Free Witch’s Concubine by Cara Carnes Page B

remained on him, his hand supported the large, odd-shaped mug. Tentatively she severed the visual contact and surveyed her surroundings.
    I know I’m not seeing bones in the walls.
    Oh, crud. That’s a skull. Right there. On the ground. A freaking skull. Her gaze darted away and landed on the other wall. Ribs?
    Her heart hammered, her veins surged adrenaline. Where the hell were her powers? She closed her eyes and channeled the determination, the terror. Strong emotion worked best when calling her magic. Goddesses knew she couldn’t get more emotional than now.
    “Calm yourself, little dragon.”
    “My powers.” She swallowed. Confusion fed her fear. She grabbed at his arms, settled into his embrace, and blinked. “They’re gone.”
    “You’re safe. Calm yourself.” He kissed her forehead. “A healer in my realm saved you.”
    “You shouldn’t have brought me here. I know it’s dangerous for you.” She didn’t feel safe or saved. She felt incomplete, like someone had taken a pair of pliers and pried strands of her soul loose.
    “All that mattered was saving you.” His lips hovered near hers.
    She claimed his lips, savoring the taste of the vampire who’d turned her inside out. Relaxing into his embrace, she trusted him to support her. For once she could relish not being the strong one in charge.
    He deepened the kiss with a groan, a melding of tongues and limbs. She straddled his lap and rubbed against him, swept away in the feminine pleasure trickling through her.
    She reached for his pants and severed the kiss. “Do we have time? Is it safe?”
    “No and no,” Dmitri said with regret, his hand capturing hers. “I wish it were otherwise.”
    “Me, too.” She snuggled into his warmth and sighed. “I suppose we’re probably in one hell of a shit storm for my being here.”
    “Probably.” He kissed her softly. “I suspect you’re used to those types of storms.”
    “They tend to follow me.” He tensed beneath her. “Is Dragos alive?”
    “Last time I saw him he was, even though I wanted otherwise.”
    “Thanks for not killing him.” Her voice was soft. She glanced up, her fingers running along a ripple of muscle on his stomach. “The curse blinded his judgment. I’ve heard it does that.”
    “Your curse is gone.” Dmitri looked down at her.
    “I know.” She lowered her voice, unsure of how to broach the subject again since he’d been less than receptive last time. “But so are my powers. This healer. Do you trust him?”
    “I trust no one when it concerns you.” Dmitri tensed again.   
    A creak startled Macy. She whirled in time to see an agitated Alonzo storm in, sword drawn. Holy hexes, blood dribbled from the sharp tip.
    “Problems?” Dmitri asked, already setting her aside and rising.
    “A legion of the king’s army marches this direction.” Alonzo looked at her. “Glad you lived.”
    “I’m sure,” she commented. “What’s the plan?”
    “Take her north, circle back after dusk and get her into the human realm.” Power flowed within Dmitri’s aura. At least she still had witchly ability to read auras. “I’ll deal with the army, hold them off for as long as I can.”
    “I know you don’t think I’m running away.”
    “Do what you must to get her through, Alonzo.”
    The man nodded. Macy stood, shocked at the audacity. She was so going to use that itching hex on them. “Look, until I get my freaking magic back I’m on your ass like white on rice because I really don’t trust anyone else. I woke up in the freaking vampire realm, stripped of my powers and am probably the only decent din din in a thousand mile radius. Pardon the hell out of me if tromping through goddesses only knows what with someone who clearly can’t wait until I become maggot food doesn’t sound too appealing.”
    Macy took a deep, angered breath and crossed her arms. She wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t freak out. Okay, so she was already freaking out. She was entitled. He wanted to