Free Enchantment by Nina Croft Page A

with her back against the rough bark, rubbing her aching thighs, and watching as he unsaddled the horse and tethered it by a small patch of grass to graze. They were at the edge of the forest, and beyond the tree line, a meadow of tall, faded grass stretched out for miles.
    Tallon rummaged in the saddlebags and came up with flagon and some supplies. He pulled the cork from the top and took a long swig. “Wine,” he said and handed it to Shayla. She drank deeply. The wine was rich and strong, full of fruit and spice. It warmed her stomach and then spread out, heating her limbs. She was unused to alcohol, and a lovely feeling of lethargy spread though her.
    Tallon sank down beside her and watched, a small smile curving his lips as she took another swallow. Reluctantly, she handed the flagon back. After taking a last gulp, he stoppered it and opened the bag of food. Shayla realized she was ravenous and looked eagerly at each item as he placed them on the ground between them. Bread, hard cheese, and a piece of salted meat.
    By unspoken mutual consent, they didn’t speak as they ate.
    Finally, Shayla relaxed back, replete.
    “So that was Callum?” Tallon asked.
    She nodded. “He must have made a new staff and found a way to follow me out.”
    “And what is this ceremony, he spoke of?” Shayla told him of the choosing ceremony Callum had described.
    “You want to do it?” She cupped his face in her palm. “I think I chose you the first time I saw you.” She smiled and rubbed the pad of her thumb over his full lower lip—he had a beautiful mouth, sensual and passionate. “I was twelve. I’ve had to wait a long time, but now that I have you, I want you forever.”
    “It has its price,” Tallon replied. “Look at Casterix and Callum. Would you have us come to that?”
    “No, but I think we have been forewarned. I think we’re strong enough to withstand the temptation.”
    “Then we’ll do it. The moons will rise in an hour. Why don’t you sleep for a while, and I’ll keep watch?” She snuggled down, her head in his lap. “Do you think they’ll come after us?”
    “They would have overpowered Callum eventually. He couldn’t kill Malachai as they would have taken him immediately then, but he showed more restraint than I would have.” Shayla wondered about this other man, Jarrod, her father.
    Freya had always sworn that there was no such thing as a good warlock unless he was dead, but now she had run off with one, and Shayla’s father no less.
    It was strange to think that she had a father out there. A father who had actually cared enough to save her mother. Not once but twice. He must feel something for them. Where were they now? Hopefully, safe on Earth with Casterix. Who it turned out was her aunt. Her tiny family was growing in leaps and bounds.
    “What’s he like?” Shayla asked. “My father, I mean.”
    “Jarrod? He’s a good man.” She shook her head, frustration gnawing at her. “How can he be a good man and still condone what has been happening on Arroway all these years.” Tallon gave her a long look and she knew he was thinking about his own years with the Order, when he had supported their laws.“It’s different for you,” she said. “You grew up after the Laws of Segregation—you didn’t see what the world was like before.
    He must have known what was being done to the witches.”
    “I’m not sure he was aware of much that happened. After Casterix nearly destroyed the world, he was imprisoned. I heard he was mad with grief, and the Order was concerned he would do something stupid. He was kept a prisoner for five hundred years in the dungeons of the Keep. Eventually, they released him and he went hunting for his sister. He returned occasionally, but he kept his own council—with good reason—if he did find any trace of Casterix he would hardly want the Order to know.”
    “Maybe.”
    “He was there when I delivered your mother. I think he’d heard of the rumors about you and