Seduced by Magic (7 page)

Tiernan faced the direction of the village. He breathed deeply of the scents of rich earth, moss, and unpolluted air. He unfolded his wings and took to the sky.

It was not long before he landed in the village and
folded away his wings. Peasants simply nodded to Tiernan, murmuring such things as, “Good day, my lord.” As soon as the peasants acknowledged him, they continued with their tasks. It wasn't their place to converse with him. Only gentlemen and ladies of the court could do that freely—and the ladies would never be seen in such a common place as the village.

Only the warrior class could move freely between those very separate worlds, and he was that rare Fae—a warrior, but also of the court.

He generally liked the village and enjoyed being with other D'Danann warriors, drinking ale and eating trenchers of beef or pork while sopping up the juices with freshly baked bread. He also enjoyed observing the vendors as they hawked their wares, the smell of smoke from the forge, and smells of roasted meats and vegetables coming from many a cooking fire. He had quite often slaked his desires in the building at the far end of the village, one of the well-kept Pleasure Houses, where he had spent much free time fucking one beautiful woman after another.

His thoughts turned back to the disparity between classes. A warrior's life he lived, yes, but there was always a sense that he did not fully belong in their world.

Tiernan strode with purpose past the Chieftans' large gathering chamber at the far end of the village. Behind the chamber stood enormous black gates that kept out all but the D'Danann hierarchy. Manor after beautiful manor was ensconced within the brown walls that blended in with the forest.

Guards at the massive entrance bowed as they opened the gates to allow Tiernan to pass through. He scarcely gave each guard a nod and barely noticed the surroundings that had been a part of his life for centuries. Beautiful gardens, flagstone paths, and natural waterfalls he had known since the D'Danann left Ireland to form their own Sidhe. Sounds of water roaring over rock and crashing to great
pools, and the chirp of birds met his ears. And if he was not mistaken, he heard Faerie song as well.

A burst of energy surged through him. It felt good to be home after spending much time in San Francisco of the Otherworld called Earth he had been summoned to, and a sense of pride in his homeland thrummed through his veins. Yet urgency coursed through him as well—he could not stay long as he must return to San Francisco to aid his fellow warriors in stopping the warlocks and Fomorii. But he had a task to perform here before he could leave again.

When he reached his family's manor, he strode up the stone steps of his home. One of the many servants of the House of Cathal welcomed him as he opened the door and let Tiernan into the manor made of granite and the finest woods the Dryads would allow to be taken.

“Tiernan!” Cian's voice came from the top of the stairs. His mother picked up her apple-green skirts just enough that she wouldn't trip over them. White petticoats swirled around her ankles as she descended the stairs to greet him. Her hair was the same shade of blond as Tiernan's. She was of full figure and had a smile that could light up the darkest of rooms.

“Mother.” Tiernan's heart warmed as he took her hands in his when she reached him, and he kissed each of her cheeks. As always, the faintest hint of lilacs surrounded her.

“My son. Right on time for your handfasting in two days.” She squeezed his hands. “Airell is all aflutter. I think the poor maid is having prejoining anxiety.”

Tiernan swallowed a sigh.

He had known from the time he was a child many centuries ago that the family legacy was his to bear. As a lord and the only heir to House of Cathal, he would be expected to strengthen his house with a good union and continue the line. But no suitable bride from a powerful house had been born until eighteen years ago.

His parents, too, had only married to make their houses
stronger, and they had borne their first son. However, that son had been killed in one of the old battles. Therefore his parents sought to produce another son, and Tiernan was the result. The task of bringing forth new heirs and ensuring the continuation of his family's lineage rested squarely on his shoulders. As he had from childhood, he only wished to please his parents and live up to his many responsibilities. Duty and honor were more than words to him, more than court games or gallant speeches.

The reason for their handfasting was to produce an heir. A strange sensation jerked at his gut. He was of the same mind as Airell and had no wish to mate with her as she was so young compared to him. Merely eighteen years of age while he was centuries old. But their families expected them to join and produce a son. And that was what he would ensure they would produce, a son. No matter how many joinings it took.

