Free Enchantment by Nina Croft Page B

come in search of information.
    It was brave of him—he must have known Malachai suspected him of the earlier betrayal. Which makes me wonder how they got away a second time.”
    “I’m just glad they did. It eases my mind to know they’re free and hopefully safe.” They were silent for a while. She glanced at Tallon, he was staring off into the distance while his hand almost absently stroked her, and it occurred to her that he too had gained a father today. She examined his face, searching for some similarity. And found it in the curve of his cheek, the large, bony nose, the arch of his brow.
    “So how do you feel about...?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression wry. “About finding out my father is responsible for everything that has gone wrong with the world for the last thousand years. In truth, I feel nothing. He’s not my true father.”
    “Good.” She relaxed against him, but there was no way she could sleep. She didn’t want to really, she wanted to savor this time with Tallon. As she lay wrapped in his arms, the light vanished completely. For a while, they were in total darkness and then a faint crimson wash colored the sky. The moons were rising.

Chapter Seven
    As always, at the rising of the moons, Shayla felt the magic inside her uncurl and stretch sleepily.
    She didn’t move until the moons hung directly overhead, then she pushed herself to her feet and held out her hand to Tallon. He slid his hand into hers and rose to stand beside her. Shayla led him out into the meadow beyond the trees where the moons could shine down on them. She released his hand but then held her own out, palm up.
    Tallon drew his knife, the rasp of the blade loud in the silence.
    He placed the point at the end of her lifeline and then drew it down across her palm. The blood welled up immediately from the shallow cut. Tallon slashed his own palm and then pressed his hand to hers.
    “I choose you, Tallon.” As she spoke the words, the sky filled with crimson lightning. A great bolt rent the night. It struck them where their hands joined. They fell to their knees but didn’t let go as the magic pulsed through them and finally drained into the land.
    All around them, the meadow bloomed, spreading outward from where they knelt in the tall grass. Flowers sprang up, and in the forest, blossom emerged from the bare branches. As she ran her free hand over the flowers, a sweet scent filled the air. Shayla breathed in deeply. This was how Arroway should have been.
    This was the way it would have been before the Laws of Segregation. But she wouldn’t allow the sadness to overtake her.
    Tomorrow would have to be soon enough to attempt to put right the wrongs. This night was hers. Hers and Tallon’s.
    Tallon obviously thought the same. Still clasping her hand, he drew her to him. Slowly, he peeled the clothes from her body then pressed her down onto the soft grass. The flowers crushed beneath them released their scent, their sweetness pervading her mind, drugging her senses. Tallon entered her with one sure thrust of his powerful hips. With his hard body filling her, he gazed down into her face.
    “I once believed you had bewitched me. But if this is enchantment, then I am willing to stay forever.” He made love to her slowly, the rhythmic thrust of his body, building the pleasure inside her until it burst in a crescendo that lit up the darkness.
    ~*~
    Tallon woke in the first light of dawn, still wrapped in Shayla’s arms, a sprinkling of scarlet petals covering them. He sat up and ran a hand through his long hair and a shower of flowers fell to the grass. A sense of well-being filled him, a feeling of completion. The grass around him appeared lush, greener than he remembered, the suns peeking above the horizon, seemed brighter.
    The flowers had been no figment of his imagination. They formed a carpet all around them.
    His initial euphoria faded quickly.
    Last night was stolen time. This morning they had to return to the real