Once Upon a Castle - Jill Gregory [33]
Her chin shot up another inch, went rigid. “I could, if it’s what you will. But a warning before you choose. Be wary and sure of what you wish for. Every gift, even given freely, has a price.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard that. Let’s think about it. Money? Sex? Power, maybe. Power’s good. I could have a nice island in the Caribbean, be a benign despot. I could get into that.”
“This offer was not made for your amusement,” she said stiffly.
“No? Well, it tickles the hell out of me.” Rocking back on his heels, he tucked his hands into his pockets. “All I had to do was knock off an evil wizard and save the girl, and I can have whatever I want. Not a bad deal, all in all. So, just what do I want?”
He narrowed his eyes in consideration, then stepped into the circle. “You.”
Eyes widening, she jerked back. “What?”
“You. I want you.”
“To—to do what?” she said stupidly, then blinked when he roared with laughter. “Oh, you’ve no need to waste a boon there.” She lifted her hands to unfasten her dress, and found them caught in his.
“That, too,” he said, walking her backward out of the circle, keeping her arms up, her hands locked behind her head. “Yeah, in fact, I look forward to quite a bit of that.”
The warrior was back, she thought dizzily. There, the glint of battle and triumph in his eyes. “What are you doing?”
“I’m holding you to your boon. You, Bryna, all of you, no restrictions. For better or worse,” he continued until he had her backed against the wall. “For richer or poorer. That’s the deal.”
She couldn’t get her breath, couldn’t keep her balance. “You want…me?”
“I’m not getting down on one knee when it’s my boon.”
“But you’re free. The spell is broken. I have no hold on you.”
“Don’t you?” He lowered his mouth, buckling her knees with his kiss. “You can’t lie to me.” He crushed his lips to hers again, pulling her closer. “You were born loving me.” He swallowed her moan and dived deeper. “You’ll die loving me.”
“Yes.” Powerless, she flexed the hands he held above her head.
“Look at me,” he murmured, easing back as she trembled. “And see.” He gentled his hands, lowered them to stoke her shoulders. “Beautiful Bryna. Mine. Only mine.”
“Calin.” Her heart wheeled when his lips brushed tenderly over hers. “You love me. After it’s done, after it’s only you and only me. You love me.”
“I was born loving you.” The kiss was deep and sweet. “I’ll die loving you.” He sipped the tears from her cheeks.
“This is real,” she said in a whisper. “This is true magic.”
“It’s real. Whatever came before, this is what’s real. I love you, Bryna. You,” he repeated. “The woman who puts whiskey in my tea, and the witch who weaves me magic sweaters. Believe that.”
“I do.” Her breath released on a shudder of joy. She felt it. Love. Trust. Acceptance. “I do believe it.”
“It’s time we made a home together, Bryna. We’ve waited long enough.”
“Calin Farrell.” She wound her arms around his neck, pressed her cheek against his. “Your boon is granted.”
CASTLE DOOM
Jill Gregory
To Marianne, Nora, and Ruth—with love
1
Danger rode the moonless night like a witch as the slender, cloaked figure made her way through the gloom-shrouded countryside. The dark road was deserted, the woods flanking it silent but for the rustling tree branches and the moaning winter wind. Yet the gray night was fraught with peril. Arianne felt it in her bones. Fear prickled down her spine as she hurried along the road toward the Briar Knoll Inn. She glanced this way and that and tightened the snood that hid her fiery hair, but she never slowed her pace.
Once her fingers brushed the jeweled dagger hidden within her cloak, and the fear subsided a little. But her breath came in short, rapid bursts, and her skin beneath the dark woolen cloak felt clammy.
The fear was not for herself but for her brother, Marcus, the imprisoned Count of Galeron. And for the kingdom she’d left behind and the shattered