Free Damned and Defiant by Kathy Kulig Page A

his mind ever since they met. He didn’t want her as a Kithra but the sexual drive for her was so potent. Immortality had its own compromises.
    After a hundred and fifty years, his dream was finally realized. He had his ranch, his home, his horses. Now, he was going to leave it. In the back of his mind he’d hoped Tarik would continue to fail in his attempts to return them to Prygos so he could stay but he’d never give up immortality to remain.
    Everything he’d ever loved as a mortal had been taken from him. The horror of near death was an experience he didn’t want to repeat. He couldn’t stay, and he couldn’t take Haley with him. A deep ache formed in his chest, leaving a canyon-sized emptiness. His ranch would be replaced with land on a new world. With Haley’s help, at least he’d have his horses.
    Hands in his pockets, he strolled across the yard toward the corral. He didn’t need to spook the horses now. She waved to him. “D.A. is the sweet boy. Siren is going to take some work. But she’ll be fine.”
    Relieved, he sat on the split-rail fence, hooking the heels of his boots in the lower rail. The sun was warm even this early. He took his T-shirt off and hung it on the fence.
    Mesmerized by her expertise, he watched her ride. She was good. He barely noticed a slight signal from her, a sound or movement of her legs or arms, and she had D.A. in a canter, then a full out gallop, a turn, a stop. Panting from the brief workout but needing it after all these months, D.A. strode around looking proud and thrilled to please his rider. He didn’t resist her at all. Haley walked him over to Dante and hopped off. D.A.walked beside her without any hesitation.
    Dante’s gut twisted in knots. He was thrilled, but furious that he couldn’t ride. As she brought the horse closer, D.A. started tugging on his reins. “Easy, you know Dante. He’s a good guy.”
    Then D.A. spun and kicked as if he’d seen a rattlesnake. “Don’t come any closer,” Dante warned.
    “Whoa, boy. What’s up? You’ve been sweet as pie all morning.” She patted him down and talked softly, giving him reassuring strokes, then running her hands over him. An aura of light and fine electrical sparks traveled from the palms of her hands into the horse. D.A. seemed to calm down. “What are you doing to him?” Only Drones had the power to transfer energy like that.
    “It’s okay. Something Ambros taught me. A healing thing.”
    “He seems to be settling down.”
    Cautiously, she walked him over to Dante. “Want to give it another try?” she said more to D.A. then to Dante. “He’s a good guy.” Her voice was smooth, soft almost hypnotic. But it was no good. D.A. reared up again.
    “Forget it. Take him to the barn to cool off.” What if he couldn’t get the horses under control around him? He’d have to leave them behind. Better he do that, than have the demoness drain their lifeforce for fuel. The thought made him nauseous.
    “It’s okay,” Haley exclaimed. “We’ll keep trying. We’ll try later.”
    He forced a smile and nodded. D.A. leaned against her as if he was using her for protection. Did the horse think he’d hurt him?
    She walked the horse toward the barn. “Come on. Let’s get that saddle off you.”
    Haley put the saddle away, wiped down and brushed D.A. When she finished, she washed up and splashed some water on her face. The water splattered down the front of her T-shirt, the coolness puckering her nipples. She hadn’t worn a bra, anticipating a hot day. She had to admit her decision to go braless had to do less about the weather and more with getting a rise out of Dante.
    When she walked outside, he had Siren on a long line and the horse was running in circles. She didn’t interfere, just observed.
    “Easy, Siren,” he said in a soothing tone as he let the horse run around, tethered by the rope. At first, Haley thought he had her under control. But Siren let out a shriek. Ears pinned back, the horse