Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [55]
The logs behind her had flown twenty feet, too. And so had Connor.
She ran to where he had landed on a snowy patch beneath a tree. He was flat on his back with a stunned look on his face and his kilt blown up.
She looked away, but the image was still seared into her mind. Somehow, he looked even larger tonight than he had last night. Brynley’s description of oral sex came rushing back, and her cheeks blazed with heat.
“What the hell was that?” He sat up, glaring at her as he pushed his kilt down. “Ye were supposed to knock down only half the circle.”
“I . . . missed.”
His eyes narrowed and his mouth thinned. “If ye want to see my privates, lass, just say so. There’s no need to keep knocking me down.”
“I didn’t do that just to look at your—” She grabbed one of the fallen logs and returned it to the clearing. “These logs only moved about twenty feet, and that’s half the distance I usually move things, so I actually did have some success.”
He hefted himself to his feet. “Verra well. I believe you.” He went along the forest edge, locating the logs and returning them to the clock formation, his actions speeding up until she could see only a blur.
She returned to the center of the circle. “You move so quickly. Is that one of your skills as a vampire?”
“Aye, we have super strength and speed. Heightened senses.” He walked toward her. “I can hear it when yer heartbeat quickens.”
She stiffened.
He gave her a knowing look. “Like it is now.”
Her heart lurched. “I’m excited about helping you locate and defeat the Malcontents. It will make the world a safer place.”
His mouth twitched. “We’d better not achieve world peace. Ye could have a heart attack.” He stopped beside her. “So do ye plan on knocking me down again?”
“I’ll try to do better, but I can’t guarantee it. You might be safer on the porch.”
One end of his mouth curled up in a half smile. “Doona fash. ’Tis my choice to stay close to you. I know it comes with a risk.”
Once again, he positioned himself next to the logs behind her. She concentrated on the half circle in front of her and released a small burst.
This time the logs moved only about five feet before toppling over. She glanced over her shoulder, and four logs were still standing, along with Connor.
“Ye’re doing it!” He strode toward her. “Excellent, lass.”
Her heart swelled with his praise. She turned to face him, and he grinned. Her breath caught. He looked so young and handsome when he smiled like that, as if a few centuries of despair had rolled off him. His smile faded and his eyes narrowed.
Good heavens! She faced front. He must be able to hear her heart racing. She pressed a hand to her chest. How could she stop it? She didn’t seem to have any control over it.
He dashed around the circle to stand up the fallen logs. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves.
Again and again she practiced. After about a dozen attempts she was knocking down only three logs—the target and a log on each side of it.
She swayed. “I—I’m sorry. I’m out of energy.”
“Come and rest.” He led her onto the porch and settled her into a rocking chair.
She rested her head back and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, she heard his footsteps approach.
“Here.” He pressed a bottle of water into her hand.
“Thank you.” She took a sip. “Are we done for the night?”
“Nay.” He leaned against a wooden post and crossed his arms. “When ye sense death, will ye be able to tell which ones are caused by Casimir and his minions?”
She drank some water. “Not directly. I can tell how many are dying, and if there is a lot of fear and terror involved, I can sense that.”
He nodded slowly. “They’ll feed right after they awaken at sunset, so the timing will give us a clue, too. How well can ye pinpoint the location? Can ye give us coordinates like GPS?”
She frowned. “It doesn’t work like that. Normally, I just feel where to go and my wings take me there.” She sighed. “I may not be of any use to you without my wings.”
“Ye can feel it in yer mind?” When she nodded, he pushed away from the post and stepped toward her. “Then I