The thought of a child of his own made him smile. The one thing lacking from his life, that he had always wanted, were children. A son or daughter—to him it mattered not. Even better would be two, three, or four.

However, he had never had intercourse with Airell simply because she did not wish it before their handfasting, and she preferred that he seek his pleasure elsewhere. It was perfectly acceptable among the members of the court for lords and ladies to relieve their needs with many of the Pleasure Partners in the village whose job it was to satisfy all comers. Tiernan was no exception—his needs were great, sometimes insatiable.

His mother slipped her arm through his and he patted her hand as his thoughts returned to the moment.

“What troubles you, son?” Cian asked.

“Nothing, Mother.” Tiernan smiled as he looked down upon her. “I am simply pleased to be home.”

“Your father will be delighted to see you, of course.”
Cian guided him to his father's chambers, where the man spent most of his time when they were not entertaining.

Artan was reclining in the leather chair behind a table made from the special wood provided by the Dryads, the tree Faeries. He had contracts spread out upon the surface, and his forehead was wrinkled in concentration.

Along the walls were shelves of books, works of art, including oil paintings of the family, the House of Cathal's shield, and a collection of swords. It was interesting that his father collected such instruments even though he had opposed Tiernan's decision to become a D'Danann warrior all those centuries ago, rather than a legal counselor like him. He had said he did not want to chance losing another heir to battle.

“Ah, my son.” Artan pushed his chair away from his desk. “I was just going over the contract of your impending nuptials with Airell.”

Tiernan shook hands with his father in the hand-to-elbow grasp common to his people. He smiled at his father, from whom he had inherited his blue eyes and strong features. The redheaded Artan gave Tiernan a hearty pat on the back before returning to his desk and leaning back in his chair.

“With your handfasting just two days away, you must be thrilled,” Cian said with one of her brilliant smiles. “I am so proud of you both. You will make a perfect couple and make the House of Cathal even stronger and more powerful.”

What his mother said was true. Torin and Cathal were two of the most powerful houses in all the D'Danann court. From the moment Airell was born, she had been pledged to handfast with Tiernan when she reached her eighteenth birthday. Yet he was over two thousand years old, countless lifetimes older than she.

“We will make you proud.” Tiernan looked from his
mother to his father. “We will carry on the honor and integrity of both houses.”

“My son.” Cian hugged Tiernan, and he embraced her in return. When she pulled away a single tear rolled down her powdered cheek. “No matter what, just know that we shall always be proud of you, Tiernan.”

After a lunch of many portions of roasted fowl and vegetables followed by puddings and a rich fruit trifle, Tiernan left his home, intent on having a few moments alone with his betrothed. Spending time with his family, seeing the pride in his father's and mother's eyes had driven home the importance of carrying on both their lines.

The thought of being bedded by a man might seem distasteful to a young maid, but once they were joined he could show her the joy of such intimacy. With their hand-fasting so close, perhaps now she would be receptive to experiencing such pleasures.

When he reached Airell's family's mansion, he was informed by a servant that Lady Airell had gone for a walk in the forest. The servant gestured in the direction Airell had taken. Tiernan bowed his thanks and followed the tree-lined path.

A sense of peace filled him at being in his own world once again. He breathed deeply of the forest smells of rich earth and of the trees tended by the Dryads. No breeze stirred the air, yet he caught the scent of something familiar, something that did not belong. A powdery perfume. He sniffed. Airell's, of course. She had come this way.

Nary a leaf crunched under his boots as he made his way through the forest. Sunlight slanted through the trees and he felt the warmth on his arms whenever he came out of shadow into the sunlight.

He began to wonder how far the maid had traveled when he heard voices coming from behind a line of towering bushes ahead. Knowing the forest so well he could map
every tree and stone if required, he knew there was a small grassy clearing on the other side of the bushes.

Airell's laughter rang clear through the forest. With a smile he started toward the clearing. He reached a gap in the bushes and came to a full stop.

Blood rushed in his ears. He could not move.

