Free By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) by Amberlyn Holland Page A

lure him in. In his quest for vengeance, though, he'd encountered every darker aspect to be had. Whatever secrets Lia and the valley held, he'd bet his life sorcery wasn't one of them.
    No longer able to hold himself back, he stepped fully beyond the shelter of the stones. As soon as he did, a sizzling wave of welcoming energy engulfed him, like he'd crossed some kind threshold. The orb above the altar brightened, expanded to fill the Circle.
    It surrounded him and he moved closer until he stood behind Lia. Caerwyn's hands automatically dropped to her hips, holding her close, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling the scent of violets that followed her wherever she went.
    The feminine pulse of energy wrapped them with warmth, welcoming, soothing, loving.
    Lia turned in his arms, her hands reached to pull him closer. Her lips sought his, hot and open and ready for him. He felt himself sink into her. Let himself go.

    *****

    Lia knew she should think. Should listen to reason and logic.
    But his mouth was hard and sweet, gentle and demanding and all she wanted was to move closer. To fuse her body against his and twist her way into his soul. The taste of him was intoxicating. The feel of him, his hands cradling and curving and holding tight, was grounding and inflaming all at once.
    There was no logic in the mist of moonlight. No reason in the blessing of the Goddess surrounding them.
    It had been two generations since a man had crossed into the Circle. Since the Goddess had unbarred the way.
    No consort. No lover. No husband. For decades, the Circle had remained resolute and impenetrable to all but the Hand of the Goddess and her acolytes.
    The moon power she'd called sizzled between them. It settled around them, thick and hazy. It buzzed between them until it was hard to tell where the energy ended and their skin began.
    Lia knew what was happening. Knew there would be consequences. And she didn't care. She couldn't stop it. Wouldn't stop it. Didn't even want to try.
    She could feel him. More than just his body pressed against hers. More than his mouth fused to her lips, his tongue thick and teasing gliding into her. She felt his essence, his heart, and his soul, sliding through her. Golden and warm to her soft silver. It felt right. Welcoming and tender as her own essence slid into his.
    Except…
    A shadow. Cool and dark and aloof hovering at his center. Not evil. Not angry and violent. Just a hard dot of blackness among the glowing gold that was Wyn…
    His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back. Five spears of heat spread out, warming her skin through the thin cloth and tugging her closer. Licking flames spiraled out from his touch, coiling deep and taking her breath with a soft gasp.
    Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling until she could press up and fuse their mouths in a possessive battle of lips and teeth and tongue.
    The last chains of control tore free and Lia sank into the twisting need and vibrating sweetness clamoring to claim her. The moon blessing filled every breath, sweeping away everything but touch, taste, feel.
    Everything but Wyn.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    -5-
     
The first warm rays of sunlight drifted over Lia's skin as she woke. The noise of birds and small animals filled the quiet morning air and made her smile. Around her, she recognized familiar sounds and scents of the forest from a lifetime of exploring these woods and didn't bother to make the effort to open her eyes. She must have fallen asleep in the Circle after the Handmaiden's blessing. Again. It was all right though. She still had time before she needed to head for the manor. Nel and the others would expect her back to lead the morning ritual with the entire valley but she could afford to sleep for a few more minutes.
    Lia snuggled into the firm body behind her. She loved how all that warm strength curled gently around her, cradling her between strong arms and solid chest.
    If she only had a soft mattress under her, rather than