Concentric Circles (12 page)

Seriousness etched his face. “Because, my love, we need to be sure you can escape if the situation becomes dire. I already know you can kick their arses. I just need to know you can get out. Wind-riding is one of the ways to accomplish that. Dragar’s piffle of black smoke can’t compete.”

“Why’s that? And, I noticed you seem to have distain for someone who uses a wand. What’s the root cause? Malvenue chasing you when you were a kid?”

“Wind-riding is just a cut above—better. No, I’m not automatically prejudiced against wizards who use wands. Some of my best friends use them. It’s more…” He led her to the recumbent alter stone, placed his strong hands on her waist, and picked her up.

Shayla gasped. She was not accustomed to people lifting her so easily. “More?”

He set her on the stone before leaning in to breathe across her ear. “All right. So maybe Malvenue chasing a fifteen-year-old kid does have something to do with my opinion of his minions, former or otherwise. But, what you need to understand is that I want you to be able to journey on your own. No matter what the circumstances are. It takes practice.” In slow motion, he pulled back and ran his hand up her arm. “Shay,” he whispered huskily.

She swallowed.

Meekal pushed her back, leaned forward, and began to kiss her with rising urgency. “Relax,” he said, flicking his tongue against her neck.

A shiver of anticipation titillated her. She arched closer, seeking more intimate contact. “Kal,” she breathed, sucking in his scent. With a moan of longing, she pulled his mouth to hers. Kissing deeply, she wrapped her legs tightly around him. Butterflies of longing pooled in her belly.

He nibbled her lips.

Shayla growled, biting him in play.

“You’ve got the wrong idea, love. Escape to the other side.”

Anticipation shifted gears. She groaned and tightened her legs.

Meekal grunted. “You’re relaxed now. Go.”

Shayla closed her eyes tightly. Everything squeezed her as if shooting her out of a tube. Air propelled her forward. “Argh!”

Meekal laughed.

“Damn!” Shayla stood opposite Meekal. A groan erupted and she leaned on the closest stone for support.

“You did it!” Meekal jogged across the circle and pulled her into an exuberant hug, kissing her fervently.

“Kal, I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”

“Oh.” He stepped back, looking her over carefully. “Feel better?”

“I’ve been worse,” she grumbled, and then stumbled into the circle. The awesome energy pulled her into its heart. She sat and spread her long legs out, resting on the grass. After another look around at the stones, Meekal, and trees, Shayla plopped back expressing her exasperation with noise and hand waving.

“This is insane,” she said, wishing for the ability to push the emotions and the swirling in her stomach away. She watched as the grey clouds in the sky skittered across the blue canvas in competition.

Meekal sat next to her. “Not really. I’ve seen much crazier occurrences.”

Irritation swelled in her belly, rising upward and choking in her throat. She coughed in an effort to release it. “Why do you suppose it upsets my stomach so much? It didn’t feel like that at the Tor or the Inn.”

He reached forward and placed his hand on her stomach. “I don’t know, are ye setting?”

Shayla glared and smacked his hand away, not in the mood to joke.

Meekal sniggered.

Heat burned her cheeks. She increased the intensity of her glare.

He smiled and raised gentle fingers to brush along her cheek and jaw. Then he became serious.

Watching his expression closely, Shayla’s breath hitched.
I wonder if it’ll ever fade? This wanting
.

“Maybe it’s because of the memory of Syther.”

She sat up abruptly, and crossed her legs, Indian style. “Maybe,” she mused, pushing away her previous thoughts. “It was horrible. But then again, so was the getting there. I felt torn apart and afraid.” Her voice trailed off into self-disappointment and sadness. She looked down at the tattoo on her thumb. “A Guardian is supposed to be brave, huh?”

“Shay,” he said, in a low purr, “you need to remember this is all new to you. It hasn’t even been two days yet. Here you are, in another country, learning things you probably always thought were myth. Actually, your journey to this point has taken bravery. I don’t think you really need to worry about that.”

“Not everything is new to me.” She spoke so soft, her voice was nearly lost on the breeze. Tension tightened entwined fingers, making her knuckles white. She refused to meet his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Shayla pulled her lower lip in, biting it nervously. She sighed, and then whispered, “Well, I told you about Mrs. Moore.”

“Yes.”

