Summoned and Stolen (Summoned Series Romances) (6 page)

***

CHAPTER 7

Lily
sat curled in the boughs of the oak tree, waiting and watching the moon’s progress with dread. The larger of the two moons was much higher in the sky now, and there was still no sign of Kel. He should have found her by now.

Something had gone wrong.

His last orders had been to stay in the tree and wait for him until the moon hit its apex, so there was nothing she could do. The Duke had ordered her to obey Kel until sunup, and she could not refuse his command. That thought went swirling around and around in her mind like bits of dandelion fluff caught in a breeze, dancing just out of reach. There was something she was missing.

A wolf howled somewhere in the distance, startling Lily out of her musings. She flew up a few feet to look for the source of the noise without thinking about what she was doing, and that’s when it hit her. The missing piece of logic. If Kel had gotten the ring away from Camford then she was no longer bound to obey either of their commands. Since she had disobeyed Kel by leaving the oak tree, his orders were clearly no longer in affect.

Camford was not her master. She was free.

Euphoria banished her worries and Lily spun in midair, notes of pure joy rising from her throat as she sang in elation. The glow surrounding her flared and brightened as she stretched her wings and flew. The wind blew cool against her bare skin, sending goose flesh rippling down her arms, but she didn’t care. Kel had fulfilled his vow to her. He’d given her back her freedom.

The wolf howled again and this time several others joined in.

Kel.

Lily didn’t know why the carnivores’ haunting song made her think of the handsome warrior, but once she remembered him, she knew what needed to be done. She doused the glow that flowed around her and turned back toward the army encampment. Somewhere out there was the man who had risked his life to free her. If he was in trouble, it was because of her. Lily knew she had to find him.

As it turned out, the wolves had already found him. Lily followed the road back toward the camp, flying high enough she could scan the land in all directions. She could see nearly as well by moonlight as she could in full daylight, which made it possible for her to see the gleam of white and silver fur as the wolves moved through the trees below. They were hunting something.

Or someone.

Lily heard a horse whinny in challenge and she dove into the forest, dodging branches and tree trunks as she flew toward the sound. Her heart was pounding, and the bitter taste of fear clogged her throat as she finally spotted Kel. He was slumped over the neck of his horse, barely moving. His sword was gripped loosely in one hand, though she could see he no longer had the strength to wield it. All around him the wolves were watching, waiting for the last of his strength to fail. Lily reclaimed her larger form and shrieked in fury as she dove into the center of the small clearing. She used her light as a weapon, letting it flare bright and hot as she hovered just above Kel.

The wolves retreated to the shadows, and Lily flew to the horse’s head. The animal snorted, ears flat against its skull and one hoof lifted in warning. Lily huffed in frustration at the delay and flicked her fingers. “We don’t have time for this.”

The gesture sent tiny cloud of glittering dust straight at the horse’s muzzle. The moment they touched flesh the creature dropped his head and whickered softly. His steel-shod hoof dropped back to the ground and Lily sighed in relief. “We have to get him out of here.”

She grabbed a hold of the dangling reins and flew ahead, guiding the horse and his precious cargo out of the clearing before the wolves grew bold enough to challenge them. They had only managed a few feet when Kel groaned and his sword fell from his hand. “Lily,” he croaked her name and she flew back to comfort him, setting both hands in the horse’s mane and crooning words of comfort.

“I’m here, Kel. We just need to get away from the wolves and then I’ll see to your injuries. You did it. You freed me. I won’t let anything happen to you now.” She swooped down and took hold of Kel’s sword, struggling to wrestle the heavy blade back into to its scabbard.

Once it was done, she ran her hands over Kel’s body, trying to find where he was wounded. She couldn’t find anything at first. No blood, no wounds. Perplexed, she idly stroked a hand over his brow and frowned. He was clammy, sweating and far too pale. Something was very wrong, but what?

Kel was so very tired. The poison was a slow one, designed to prolong the victim’s death as the pain steadily grew worse. He was trapped in a living hell where every breath was a struggle and every beat of his heart seemed to amplify his agony. He had been drifting in a sea of pain when his horse wandered off the road and into the woods. When he had come around again the wolves were already circling.

It had taken all the strength left in his arms to clear his sword from its scabbard, but he had felt better holding it. If this was to be his last night, then he intended to die with a blade in his hand.

That was his last coherent thought for some time. It was Lily’s voice that drew him back, but that wasn’t possible, because Lily was compelled by his orders to wait for him by an oak tree he knew he’d never reach. It wasn’t until he felt her soft hands on his body that he accepted that she was really there. Her cool hand stroked his brow and he fought to make his mouth work.

“Lily.” The single word came out as a strangled growl.

