin could think of was how soon he could get Elizabeth back into his arms.
54
Redeeming Vows
Chapter Six
Tatiana gazed upon the corpse of her uncle, unmoved. With his death, came her birth, or so her visions told her long before this day arrived. Closing her eyes, she rekindled the images that revealed her future.
As night time fell on the eve of the Romani’s final journey, a powerful darkness would end her uncle’s life and deliver her from the hell he made it.
Her redemption didn’t come without cost. Her uncle’s death would be the first of many, but Tatiana’s suffering would be over as long as she stood beside the dark power.
Tatiana lifted her head and opened her eyes. In her path stood Grainna, a woman who appeared more beautiful than any she’d seen in her fifteen years. Yet that appearance only licked the surface.
Under the plane erupted Grainna’s aura, which took skill to look past. It held a dark fog and enraptured the battered souls claimed by Grainna’s hands.
These long dead souls opened their voiceless mouths but no sound came. Tatiana wondered if when Grainna slept these souls spoke in her dreams.
“What do you see, seer?”
Tatiana’s head started to ache. The talons of Grainna’s power started to find a break in Tatiana’s mind and worm their way inside.
“My travels are over. I am to stay with ye.”
The nameless souls swirled, and attempted to find the very edges of Grainna’s aura. Her brows drew together and jaw tightened. “I have no need to 55
Catherine Bybee
keep a child by my side.” These words spat out in anger. Grainna’s irritation slammed into Tatiana’s consciousness, forcing a vision clouded in darkness.
She stumbled back, reached for the pain in her head, willing it to stop. The vision drew from the past and not of the future. “I am not Druid,” Tatiana managed, though her skull felt as if it were splitting in two. “Killing me would not bring ye my visions.”
Grainna flew upon her, her breath streamed down her neck.
Tatiana cowered.
“How do you read my thoughts?”
“I do not read ye, Grainna. I see the past.” Even as the words tumbled from Tatiana’s lips, she knew this was only partially true.
The black of her eyes swirled in thought.
“I can be yer eyes of the future. So long as ye let me live.”
Grainna reared back, considered her words. As her hand lifted, Tatiana bit hard on her lip, drawing blood, but didn’t cower a second time.
“I can kill you now.”
“I know.”
But death didn’t come when Grainna placed her palm on her head. Instead, numbness replaced the pain her vision brought.
“Thank ye.”
“Do not thank me yet, seer.”
As Grainna turned away, the Romani, who stood by and watched the entire scene, parted in her path.
Tatiana knew Grainna would not be destroying her any time soon.
****
Sweat poured off Fin’s brow under the bright afternoon sun. Surprisingly, Todd required his full attention during their routine of sparring. His ability with a sword increased every day. Of all of them, Todd needed this extra training in order to 56
Redeeming Vows
survive a fight. For that reason, Fin held little back.
His sister’s happiness depended on Todd’s life.
A shout bellowed from the tower. A signal rose in the air, telling all who listened that a rider approached.
Fin climbed the steps to view the unexpected visitor. As the rider drew near, the tension in his shoulders dissipated. The amber-and-black mantle claimed the knight belonged. Fin ordered the gates down and instructed his squire to bring his
That he wanted.
Oh, yes. That he wanted more than water, more than air.
The voices of the others returning cut off their intimacy and conversation. Duncan, Tara, and Simon, soon surrounded them, excitedly talking about Simon’s change.
All Fin could think of was how soon he could get Elizabeth back into his arms.
54
Redeeming Vows
Chapter Six
Tatiana gazed upon the corpse of her uncle, unmoved. With his death, came her birth, or so her visions told her long before this day arrived. Closing her eyes, she rekindled the images that revealed her future.
As night time fell on the eve of the Romani’s final journey, a powerful darkness would end her uncle’s life and deliver her from the hell he made it.
Her redemption didn’t come without cost. Her uncle’s death would be the first of many, but Tatiana’s suffering would be over as long as she stood beside the dark power.
Tatiana lifted her head and opened her eyes. In her path stood Grainna, a woman who appeared more beautiful than any she’d seen in her fifteen years. Yet that appearance only licked the surface.
Under the plane erupted Grainna’s aura, which took skill to look past. It held a dark fog and enraptured the battered souls claimed by Grainna’s hands.
These long dead souls opened their voiceless mouths but no sound came. Tatiana wondered if when Grainna slept these souls spoke in her dreams.
“What do you see, seer?”
Tatiana’s head started to ache. The talons of Grainna’s power started to find a break in Tatiana’s mind and worm their way inside.
“My travels are over. I am to stay with ye.”
The nameless souls swirled, and attempted to find the very edges of Grainna’s aura. Her brows drew together and jaw tightened. “I have no need to 55
Catherine Bybee
keep a child by my side.” These words spat out in anger. Grainna’s irritation slammed into Tatiana’s consciousness, forcing a vision clouded in darkness.
She stumbled back, reached for the pain in her head, willing it to stop. The vision drew from the past and not of the future. “I am not Druid,” Tatiana managed, though her skull felt as if it were splitting in two. “Killing me would not bring ye my visions.”
Grainna flew upon her, her breath streamed down her neck.
Tatiana cowered.
“How do you read my thoughts?”
“I do not read ye, Grainna. I see the past.” Even as the words tumbled from Tatiana’s lips, she knew this was only partially true.
The black of her eyes swirled in thought.
“I can be yer eyes of the future. So long as ye let me live.”
Grainna reared back, considered her words. As her hand lifted, Tatiana bit hard on her lip, drawing blood, but didn’t cower a second time.
“I can kill you now.”
“I know.”
But death didn’t come when Grainna placed her palm on her head. Instead, numbness replaced the pain her vision brought.
“Thank ye.”
“Do not thank me yet, seer.”
As Grainna turned away, the Romani, who stood by and watched the entire scene, parted in her path.
Tatiana knew Grainna would not be destroying her any time soon.
****
Sweat poured off Fin’s brow under the bright afternoon sun. Surprisingly, Todd required his full attention during their routine of sparring. His ability with a sword increased every day. Of all of them, Todd needed this extra training in order to 56
Redeeming Vows
survive a fight. For that reason, Fin held little back.
His sister’s happiness depended on Todd’s life.
A shout bellowed from the tower. A signal rose in the air, telling all who listened that a rider approached.
Fin climbed the steps to view the unexpected visitor. As the rider drew near, the tension in his shoulders dissipated. The amber-and-black mantle claimed the knight belonged. Fin ordered the gates down and instructed his squire to bring his
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