Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series (22 page)

She trailed off again as she wickedly rubbed
her fingertips lower over that lace. Kat then presented him with an
innocent expression, “Then would you mind telling him that I would
really like pink and satin tonight?” She rolled over onto her
stomach once more, laughing mischievously; she had witnessed that
his eyes were beginning to shift.

Kat stilled as Lorcan leaned over her and his
hand glided up her arm. His warm touch triggered the clasp that
held the band in place just as his other hand came down in a
stinging swat on her behind. He interrupted her yelp of surprise by
flipping her over. His face hovered directly above hers, “Point
taken, Witch. Create what you need for your wardrobe, including
modest
sleepwear, and do not give me cause
to bind you again.” Kat gave him a grave nod of agreement, her eyes
bright with merriment before leaning up to give him a smacking
kiss. He smiled indulgently and rumpled her hair, “Still make me a
list of anything else that you may want.”

Another nod and Kat rolled back over.
Snatching the pen and paper, she kicked her legs up behind her and
tapped the pen to her lips, deep in thought.

Watching her, Lorcan wondered idly how big
this list might become. Perhaps he should have told her to list
things she needed rather than wanted. His thought was confirmed
when she glanced over her shoulder in question, “Do you have one of
those television things somewhere?”

He reached down to give her butt another
quick slap for her impertinence before turning to make his way to
the bath. Lorcan was chuckling as he removed himself through that
doorway. Kat heard the spray of the shower begin before he gave her
his answer, “Yes Witchling and we have satellite too.” Lorcan swore
he heard the sound of her scribbling as the second was marked off
her list.

CHAPTER 21

After Lorcan had edited her list of ‘wants’
to remove the items he already owned, he took the four sheets that
remained down to the great hall while Kat took her turn in the
bath. She had explained to him that it would take her ‘quite a long
time’ to ready herself. When he had merely nodded and been on his
way out the door she had added ‘because it takes
forever
to get the dirt off my toes.’

She was an impish little bit, but he readily
admitted to himself that he was infatuated with her. He eagerly
anticipated each exchange knowing that before any conversation was
finished she would toss something outrageous out there. Lorcan was
still distracted by thoughts of her as he sought Lilly; he assumed
she would be best suited to help with the list. Being nearly the
same age as Kat, she would understand the items Kat requested.

Lorcan spied her near the back of the hall.
Lilly’s goblet was paused midway to her lips, her look incredulous.
He promptly understood the reason. Gareth had returned and was
standing at her side with another member of the Council staff. From
the irate look on his face, Lorcan was certain that Gareth had
already heard stories of Kat’s acceptance within the Coven. Lorcan
resented the intrusion and his mood immediately soured. His
youngest sibling had always been a thorn in his side. Lorcan’s fall
from grace, as it were, would be a source of great delight for his
brother.

The least Lorcan could do was rescue Lilly
from the venom that Gareth was spewing. He shadowed to their
location effectively causing Gareth cease his tirade with his
sudden appearance. Lorcan offered Lilly an apologetic smile and
passed the folded pages to her. His eyes sent the message that it
was best not discussed at that moment. “I was wondering if you
might assist me with this.”

Lilly opened the papers only long enough to
get an idea of what was on the first page, her eyes widened
slightly and then she smiled with no small amount of humor.
Inclining her head, she gave him a knowing look, “It would be my
pleasure Lorcan. I assume I know where this should be delivered?”
Upon receiving his confirming nod, she shot a contemptuous look at
the younger of the two brothers and shadowed away.

Lorcan nodded a stiff greeting to his brother
and the other, “Gareth, Dunmore.” Crossing his arms over his chest,
he studied them both with narrowed eyes, “What brings you to my
home?” In his opinion Dunmore was a smarmy little weasel who lacked
the brains to form an original thought.

At Gareth’s smug grin, Lorcan was nearly
unable to control the urge to rattle his teeth. The younger shoved
a parchment at him. Lorcan rolled his eyes as he took it. He was
ancient but even he had switched to pen and paper. This was just
another indication of the Council’s inability to adjust to the
passage of time.