“Kel? Drink this.” Something was pressed to his lips and he opened his mouth. Water, cool and sweet trickled into his mouth and he drank it greedily.

“Thank you,” he managed to speak more clearly this time.

“You freed me from Camford. Did you think I would leave you behind?” Light flared around them both and he felt her fingers on his face again, only this time she was doing more than comforting him. The pain receded some and he felt the gentle tingle of magic dancing across his face. She was trying to heal him.

“Poisoned needle. My thigh.” Kel explained as he opened his eyes, wanting to see her face again. She hadn’t dimmed the glow around her, and Kel thought she looked like a diminutive goddess as she hovered at his side, her tiny feet dangling several feet off the ground. She was clad in nothing but moonlight, and despite his weakness his body reacted to her beauty. If he were stronger, she’d be in his arms right now.

Lily frowned, worry marring her pretty features. “Poison will be harder to heal. I will need to get us to some place safe first. How do you feel?”

“Better than I was,” he told her, reaching out to brush his fingers through the silken mane of hair that spilled over her shoulders.

She covered his hand with her smaller one, flying in close enough to brush her soft lips over his. “You can’t die on me, Kel. You’re the only good man I know. I need you.”

He barked with harsh laughter, ignoring the stabbing pain that came with it. “I’m not a good man, not by any measure the gods use. I’m a hired sword and a killer, little one. I killed the Duke tonight. It was the only way to free you.”

He expected her to cringe away from him after that, or at least look at him with fear. Instead she smiled softly and kissed him again. “Thank you.”

As the pain began to build again, Kel held onto two thoughts. The first was that he wanted to live so he could get to know the beauty trying to save him. The second was that he would never understand women.

Somewhere in the darkness, a wolf snarled and Lily knew she had to hurry. She was too weak to be able to drive off all the wolves, and what strength she had was already fading. The energy she’d gained from the food and water she’d consumed were not enough to counter the effects of the last few days. She had to get them somewhere safe, and then she had to heal Kel.

The wolves stopped following them after a time, but Lily kept going, leading the horse and his master deeper into the woods. She sang softly as they moved, weaving magic into her words in a way she had not been permitted for far too long. At first, nothing happened, and Lily started to fear that she had lost some of her gifts, or that they wouldn’t work in this strange place. She had never been granted permission to use them here before. In fact, her master, Rockland had only known a fraction of what she could do. He had never thought to ask the extent of her power.

In time, the trees and plants responded to her, just a whisper of movement at first, but soon they were leading her, creating a pathway for her to follow. As they passed, the path vanished quickly behind them, masking their progress and protecting them from anyone who tried to follow.

The Hunter’s moon was at its zenith when they reached the end of the trail. There was a clearing bathed in silvery moonlight light that highlighted every detail.  The grass gleamed as though it had been strewn with diamonds and pearls, reflecting the moon in a thousand dew drops.

Lily let herself drift down to the ground, her bare feet settling into the dew-soaked grass. She sang a few notes of gratitude and the forest answered. Leaves rustled, branches creaked and the trunks of trees vibrated with a near silent thrumming that made her wings shiver. It felt so good to be connected to the living world again.

Tears of relief streaked her cheeks as Lily led horse and rider to a spot beneath an ancient oak tree that would provide them with shelter. She touched the tree’s energy, waking it from its slumber to ask for aid. The branches above her creaked and then lowered, creating a bower that would keep them safe. That done, she looped a rein around a nearby sapling and turned her attention to Kel.

He had slipped in and out of consciousness during their journey, but each time she had stopped to check on him he had given her a weak smile. The healing she had done had been enough, just barely. Now she would do whatever it took to bring him back to full health. With the Duke dead, his troops would be looking for his killer. Kel would need to be on his feet quickly.

“Kel, we’re safe,” she told him and he groaned in response. The poison had taken hold again. He remained slumped over the horse’s neck, and she accepted that he was too weak now to help himself. She was going to have to do this alone.

Wrestling his massive frame out of the saddle was a nearly impossible task, but she finally managed it. She was breathless and trembling with exhaustion as she hauled him the last few inches, and then squeaked in dismay when the his full weight came tumbling down on her. She wasn’t strong enough to hold him up. She was barely strong enough to slow his fall as they both crashed to the ground.

At least I broke his fall.

Kel felt himself falling, but before he could do more than open his eyes he had landed in a bruised heap on the ground. His vision was blurred and his body felt as though it was being filleted by a thousand tiny knives, but he was still alive.

But where were they and where was Lily?

The floor beneath him shifted and a low, muffled moan gave Kel his answer. She was pinned beneath him. He rolled to one side, freeing her from his weight. “Lily? Are you hurt?”

