WingsOfDesire-AriannaSkye (37 page)

Her lips lingered a little bit longer on his then she pulled away. She traced her finger down the icy plane of his jaw and chin.

“Please trust her.” Her fingers slid lower down to his neck and metal-clad chest.

“I can’t.” Cerne stepped away and spun around, stalking to-wards Aine who sat huddled on the log. Noticing the firm grip on the hilt of the sword at his side, Rhiannon gulped. She had to do something, otherwise he’d tear up Aine and feed her to the wolves—if there were wolves in Fey.

Rhiannon turned her gaze to Aine who stood there in stoic silence as Cerne twisted his grip on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Was he deliberately trying to scare Aine? If so, the way she stood there in silent reserve showed his plan wasn’t working.

She turned to Belenus who scratched his chin in thought. As if reading Rhiannon’s mind, he shook his head. She couldn’t stand by and watch Cerne fillet the woman who had risked her life, not to mention her sister’s respect, to save her. She gave Bel a shrug and turned back to the confrontation between Cerne and Aine.

“Lady Aine,” Cerne said, in a tone dripping with vehemence. “What were you planning to do with my life-mate?”

Aine stared him straight in the eye. “Nothing, Lord Silverwing.” The moment she caught the gleam of his sword as he unsheathed it, Rhiannon burst into action. Despite Belenus’s attempts to grab her, she flung herself between Cerne and Aine.

“Don’t,” she breathed, glancing down at the sword that came pretty damned close to piercing her heart.

~*~*~

What in the deities did she think she was doing? Noticing how close he’d come to impaling his princess, he growled. He lowered his sword but refused to sheath it. After all, the Dark Faerie was still alive and posed a threat.

“She saved my life. How the heck do you think I crossed the divide? By swimming?” Rhiannon placed her hands on her waist and glared.

“She’s a Dark Faerie.” Cerne cringed at his cutting tone but recuperated with an icy glare at Aine. “And, did she mention Queen Korrigan is her sister?” Rhiannon rolled her eyes skyward. “Duh! I wasn’t born last week.” She took a few steps backwards to stand next to Aine. “Ask her how she got her scar.”

“Now isn’t the time for reminiscing,” Aine replied in a distant tone.

“Cerne needs to know.”

“So he has even more reason to kill me? I think not.” Rhiannon sighed and took the Dark Faerie into her arms. Strange as it appeared, Aine returned the hug, wrapping her arms around Rhiannon’s neck and placing her head on Rhiannon’s shoulders. Were those tears dripping down Aine’s cheeks? Fancy that. Not all Dark Faeries had hearts of stone.

“She isn’t her sister, Cerne.” Rhiannon gazed up at him with hopeful eyes.

“She said I’ll want to kill her.” Cerne kept a steady grip on his sword. “If she’s innocent, why would I want to kill her?”

Rhiannon glared at him, her emerald eyes pleading. “She’s confused. Look at her, for deity’s sake.” She turned to glance at Aine.

Cerne took in the faerie’s appearance. A long, gaping scar jutted down her cheek and her dark eyes swirled with sadness. Her black, snarled curls ensured she’d not had an easy flight across the divide. Cerne took a deep, audible breath. Although she stood proudly before him in stoic silence, Aine’s eyes belied her actions. Confusion mixed with pain and remorse swam within those dark orbs. The woman was indeed wounded, but she was a Dark Faerie. Trust wasn’t an option at this point.

Despite his feelings of foreboding, he lowered his sword and sheathed it. He narrowed his eyes at Aine. “I do not trust you—yet. I will, however, give you the benefit of the doubt since you obviously risked your life to fly across the divide.” Rhiannon flung her arms about him, pulling him close. “Thank you,
mo cridhe
.” Cerne lowered his lips to hers and let his hand travel down her back, his fingertips tracing against the softness of her skin. “I thought I’d never be able to hold you again.” He nuzzled her cheek with his and took in the tantalizing scent that usually drove him mad with desire. Right now, however, the heady lavender and vanilla offered more—comfort and relief.

“Ahem.” Belenus’s voice came through the fog. He bowed to Rhiannon. “It's good to have you back, Your Highness.”

Rhiannon nodded, pulling herself from Cerne’s embrace. “It’s good to see you as well.” She arched her brow. “Where is Maeve?”

Belenus chuckled. “Off thinking of ways to string up my hide, I’m certain. Cerne and I

ordered her to stay and watch the horses.”

Rhiannon’s eyes widened. “You what?”

Cerne shrugged. “I’m the one who ordered her to stay put. If she strings up anyone, it should be me.”

