Released (13 page)
“Look at me!” she cried. “My love,
please
, look at me.”
He jerked her toward him, snarling down at her, his features alight with a lethal temper. “Now is not the time to test me, woman, I’ll—” His breath escaped him as his eyes locked onto hers. The hand that held her began to quake. “They’re… green,” he gasped. “What magic is this?” He regarded her as he would a coiled serpent.
“Faerie magic.” Katriona smiled and lifted her hand to point toward the fireplace where Cliodnah stood, unveiled, clutching the spitting, struggling spirit of Kathryn Frasier.
Rory’s mouth dropped open and he squeezed his eyes shut, opened them, looked over at Katriona, then back toward the Fae Queen. His mouth looked as though it formed words, but none came.
“When Cliodnah heard that Kathryn was an enemy to the Fae, she decided to switch the goblets,” Katriona explained. “Once Kathryn’s soul was released, I seized the opportunity and leapt into her body.” Katriona held an unfamiliar hand in front of her eyes, a joy bubbling through her veins that she’d never again thought possible. “This one’s shorter than what I’m used to so, I’ll need you on hand to reach for high things.”
The man she loved turned to her, his hand tightening even more on her arm. His wounds had ceased bleeding. He appeared a fierce warrior, his features stark and lethal, though his eyes glittered with unshed moisture.
He moaned her name and crushed her to him.
“You can’t call me that anymore,” she chided against his warm chest. “It’ll confuse everyone.”
“My body is
not
yours!” Kathryn sputtered, still writhing in the queen’s effortless grasp. “I can still take it from you! And mark me, you simple bitch, I will find the way!”
“Witching hour approaches.” Cliodnah’s lips twitched with delight. “I do appreciate when something unexpected happens.” She nodded to Katriona and Rory. “For it so rarely does. I’ll consider this an even trade. Enjoy what’s left of your mortal life.”
Katriona’s smile widened at the dawning of a memory. “What were those words again? R
óin m'anam.”
She didn’t feel the magical melding of soul or anything that could verify that the spell had any real merit.
But, judging by Kathryn’s screams as she faded into the nether, she supposed the ancient words had done their job binding her soul with a new body. She pulled away from Rory, who was still apparently struck speechless.
She realized they were already married, technically. “I’m yours,” she murmured. “If you’ll have me in this body.” She looked down at the form of the woman who’d betrayed him.
Rory gently took her face in his hands, his eyes boring into hers with such fervent intensity that tears welled in response.
“I didna love ye for yer body,” he vowed. “It was yer soul I so treasured all this time.” He took her mouth in a swift and burning kiss. This time, her warmth matched his and their heat ignited a flame that would last an eternity.
Rory pulled back, his breath much quicker than before.
“I canna express my joy at having ye here with me.” He clutched her closely and his brow furrowed. “Though, I doona like the idea of calling ye Kathryn in front of people. Ye’re nothing like her, and I’d just as soon not utter her name again.”
Katriona had to admit she adored the fact that he felt that way. She bit her lip and regarded his dark eyes that were again gentle and so full of emotion. “In our most intimate moments you called me
Kat
,” she remembered. “I think I would like it if you addressed me as such from now on.”
That seemed to please him. “My Kat,” he murmured. “Whom I like to stroke until she purrs with contentment.”
Katriona’s body warmed to the heated promise in his voice.
“I have to go for Lorne,” he sighed, reaching down and wiping at the symbol drawn on his torso in blood with his tartan. “I need to move the body from my chamber.”
Katriona nodded. “We’ll say he attacked in a fit of jealous rage.”
“Aye,” Rory agreed, tucking her into his side as though he was loath to let release her, even for a moment.
“Then we should hie to the stables,” Katriona suggested.
“Oh?” Rory’s eyebrows lifted. “Are ye of a mind to take a midnight journey?”
Katriona shook her head and ran a finger over Rory’s beloved lips. “I’m without any particular power now. But in the stables, we’ll find all kinds of straps and whips and whatever apparatus may catch our fancy.”
Rory’s entire body tensed, a groan vibrating up from deep in his chest.
“You see,” she continued, enjoying the quiver of yearning her body experienced in answer to his. “I mean to have my wedding night, husband. I’m afraid you won’t get the sleep you were promised.”
“I’ll be all right.” Rory steered her once more toward the door, his stride hurried and full of purpose. “I can sleep when I’m
dead
.”
About the Author
Kerrigan Byrne's stories span the spectrum of romantic fiction from historical, to paranormal, to romantic suspense. She can always promise her reader one thing: memorable and sexy Celtic heroes who are guaranteed to heat your blood before they steal your heart.
Kerrigan lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and his three lovely daughters. She's worked in Law Enforcement for the better part of a decade.
*Kerrigan donates a percentage of all book sales to
www.womenforwomen.org
to help the innocent survivors of global war and oppression.
To find other books by Kerrigan, visit her website at:
www.kerriganbyrne.com
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