She answered with a riff of soft laughter that eased his concern. “I’m not so badly off as you. But the next time I need you off your horse, I sincerely hope you are well enough to dismount on your own.”

“As do I, little one.” Kel’s head felt like it weighed more than his horse, and he lowered it to the ground with a low growl of pain. She was at his side a moment later, her cool hands stroking his face. Her touch was comforting, easing the pain that raged through every fiber of his being. He was dying. That much was certain, and as gifted a healer as his little fae was, Kel wasn’t sure she could undo the terrible damage Camford’s venomous needle had wrought.

“If I don’t make it…” he started to say and she laid a finger across his lips.

“You are going to be just fine. You have my word.” He couldn’t help himself. Even in his tortured state he craved her. Kel parted his lips, capturing her fingertip between his teeth. Her skin was warm and sweet, like honey fresh from the hive. Just the taste of her skin reminded Kel of all that was good in the world, giving him a reason to fight against the darkness that threatened to swallow him.

If he died tonight, he’d never taste the sweetness of his little fae temptress again. That alone was reason enough to live.

***

CHAPTER 8

Years of captivity slowly fell away as Lily’s spirit began to link itself to the life that filled the forest. There were no commands to prevent her. No punishment or pain to curb her behavior or force her to go without the connections that would sustain her and grant her full use of her abilities. Lily hadn’t been certain this world would recognize her as a child of the wild ways, but it had accepted her and allowed her to channel its power. It would take days for her to regain her full strength, but she could already feel the change starting. Very soon she would be strong enough to heal Kel completely.

The energy of this world was different, as violent and raw as the people who lived here. She wasn’t sure what effect the differences would have on her abilities. It had been so long since she had been able to tap into the life force of an entire world she could barely remember what it felt like.

It was glorious.

Too bad she didn’t have time to enjoy her freedom. She had to save the life of the man who had saved hers. She moved quickly, ignoring her physical fatigue as she stripped saddle and bridle from the horse and began rifling through Kel’s saddle bags. She laid out the meager bedroll she found, setting the pad from beneath the saddle at one end as a makeshift pillow before rolling him awkwardly onto it. Lily retrieved the water skin she’d found earlier and put it aside. She found a tallow candle tucked into the corner of a bag and set it in the earth before lighting it, adding it’s light to the glow of her aura.

Now they were hidden away and as secure as she could make them, there was only one task left. She needed to heal Kel, and to do that, she needed to undress him.

Lily knew it wasn’t nerves that made her fingers tremble as she tugged off Kel’s boots and stockings, it was desire. He had slipped back into unconsciousness again, the hard lines of his face softening as he drifted in an uneasy sleep. There were shadows under his eyes now, and a pinched look to his mouth. She needed to hurry. Lily had seen spare clothes in his saddle bags, so she felt only a brief pang of guilt as she freed up one of the knives from its sheath on Kel’s arm and began cutting away his clothing.

The shirt fell away quickly, leaving just his chainmail and pants. The chainmail was going to be the most difficult, so Lily left it for now. Instead, she moved to his side and unlaced his pants before setting to work cutting them away from his body. She nearly dropped the knife when Kel’s hand encircled her wrist, his laughter so faint it was barely more than a whisper. “Little one, if you wanted me naked, you could have asked. I’m not so far gone as that.”

Lily looked over to find him watching her, his eyes bright with fever. “I thought you were…” She waved her hands vaguely, the knife dipping and bobbing as she moved.

Kel had clawed his way up out of the darkness when he’d heard the sound of a knife cutting through cloth. By the time he found the strength to open his eyes, his would-be healer had moved on to his pants and was busily slicing away.

When I’m well again, I’m going to have to explain to her that no man ever wants to wake up to find a blade that close to his favorite body part.

“I’m still here,” he said, releasing her hand. “Help me sit up, and we’ll get this chain mail off together. And while we do, you can explain why I cannot be dressed for whatever you’re planning.”

The silvery glow that flowed over Lily’s body was subdued, but it was still enough that Kel could trace the path of the blush that chased up Lily’s soft cheeks. After all she had been through, it amazed him that she could still be embarrassed by his poor attempts at flirtation.

“The healing crystals that fall from my wings only work if they touch bare flesh,” she murmured as she helped him sit up. She had strength in her delicate body, more than he would have imagined.

“Ah. And since the poison has spread throughout my body, you need to cover all of me.” He grinned a little despite the pain that filled him. The Gods had not lost their sense of humor. Shortly, he and his little temptress would finally be alone and unclothed, and he was too weak to do all the things he had thought of since the moment she’d landed in his lap. Had that only been a few hours ago? It felt far longer.