Airell was on her back, her blond curls splayed across the thick grass. Her bodice had been pulled below her breasts so that her creamy mounds and light pink nipples were exposed. Her long blue dress was pushed all the way up to her waist, exposing the fair hair of her mons, and her knees were bent, her thighs spread wide.

Lowering himself between her fair-skinned thighs was Urien, a brown-haired, brown-eyed young man that Tiernan knew to be of Airell's age. His breeches were untied and he guided his erection toward Airell's center. Her folds gleamed with wetness in the sunlit clearing.

Urien thrust into Airell. She arched her back and cried out before putting her hands on her breasts and pinching and pulling her nipples as he fucked her with long, sure strokes. Just her actions of pleasuring herself while she was being taken told Tiernan this wasn't the first time she had enjoyed sex.

Heat rose up within Tiernan and he ground his teeth. No wonder Airell had insisted he enjoy the women at the Pleasure Houses. Despite the fact she had claimed to not want to be touched by any man, she had been fucking one of the lesser members of the court.

Hands fisted at his sides, he prepared to make himself known. Arranged marriage or no, Airell was his betrothed.

Just as Tiernan was about to step forward, Airell's body shuddered and she cried out, “I love you, Urien!”

“Gods, but I love you, too,” Urien said as he stared into Airell's face while she trembled with her orgasm. A few strokes more and he groaned his own release.

The two were tightly entwined when Tiernan strode into
the clearing. “Get up!” he ordered, his voice bellowing through the forest.

Airell screamed and scrambled to yank her bodice up and over her breasts, and Urien slid from between her thighs, jerked her dress down to cover her, and pushed himself to his feet. He hurried to tuck his cock into his breeches and tie the lacings before taking Airell by the hand and drawing her up with him.

Red blossomed on Airell's cheeks and Urien's face was flushed. She clung to Urien, her head turned away from Tiernan as if afraid of what he might do. Leaves and grass clung to her hair and her dress was wrinkled.

It took all Tiernan's control not to slam his fist into the younger man's face.

“Look at me,” Tiernan demanded, his gaze moving from Urien to Airell. As she slowly turned her head, her bright blue eyes met his, and he saw her cheeks stained with tears.

Godsdamn. Why did she have to cry? He could not bear it when a woman cried.

“Please do not tell my parents.” Airell's lips trembled. “And the court. Gods, please do not tell the court,” she added in a hoarse whisper. “I would be marked, thrown from my home and all that I know and love. None of the Fae would aid me in any way.”

She looked up at her lover who still held her close to him, his stance rigid. “And Urien—he would be sent to serve those horrible Dark Elves, forever banished below-ground.”

Tiernan took a deep breath. “Go home.” His voice was still sharp as his eyes rested solely on Airell. “We will discuss this when I am finished with Urien. Await me at your house.”

Her grip on Urien's arm tightened. “Do not hurt him. Please, Lord Tiernan.”

He let out a low growl. “Get home
now
.”

Airell did not look at either of them as she pulled leaves from her hair and ran past Tiernan. The sound of a sob reached him and he almost sighed. Damn women.

He focused directly on Urien. The young man stood with his back rigid, his hands clenched at his sides, a spark to his brown eyes, his mouth in a tight line, and his chin high.

No matter how hot the blood surged through Tiernan's veins, no matter how much he desired to slam his fist against Urien's jaw, he would not.

“Have you no sense of honor or pride?” Tiernan took a step forward, his hands fisted at his sides, as well.

Urien cleared his throat. “Airell and I are in love.”

“That matters not.” Tiernan ground his teeth. “It is I she will be wedded to in two days' time.”

Urien's chin rose a notch at the growl in Tiernan's voice. “I am the one she wishes to handfast with.”

“As I said, it matters not.”

“She doesn't want to.” Urien's throat worked as he spoke. “She only does so because her family promised her to you.”

“Exactly.” Tiernan took a step forward, so close to Urien that he could see sweat beading on the younger man's forehead. “You cannot dally with a lady of the court when she is promised to another. You can fuck all the women that you wish to in one of the Pleasure Houses.”