His eyes flared as he read the missive.
Slowly crushing it in his palm, his voice was deadly cold, “Get the
hell out.”

Dunmore took a step back. Having enough sense
to fear the threat, he was unwilling to engage the Warrior of
Light. Gareth, though possessing a stronger intellect than Dunmore,
was arrogant. He sneered condescendingly, “You are to deliver the
witch to the Council tonight Lorcan or the Council will consider
your insubordination to be a declaration of an alliance with the
Witch faction.”

Lorcan had ascertained as much from the
crumpled order he held in his fist, however hearing it spoken aloud
had him fuming. His look was derisive, eyes shooting daggers, when
his hand shot out to wrench Gareth up by his collar. The younger
strained against his hold as Lorcan gritted out, “You may deliver
the message to the Council that the girl is under my protection and
will remain so. Unless they want to lose the force of my warriors
they will not press the issue further.” Delivering a hard shake he
hissed, “And you may tell our father that I intend to take
Kaitriana as my mate.”

Lorcan thrust him across the hall. He
shadowed to Gareth before the younger could gain his feet, still
growling, “I do not expect to see you within these walls again
unless it is to issue an apology to Kaitriana for your actions the
other night.” Reaching down, he lifted Gareth once more and tossed
him bodily into the heavy iron doors at the entrance. Turning
abruptly Lorcan took the stairs to the upper level two at a time,
calling back, “It would be in your best interest to not be here
when I return Gareth.”

Gareth angrily yelled, “Your Witch whore will
be the end of you.” Lorcan did not acknowledge the taunt, but kept
moving steadily towards his chamber lest he succumb to his wrath
and kill his brother.

Lorcan nearly knocked Kat down as he barged
into the room. She had been leaving to join him below when she had
heard the commotion and Gareth’s voice. Realizing it best not to
make an appearance, Kat had hung back inside the doorway.

His speed allowed him to grab her before she
was knocked to the floor. His hands were already roaming over her
as he was setting her back on her feet, “Are you hurt lass?”

She had tears in her eyes when he looked in
them but there was an angry set to her features, “I am not a whore
Lorcan, I have never even….” Her voice trailed off as her face
flushed. Shaking herself, she frowned mightily at him, “I tried to
explain this to you yesterday Lorcan. Others in the Realm,
including vampires, have an idea of what you are…what you
really
are. By denying it and allowing the
Council to control you, you sanction their hatred of me.”

Already in a fury, his response was biting,
“Kat, that topic is off the table.” At her confused look, he ground
out impatiently, “We are not discussing the matter again.”

Her answering glare was accompanied by the
stomp of her foot, “Do not ever make the mistake of thinking that I
will allow you tell me what to think and when to speak, Lorcan.”
She thrust her arm towards his face, “Why not bind my powers again
and make me in to what you
pretend
to be?
If I am only Vampire would I be easier to control?” Kat mocked him
with her eyes, tossing in sarcastically, “We both know that worked
splendidly
for your father.”

He glanced up at the rapping at the door and
then returned a furious gaze to her, “If that is what it takes to
make you transition to life in my Coven then that is what I will
do.” He added the last with seething hostility, “I am
not
a Witch, Kaitriana. Come to terms with it!”

The insistent knocking grew louder. Colm’s
voice carried through the door, the urgency in his tone strained
his words, “Lorcan I must speak with you.”

Lorcan cursed as he stormed to the door and
flung it open, “What is it Colm that you must disturb me now?”
Colm, along with many in his Coven, had witnessed the exchange with
Gareth and knew his current state of mind.

Colm took in the irate visage of his friend
and with a fleeting survey determined that the witch was as livid.
Based on the tension in the room Colm also quickly ascertained that
their anger was directed at one another rather than the earlier
visitor. In light of it, he regretted strongly having to deliver
his news, “Lorcan, there is a large contingent of Witch at the
gates.”