Between the two of them, they managed to strip off both his chainmail and pants in short order. It took all his will to muffle the groan of pain that threatened to erupt as he sagged back onto the floor again when it was done.

“You better hurry,” he said when he could find breath to speak again.

Lily nodded and placed a hand on his chest. “Just lie still. I’ll take care of you.”

She summoned the full power of this world and began to channel it through her. He was so close to death, she couldn’t wait any longer. Her wings unfurled to their fullest, spanning nearly the length of her body. With a simple push, she took to the air, hovering over her warrior. Their bodies were so close together she could feel the fevered heat rising off his skin.

The glow around her grew brighter and brighter, until it filled the barren interior of their sanctuary with a silvery light. Lily let the power of the land surge into her until she was nearly drunk with it, and only then did she release it, channeling the flow through her. The crystalline powder fell from her wings in a shimmering rain. Lily moved herself carefully so that every inch of Kel’s powerful body was coated in it. Only then did she cup her hands beneath her body, capturing a tiny portion of the glittering powder.

There was no need to stay floating above him any longer, so Lily let herself drift downward until she was seated astride his chest, her knees just barely grazing the ground on either side of him. She poured a small measure of water into her palm and stirred it with her finger until the shimmering dust dissolved.

“Open your mouth for me,” she coaxed him. When he did as she bid, she poured the contents of her cupped hand between his lips, and then repeated the entire process over again. He had to be healed, both inside and out, and this was the only way.

The light that came off Lily as she attempted to heal him was so bright Kel had to shut his eyes, which was not something he was happy about. It meant that he couldn’t forget his pain by watching her lovely body hovering over his. Just looking at her made the pain fade to nothing. Her wings seemed larger now, like gossamer sails. Before the light grew too bright he had been nearly mesmerized by her amethyst eyes, watching him with such concern in their jewel-like depths.

He ached to hold her, to let her hair fall through his fingers and to sample the many pleasures of her body until they were both lost to the world. More than anything else though, Kel wanted to shield her from the cruelties of a world that had already abused her too long. He never wanted to see her eyes shadowed by pain or fear again. Now, all that stood between him and that goal was the small matter of a Duke’s murder and the enchanted torc that sat around Lily’s pretty neck.

As Kel lay beneath Lily and accepted each tingling mouthful of healing elixir from her tender hands, he made a vow to himself that no matter what happened to him, he would see to it she remained free. For that to happen, Kel was going to have to talk to the only man he knew with the power to protect her. He was going to have to see his father, the King.

Lily could see the improvements begin almost immediately. Kel’s color returned and his skin cooled, leaving him shivering slightly. She reached out blindly and snagged the blanket she’d left nearby. She settled herself on top of him, her head on his chest. Her wings drooped and settled over them both like a blanket, one that would be more effective at keeping them warm than the scratchy, woolen blanket she drew over them both. Kel wrapped his arms around her and she nestled into his embrace. Both of them would sleep now. She needed to replenish her energy, and Kel needed to rest to complete his healing.

Kel’s eyes were heavy and his body felt like he had just relived every battle he had ever fought all at the same time, but he resisted the urge to sleep. The poison had been neutralized and his mind was finally clear. He needed to think, to come up with a plan. It was just the two of them now, and they were a long way from the court of Wulfshaven or the protective walls of Viren Hold. As much as he would like ride for home, that was where the Duke’s men would focus the their search. No one would expect him to ride for the center of the realm. No one but his second in command knew his parentage, and he would take the secret to his grave if need be.

They were going to have to make the trek to his father’s court. To do that, they were going to need food, shelter and more than a little luck. He ran a hand over the lush curve of Lily’s bottom and grinned to himself. They were also going to have to find his little temptress something to wear.

With that decision made, Kel began to consider potential routes. He had travelled the width and breadth of this realm for more than twenty years, and he didn’t need a map to know that it would be at least three days journey to the capital. It would take even longer if they had to go around every village and town along the way. With her purple and white hair and glorious wings, it would be very difficult to disguise Lily or convince anyone who looked closely that she was human. She would have to make herself tiny and hide herself away beneath Kel’s cloak or tucked into a saddle bag whenever they encountered anyone, or they’d be caught long before they made it to his father.

His father was going to be another challenge. When Kel had come of age, his father had tried to bring him to court. Kel had rebelled and declared himself disinterested in the life his father was offering him. Instead, he chose to be a mercenary, earning his own way in the world. King Bern had wanted more for his son than the life of a sell-sword, but Kel did not want a life at court. Father and son had both railed against the other, and in the end Kel had left with nothing but his sword, a handful of coins and a drive to succeed. In the twenty years since, he had never returned to Wulfshaven again.

Kel sighed. It was going to be an interesting homecoming.