“There were,” she said, and then paused. A deep breath and a quick glance at the bordering trees steadied her. “Well, other times, you know.” She returned to biting her lip.

“Shay.”

“I’ve done things like what I did with Dragar’s wand before. You know, called for things. It was always when no one was around. Especially my mom.”

“You said you didn’t believe in magic.”

“Yeah. I know. What can I say? Truth is I never did.”

“Humph.”

“It’s true.” A weird and wonderful sensation traveled through her at the simple admission. She felt unsure whether it was acceptance, anticipation, or a measure of both. “Even when things happened, I told myself it wasn’t real. I was just imagining things.”

“Shayla,” Meekal said with firmness. “Now, that sounds crazy. When something happens, the simple truth is, it happens.”

She gave a small shrug, and reached for his hand. Enjoying the feel of his strength, she tilted her head and ran her other hand over his fingers. “I’d do something crazy like know when a traffic light was going to change or call for a Kleenex when I knew I would sneeze. Once, I forgot a clean towel for my bath. All I did was say, ‘towel.’ One appeared, all warm and toasty.”

Although he squeezed her hand, Meekal’s face registered disbelief.

She squeezed back, lowering her head to hide behind her hair. “Then I’d turn right around and deny that anything magical could ever happen.” She brought her gaze up, waiting for his reaction. His eyes journeying over her face in a loving caress gave a sense of protective warmth.

“I think what’s happening when you wind-ride is a culmination of your disbelief and the memory of Syther. You have it all jumbled in your mind. That makes it more difficult. You need to get clear about your intention and focus. Then put the memory of Syther somewhere so it won’t bother you.”

Shayla pulled her hand away, grabbing a blade of grass, and then fiddled with it, thinking. “All the negative thoughts must stop.” She tossed the piece of grass to the side. She stood with a growl and began to spin in a circle, arms held perpendicular to her body. She moved faster and faster, spurred by determination. With a yell, she disappeared.

“Shayla!”

She landed hard on the alter with a grunt and stumbled, the ground threatened to rise up.

Meekal rushed forward.

Shayla caught herself before falling. Head still spinning, she looked down at his worried face. “I’m okay. Woozy, but okay.” She sat on the stone alter. “Kal?”

He pulled her into an embrace and softly kissed her hair. “Humm?”

Shayla traced his jaw with tingling fingers. “When I was in Syther’s lair, I saw that he has a pet panther.”

“Aye. Sheitan.”

“You know about her?”

“I actually met her once. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I talked to her. She didn’t let Syther know I was there. It was actually a bit weird. I was afraid she would reveal me to him.”

“No. Well, even though she is bound to Syther, you are Fae. She has a deeper bond with you.” He ran his fingers through his hair, resulting in it standing up at odd angles.

“What do you mean?”

“Fae are royalty in the creature world.”

Jagged energy shot through her veins and she sat up straight and gripped the edge of the stone beneath her. “Next, you’re going to tell me I’m a creature and my ears will become pointed.”

“No,” he said, chuckling. “Although you’d be cute with pointy ears.” He reached forward and pulled her into a kiss.

She nibbled his tongue, moaning. Closeness with him propelled her soul to new heights. She sent her hands exploring, finding warm flesh beneath his sweater. She scooted forward on the stone, and wrapped her legs around him, in anticipation. Their tongues dancing in reunion sent her heart into tighter rhythm with his.

Meekal’s hands journeyed on a quest. When Shayla found his bare skin, he leaned in closer, encouraging avid exploration.

Vibrant warm skin beneath her fingertips, Shayla spiraled them, sighing when Meekal responded. The heat in his eyes sent excited fluttering sensations over her. “Kal,” she said breathlessly. “Don’t tease.”

A soft laugh against her skin accompanied his husky voice. “I’m not teasing.” A soft-spoken incantation and his hands found the flesh of her inner thighs.

Longing pooled in her lower belly. Surprise at the disappearance of her jeans opened her burning desire. The sultry seduction upon his countenance set her on fire. She lay on the stone alter allowing stoked desire to flame. Laughing eyes, and then the luscious form of Meekal’s tongue sent waves of bliss through her.

She wanted to scream when he performed sensual strokes with expertise. “Ahhh!” Shayla pushed into his mouth, clutching and scratching at the stone beneath her.