Lorcan’s brows drew upwards in disbelief and
he turned to determine Kat’s reaction to the report, “Do you
suppose your grandfather has finally come, thinking he will return
you to your rightful place?” His expression and his words indicated
that he had no intention of allowing it. Her eyes fired back
daggers in response.

His attention was regained by Colm as the
male added, “I have not seen Myrrdyn among them. Kendrick leads the
group and by the number with him I would venture that he has
brought the
entire
Warrior Caste. There
are over three hundred strong gathered, demanding an audience with
you Lorcan.”

Lorcan eyed her intently for a moment and
then issued a single order, “You will stay inside the keep until I
send for you.”

She would not fight him over his dictate. Kat
immediately made that decision. No matter her anger with him, it
was a disagreement between the two of them only. She would not
undermine his position as the Warrior of Light or leader of the
Coven. If the entire Warrior Caste of Witch were indeed waiting at
his gates it was an aggressive affront on their part.

Kaitriana countered, “I will stay here Lorcan
because I choose to be with you.” Her words appeared to mollify him
somewhat, but the effect was immediately ruined when she thrust her
arm in his direction. Looking pointedly at where the band had been,
she offered, “But if you ever attempt to bind my powers again, I
will walk out of your gates and I will not return until you learn
not to be an overbearing ass.”

Colm barely held his chuckle; she was a
spitfire. His leader’s regimented existence appeared to be under
siege by the witch. In his opinion, it would do his good friend
well to have a little disorder injected into his life.

Lorcan, on the other hand, found no amusement
in her threat, “Your manner of winning my favor leaves something to
be desired dear.” He grabbed her by her extended arm and yanked her
forward with it. She collided with his hard form, “You are mine Kat
but perhaps you need reminding.” His lips dropped to hers with a
bruising force that demanded a response.

Kat did not leave him waiting for long. The
press of his body against hers and the hand that tightened
meaningfully over the mark at her throat had desire overtaking her
anger. She parted her lips in invitation. When she did, Lorcan
immediately eased the pressure and lightly brushed his tongue over
her fangs. Lifting his mouth from hers, his eyes were heavy with
passion. He whispered, “Mine, Kat.” The look he gave her was tender
despite the temper lingering in his eyes. With one more easy press
of his lips against hers, he caressed her scar and then released
her.

Lorcan turned and joined Colm at the door,
beginning a hushed discussion as the two took their exit. Kaitriana
was left to her own anxious fears as she contemplated the unbending
attitude of her warrior and the significance of the gathering of
Witch outside.

CHAPTER 22

As he joined Colm and the Elite on the steps
outside, Lorcan was fuming over the assembly at his gates. By the
time he had ventured out it was not only the Warrior Caste in full
presentation outside his walls, the Fire and Light Castes had
congregated as well. The Witch faction had convened the three
forces that were most effective against the Vampire breed. It was
an intentional show of force and the implication of that was not
lost on him.

Lorcan did take pleasure in the fact that the
group was left to loiter outside the gates; the magic that
protected his home was an effective measure against them. If the
Witch desired to engage his warriors in conflict they should have
brought their Spell Casters to combat the magical defenses created
by Jortha. The male witch definitely deserved of a bonus.

Motioning to his five most trusted, as a
group they shadowed outside of the gates. All hands were at the
ready on their swords; Lorcan and his men had taken the time don
their weaponry before exiting into the night. Appearing suddenly,
they were a fierce looking group. The witches that were closest to
the gate took quick steps back at the arrival of the vampires.

Lorcan swept a contemptuous look over those
on the grounds before him. Colm remained ever vigilant at his side
and the remaining four took positions of guard in front of the
locked entrance. Solid in his stance, he settled his arms over his
chest, refusing to step forward to meet the approaching
Kendrick.

Kendrick was now the leader of the Warrior
witches, currently holding the seat at the head of the Caste. The
position had fallen to him through the lineage of his birth and he
had solidified his right to it with his exceptional prowess in
battle. He was a solid leader and the other Castes tended to seek
him for guidance as well.