Belenus clapped his hands. “Speak of all the deities, guess who it is? I’ll be right back.” He turned and marched to a large rock jutting out of the blackened earth. Cerne shook his head watching his friend pace, shaking and nodding his head.

“Best to leave him with his mind-talk, I suppose.” Rhiannon nodded. She turned her head to Aine who had taken a seat back on the tree stump.

“We need her more than you realize. Soon you’ll understand.” Cerne gnashed his teeth. Part of him wanted to trust the woman who sat on the stump, quiet, broken, yet oddly resolved. The other part nagged that this woman was a Dark Faerie, and not just any Dark Faerie—she was Korrigan’s sister. “The same blood runs in her that does Korrigan.”

“They have different mothers.” Rhiannon took his hands in hers and rubbed her palms against his. The feel of her soft hands sent an overwhelming joy through his entire body. What was going on with him?

“I’ll allow her to travel with us, but she’ll be guarded at all times.” Cerne clasped her hands, not wanting to let go. “I can’t risk losing you again.” Then again, what would happen if she returned to Earth?

“That’s funny.” Rhiannon lowered her mouth to his neck. Her lips danced across his flesh, sending shudders of arousal throughout his entire body. Gods, how he missed her kisses.

“Because I don’t plan on getting lost.”

“I hope so.” He really and truly did.

His thoughts were interrupted when Belenus came rushing over. “Maeve is waiting for us.

She says the horses are getting lonely. They miss you, my friend.” Cerne nodded with a roll of his eyes. “Very well.” He turned to Rhiannon. “We need to fly to the edge of the forest. Tell your
friend
if she tries anything, she’ll have to answer to me.” Rhiannon nodded. “She won’t try anything. You have my word.” Cerne took a deep breath. He hoped Rhiannon was right.

Cerne looked over his shoulder. The Dark Faerie, Aine, held onto Rhiannon as a mother would her child, with care and tenderness. He didn’t think he could’ve done a better job holding the princess in his arms. Mayhap he misjudged her?

“It appears you’ve misjudged Lady Aine, my friend.” Leave it to Belenus to reiterate his point.

“You don’t say?” Cerne did the best shrug he could since Belenus had his arms pinned. He counted the days until Beltane when he’d finally be able to transport himself instead of having to rely on someone else to carry him in the air. Not that he minded not having to work his muscles to stay afloat. He just preferred his freedom.

“How much further until we get to the forest?” Rhiannon asked across the way. Cerne smiled, watching the wind blowing wisps of hair across her cheeks. He ached to brush them away and plant kisses all over her beautiful face.

“About half of a human hour.” Belenus looked down to Cerne. “Maeve and I will allow Aine to stay in our tent.” He gave Cerne a perceptive wink.

Cerne rolled his eyes. “She’s been held by Korrigan. Who knows what sort of heinous acts were done to her. I wouldn’t disrespect my princess by forcing myself on her.”

“I notice the way you look at Rhiannon. It’s more than lust, you silly fool. You want to hold her close, to protect her.” Belenus grinned. “I know because I’m the same when it comes to Maeve.”

“Is that so?” Belenus always seemed to be forever wedged up Maeve’s ass. Hearing this made Cerne want to break into laughter.

Belenus harrumphed. “I’m being serious. Maeve outranks me in the council, so I’m expected to abide her orders. And if you haven’t noticed, anytime she volunteers for a dangerous mission, I’m also volunteered.” Belenus’s face broke out into a wide grin. “Trust me. It isn’t her choice.”

“Ahh. I see.” Cerne actually understood. He’d seen it when Belenus ordered Maeve to stay put. Cerne expected her to fight tooth and nail so she could go instead. Maeve, however, did the

opposite. She and Belenus had a wonderful relationship with trust and compromise. Would he and Rhiannon share that as well? His heart swelled with hope. He could only pray to the Goddess and, of course, dream.

After what seemed an eternity, Belenus and Aine began their descents. The wind licked at Cerne’s face, blowing his hair behind him. Rhiannon, across the way, stared at him. A fire flickered in her emerald eyes, a fire he thought he’d never see again. She wrenched her head back around when she realized she had been caught looking at him. Perhaps he’d only imagined the heat of her gaze? It hadn’t been the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last.

“I’m getting ready to land,” Aine called over her shoulder to Belenus. She looked down to Rhiannon, her eyes softening with what looked like concern. “Are you ready, Your Highness?” Rhiannon nodded. “As much fun as flying seems, I can’t wait to feel solid earth beneath my feet, and I miss Maeve.” Rhiannon smiled. “You’ll like her.”

