Page 314 of The Daughters of Avalon
Hapless to do aught else, she lifted her eyes to meet Cael’s, and her breath caught at the intensity of his gaze.
“Before witnesses, and before God, I have pledged you my troth,” he said. “But here, now…” His hand slid from her waist, tickling her back, appearing between them to lift her chin. “I pledge you my loyalty and my life. Where you go, I will follow. Every moment of the time we have remaining, I pledge these to you.”
Rhiannon didn’t know what to say.
There was naught in the fathomless depths of his eyes that called him a liar, and yet, she couldn’t speak those words herself. She would not choose him over all, nor risk her sisters’ lives for him. “Thank you,” she said, at a loss. And then, her husband did, what she sorely hoped he might do: He ceased with more words, lowering his mouth to hers, and thoroughly kissed her—not with the fervor of his first kiss, but tenderly, and full of promise, coaxing love words from her lips, as urgently as his hands held her.
Still, she could not say them, though she didn’t know why. The need to speak aloud what was heartfelt was nearly as potent as the burn ofmagikthrough her veins.
And still, she refrained…
“Time to go, lovers,” shouted Marcella.
Cael ended the kiss abruptly, smiling down at her.
Rhiannon felt the separation like the rending of a limb. “Little does she realize,” she quipped, scarcely aware that it sounded like a lament.
He winked at her. “We’ll remedy that,” he said, and Rhiannon shivered over the promise in his eyes.
She wanted to say that it wasn’t what she’d meant, but wasn’t it? Even now, her body thrummed where he’d touched her and… more. Deep down in her womb, she felt a desperate need to be filled. Sweet fates, her desire was as potent as Marcella’s philters.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Arising mist obscured the forest floor—naturally, else Rhiannon would smell the manipulation.
They could barely see the full moon through the lush canopy of summer green, but the night was still bright enough to lend a modicum of light as Cael scouted the path ahead with his wolfhound by his side.
Like its master, the overlarge beast moved stealthily through the woods, padding through a pillow of composting leaves.
Jack assumed the rear of their cavalcade, Marcella’s normally amiable apprentice silent and taciturn—more and more so as the night wore on.
By now, everyone was tired, and it was a dangerous proposition to double back through these woods, effectively countervailing the lead they’d attained.
For her part, Marcella rode beside Rhiannon, tirelessly scrutinizing their surroundings, her sword at the ready should anyone emerge from the shadows.
If everything went according to plan, it was estimated they should reach Amdel’s parklands by Lauds, or thereabouts—a full seven bells in the saddle, stopping only now and again to tend to the mounts.
For the sake of their horses, the pace remained easy; even so, Rhiannon was bone-tired, and by now, her lids were heavy. Still, she found little enough to complain about, particularly considering that whatever discomfort her companions were suffering now, they were suffering it for her. Her gratitude was boundless, and her heart was full. So much had changed over these past few days.
Scarcely a week ago she’d been imprisoned, with no hope for escape. Now, she was free, and no longer alone.
In fact, not only was she surrounded by men and a woman who’d sworn vows to protect her, but she also found she rather enjoyed Marcella and her painful candor.
She enjoyed Jack, as well.
And she loved Cael, though she couldn’t seem to say it aloud.
Despite fearing the worst, he was alive and well… here, with her. And soon, very soon, she would be reunited with her sisters as well—perhaps a bit longer than anticipated, now that they were doubling back so far, but everyone had seemed to agree that this was the best laid plan.
Ellie, Seren, Rose… it won’t be long now.
Together, they would find a way to defeat Morwen.
Together, they would endure.
Had Seren already realized her destiny?
