Free Sea's Sorceress by Brynna Curry Page B

Skye had his Rhiannon and they would need each other in the days to come. God, he would miss them terribly.
    Devin turned back toward the dance and studied the barrier surrounding the stones. Time to face the music and meet the tempting seductress who haunted his dreams. He searched out his power, took hold, and created a protective shield around himself just in case the woman decided to attack. The snow under his feet melted as he stepped through the stones into Arianne’s cage.
    She stood just a few feet away, wearing a long velvet dress the color of blood that left her throat and shoulders bare. Dark curls rioted down her back to her waist. Her eyes were pure hell smoke. Her full lips curved slightly at one corner when she spoke.
    “Ah, Daemon’s Fire. My knight in shining armor come to set me free at last.”
    Devin watched her glide towards him, her hips rolling with the movement. No point in denying Arianne was breathtaking, or his body’s immediate response to her charms, but even her beauty couldn’t hide the selfish nature coiled tight around her cold heart. Another time and place he would have forgiven that part of her, maybe even embraced Arianne’s wicked nature, but he’d changed. Allie had opened his heart, and to return to that dark life would be a betrayal of the worst kind. “I’m no knight.”
    “And I’m no lady.” Arianne crossed the space between, pressed against him, slid her cool hands around his neck and pulled him down to meet her kiss. Her lips were soft and giving beneath his, warm and honey sweet. Addictive.
    Wrapping her tightly in his arms, Devin allowed himself the feel of her dark power. Let the lust for it–and her–snake through him. Taking the kiss deeper, he captured her moan of triumph. Heat crawled into his loins, begging him to take her. Was it Daemon’s magic that compelled him, or genuine lust? “Do you want me, Ari?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you need me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you love me, Arianne Farrell?”
    “Does it matter?”
    “It matters to me.”
    Her cool hand slid down and stroked him through his black jeans.
    “It would seem not all of you is in agreement. Do you love me, Devin McLoch? For all your wicked selfish ways, has your wild heart fallen for me over the years of looking into the glass?”
    “No. I don’t. I’m not sure I even like you, but I want you, which I suppose leaves something lacking in my character.” He kissed her again, trapping her hand between them, bringing such aching torture, but if he was to have Arianne, to be tied to her for eternity, he would settle for nothing less than everything. He craved the love his cousins had found. “Give it up. Turn away from the dark, Ari, and I’ll give you everything you’ll ever need.”
    “Are you mad? There’s nothing you can give me that I can’t conjure with my sorcery.”
    Devin spun her toward the nearest large standing stone until her back pressed against the pulsing rock. “I can give you children.” Feeling her sharp jerk, he knew he’d found her weakness. She wanted a child. Trailing his mouth from hers, he left small kisses down her jaw and throat. Arianne shuddered underneath his touch and leaned into him. “You are the most maddening woman I’ve ever met.”
    “Why, thank you.”
    “Come with me and turn away from the dark. I’ll give you a future, Arianne.”
    “No. I will never give up my power.”
    “Your choice.” Devin flashed out of the circle, away from Arianne’s heat. Stubborn woman. Why had he thought he could change her mind? He’d had to try. She might be cold, but she wasn’t heartless. She was part of the clan as much as any of the others. He would not, could not give up on her. Not quite yet.
     

 
    Epilogue
    Three weeks later
     
    He’d made it through Christmas, Rhiannon thought as she stood over her father’s grave, roses in hand. Cool wind brushed her cheeks, drying the tears her heart couldn’t contain. She didn’t cry for her Da, but for