“I just hope she feels the same.”

Rhiannon roll her eyes. “Don’t make me go medieval on your ass, ye of little faith.” Glad to hear another of her outrageous human euphemisms at last, Cerne chuckled. They truly did brighten his day. When Rhiannon turned to look at him, he coughed loudly and broke his gaze.

“I must have swallowed an insect or something.” Cerne cleared his throat.

“Sure you did, my friend,” Belenus whispered. “You swallowed a bug all right, but you’re still too stubborn to admit it.”

Cerne growled. “Whatever, Bel. Why don’t you just concentrate on landing instead of trying to analyze the princess’s and my relationship.”

Belenus shrugged. “You two are so much fun to analyze though. Two giant tomes open for me to read at any time. Fascinating, I tell you.”

“You won’t find it too fascinating when my fist is pummeling your face.” Belenus let out a throaty chuckle. “All that would get you is in deep unicorn dung with Maeve. And we all remember how bad that smells. But I’ll grant your request. I’ll keep my observation of Rhiannon’s and your
love
life to myself—and perhaps Maeve, if she needs some entertainment.”

“How about entertaining the thought of my boot up your ass?” Cerne muttered. He’d heard Rhiannon use the expression at one time and thought it fitting for the occasion.

“Sounds painful, but as I said before, Maeve would not be so thrilled.”

“I don’t give a fig what Maeve thinks, and you know that.” Cerne grinned. “She’s not my consort. And I’m sure she’d know you deserved it.”

“Touché, my wingless friend.”

Cerne shrugged. “Maybe now, but not for long.”

“That’s the spirit.” Belenus angled himself upwards and flitted his wings. Slowly and surely, they began to land.

Cerne turned to catch a glimpse of Aine struggling against an updraft. Her wings twittered and her eyes were wide with nervousness as another straight wind pummeled them.

“She must be newly winged.” Belenus studied Aine, whose wings fluttered even more erratically. She weaved across the sky. “Aine, take a deep breath. Make slower wing movements, like so.” Belenus moved each wing up as the other went down. Aine nodded and did as told.

Rhiannon grabbed onto her waist, giving the faerie reassuring looks.

“Good job. Now point your toes downward and keep moving those wings.” Cerne gazed up, watching Aine begin to descend. A stricken expression etched on her face as Rhiannon clutched her waist. Cerne’s heart fell into his stomach watching Rhiannon’s hand slip from Aine.

Cerne bounded underneath the two and held out his arms. “If Rhiannon falls, I’ll catch her.

Do not panic!”

~*~*~

Rhiannon glanced down. Cerne stood there with his arms wide open, ready to catch her.

Dear Gods, she didn’t want to fall, but having Cerne catch her did have its merits—mainly those big strong muscular arms wrapped around her. However, this wasn’t quite what she had in mind when she imagined falling into his arms.

She gripped onto what remained of the bodice of Aine’s dress, renting more fabric loose.

“I’ll get you a new dress, I promise. Black doesn’t become you anyways.” Aine took a shaky breath. “I have nothing but deep admiration for you, Rhiannon. Despite the fact that you may fall to your death, you remain calm and collected.”

“Cerne is there to catch me.” And the idea of that held major appeal. “I guarantee that

wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. He’s strong and quite capable of catching me.” Aine nodded. “He and his brother are similar in many ways.” Rhiannon breathed a sigh of relief. The more she talked to Aine, the more at ease she became. Perhaps some of Lara’s psychology mumbo jumbo had rubbed off on her after all.

Feeling the ground at her feet, Rhiannon gave Aine a wide grin. “See. I knew you could do it!”

“Thanks to all of you. I’ll be eternally grateful.” She wrapped her arms around Rhiannon and pulled her into an embrace. Rhiannon smiled, allowing Aine to rest her head against her shoulder. Aine took a deep breath and sniffled, as if she were trying to hold back her tears.

Cerne gazed over at her and made his way toward them. Rhiannon shook her head and waved him off. Now wasn’t the time to pour salt on old wounds. Seeing Cerne right now would only cause Aine more misery. Rhiannon could not risk it.

She patted Aine’s back. “Let me bring you over to Maeve and Bel. I need to spend some time with Cerne.”

Aine nodded and withdrew from the embrace. “I’m sorry to take you away from your reunion.”

“Don’t worry about it.” She motioned to Maeve and Bel.

Maeve allowed Belenus her arm. “Thank the Goddess you’ve been found!” She grabbed Rhiannon and took her in her arms.