Meekal sucked, teasing, provoking liquid heat. His questing fingers titillated her.

Unabashed delight skittered through her veins. Surreal luminescence surrounded them. Mother Nature paused in her breathing.

Meekal’s tongue danced and teased playfully.

She knew the deepest sense of him. Her hips thrust in time to his seductive gift. The power of her orgasm built, and then undulating waves spread around and through her. Shayla screamed, “Shreee!”

Within her vision, the forest spun in ecstasy, encircling them with nature’s embrace.

Time moved forward, faster than anything Shayla ever experienced before. Loving and being with Meekal in this enchanted clearing, was the only thing important to her. She explored his body with intimacy. The day passed into a tantalizing memory.

* * * * * *

The stars, displayed upon a blue-black velvet sky, shone like cut crystals. The moon gave a tilted crescent smile. The stone circle at Midmar took on the look of molten silver in its nightlight, a picture perfect lover’s haven.

Contentment expressed by a sigh passed through her and joined Mother Nature’s breathing in the ultimate connection of life.

Meekal responded by pulling her closer, conjuring a blanket and wrapping them securely within. “You’ll need to let go and have faith, Shay. When it comes to your magical gifts, they’ll flow much smoother with acceptance. Release all of your inhibitions along with any preconceived notions.”

“I know.” She snuggled closer. “It’s like you said, everything has happened so fast. First, the White Lady, and then meeting you.” She pulled away and leaned on her elbow, looking into his blue eyes. In the darkness, they were fathomless. “Even though it was scary when I was in Syther’s lair, the realization that Sheitan wouldn’t hurt me started as a small seed, and then it grew.”

He twirled his fingers through her hair. “You realize we’ll meet up with him soon. We’ll have to vanquish him in order to protect the Well and keep Malvenue’s soul from being set free. There’s no halfway point on this.”

“Yeah, I know. Kal?”

“Humm?”

She leaned in to kiss him. That sound coming from him was beginning to give her a sense of comfort. The feel of his moist and willing lips, tugged at her once more. A full afternoon of lovemaking could not sate her need. She smiled and nipped his lower lip. “What did you do to the circle? No one has been here all afternoon and evening. Now, it’s night.”

He snickered. Eyes dancing with mischievous glee, he passed his finger over her lower lip. “Nothing a little charm can’t handle. It works to keep the Semple Folk at bay.”

“Naughty,” she murmured in his ear, relishing his laughter. Her hand found Meekal’s abdomen under his sweater. Sinewy muscle, sculpted to perfection, titillated her fingertips. The feel of undulating life beneath them, rekindled her desire. With quickened breath, she went down, seeking his taste upon her tongue.

Meekal moaned with feral desire. Clutching his hands in her hair, he guided her toward her hunger, thrusting his cock into her open mouth.

She smiled to herself, and then tongued him, teasing.

“…mmmnn…”

“
B
E WISE AND LOOK UP
,” C
IARAN
said.

She pulled back with a gasp. Covering Meekal protectively with the blanket, she glared up at the apparition before her. A shiver journeyed up her spine, spreading its cold fingers outward in an eerie projection, exiting from her palms like an icy blast.

Meekal rolled onto his knees and stood within a breath. Closing his jeans, he glared at the Thyrza circling them.

Syther stood at the edge of the circle. “Well now. Isn’t this cozy?”

Passionate emotions shifted to anger. Shayla hissed through her teeth at Sheitan.

Sheitan responded with her own, whiskers bristling for added effect.

Somewhere off to the right, an owl hooted, “Who…who…”

The lash of fury burning in Sheitan’s emerald eyes did not intimidate Shayla. “Cease,” she hissed, projecting power. Shayla also noticed that none of the Thyrza entered the circle.
Protection
, she thought, glancing at Meekal quickly.

Sheitan cried out, the panther scream cutting the air with menace. She sat at the edge of the trees, blending within the surrounding darkness, her emerald eyes blinked.

Meekal gave a nod, almost as if in response to Shayla’s thoughts about protection. He kept his gaze tight on Syther. “What do you want?”

The shadows of the trees circling them crept in eerie movement, phantoms of the night. The fall breeze became a rising wail, giving the impression of swaying life to both trees and standing stones.