Free TheKnightsDruid by Shannan Albright Page B

man he called friend for over seven years. Simon’s ebony hair stuck out in places as if he’d raked his fingers through it repeatedly and damn the man, if it didn’t look way too tempting. What the hell was he thinking? Yet, he couldn’t stop his pulse from quickening as he stared at his best friend. His black tee shirt stretched over his wide shoulders, fitting snug to his skin and showing off his chest and ridged stomach. Jeans encased his long, muscular legs, the bulge pushing at his zipper seemed to grow larger and Darius tore his gaze away with a ragged breath, raising his eyes to catch the desire darkening his gaze.
    “I need to do this and nothing you say will change my mind,” Darius challenged, in an effort to keep on track and not ogling his friend’s package.
    “I kind of figured you would be bound and determined to do this and there was no way I would let you do this alone.” Simon sighed, rubbing the tension out of his neck.
    “Fine, you can stay, but you don’t touch me while I’m doing this got it?”
    “Yeah, I read you, but if it looks like you are in danger I will haul your ass back out. Do I make myself clear?”
    “Fine, take a seat in that chair by the window and let me get on with this,” Darius ordered, allowing his displeasure to color his tone. Not that Simon seemed to mind a bit as he sat down, stretched his long legs out crossing them at the ankles and folded his arms across his flat stomach.
    Darius growled low in his throat, which only made Simon smile. He turned his back on him and eyed the bed. Hell, no way could he lay back down with Simon in the room. He would never get his focus back. His hand raked through his long hair pulling strands loose from his leather tie.
    “Just lie down Darius, I promise not to attack you.” Simon chuckled at his back.
    He looked at Simon over his shoulder and gave him a fuck-off-and-die look before the turned to face him and sat on the floor. Leaning his back against the bed, he crossed his legs in the lotus position and rested his palms up on his thighs, forefinger and thumbs touching.
    “If you insist on staying keep quiet,” Darius demanded.
    “Fine, I’ll shut up, but I will pull you out of the vision if I see any sign of trouble.”
    “Sure, whatever,” Darius shot back, closing his eyes and centering all his focus on his breathing.
    He didn’t expect to be able to entice the vision back, especially with Simon in the room. It surprised him when the white haze of the vision flooded him, his temples throbbed with sparks of pain, keeping time with his pulse and he ground his teeth against it. Falling into the vision, everything around him ceased to exist. Only the blur of colors coalescing into the moving picture before him mattered.
    He stood hidden in the thick copse of spruce and eucalyptus trees, looking out at the moonlit beach. Waves broke, with a hiss as the salt formed silvery white foam, rushing onto the wet sand. He easily spotted two figures entwined on a large blanket above the surging surf. He caught a glimpse of Colin’s face then the scene blurred, colors breaking apart to reform in another place. Colin restrained with a thick silver collar around his neck, he struggled against the restraints holding him in a metal chair. A woman’s scream filled Colin’s face with dark rage, with a growl he fought harder against his bonds. Darius studied the concrete walls, floor and ceiling and heavy metal door. There were no windows and he knew this was deep underground. How he knew didn’t matter, he learned a long time ago to go with his gut impressions when the visions hit.
    The scene broke away once again, reforming into a curved stairway and balcony high above. Arthur’s men stood behind a growling Colin as Mordred held Colin’s woman Juliet in front of him, his hand gripping her throat as he sneered at them. In Mordred’s other hand pulsed a sickly green light, he raised his hand throwing it toward Arthur. Darius shouted a