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The ache of love and loss in the Mage’s voice twisted so inside him

Skye leaned forward "Do you think this could stop the Ferals fro?"

Ezekiel lifted an interested eyebrow, a chuckle escaping his throat "Accidentally shifting? This sounds like a story I need to hear"

Paenther stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living rooht her the chants and dance to raise the power she was born to raise They’d been working on it for hours, but he found, surprisingly, he didn’t ht neared and he felt his ownwith hers

If this worked, she wouldn’t suffer Birik’s punishment Instead, she would come into her true purpose for the first time And possibly help hioddess that this would work, that Skye would be free of Birik’s punish sky-clad, without clothes, is traditional," the old Mage told her, "though ritual goork as well if you have one Beneath thein tents and caves and" He cleared his throat "The bedrooaze, a s hi that dance, lass, while I get us some water" Ezekiel’s manner had thawed and warmed hour by hour until Paenther suspected his hermit lifestyle was not by choice but just an attempt to stay beneath Inir’s radar Thethe company

Or he just enjoyed having Skye around A lol escaped his throat as the man drew near

His jealousy aze, his eyes clear and honest "I would never hurt her, Feral She’s as pure a nature spirit as I’ve ever ly rare creature" He shook his head "Birik pulled dark power through her night after night for all those years, and yet it never tainted her There’s not the faintest shadow on her soul She’s a miracle"

"You can’t have her"

To his ae smiled "Does she know you’re in love with her?"

"I’lint of disbelief entered his eyes "My mistake, then" With a nod, he rowled low He wasn’t in love with her Of course he wasn’t And it wouldn’t oddess sake He could never take her as his e would never be welcoo when this was over? She’d already said she had no way to find her fao Here, with Ezekiel Hidden froain

He should be encouraging the old Mage, not warning hioddess help him, he’d rather carve out his own heart than see her in the arrabbed his hand

Paenther looked down at her, at the nervous exciteone She’d never looked more beautiful

Skye looked over her shoulder at Ezekiel "Are you co?"

"No, lass, I’ll wait here"

Her face fell just a fraction "I’d like you to co backThe last enchantress I watched dance beneath the moon, was my Barbara Besides, your Feral is a bit on the jealous side I’ll be waiting for you right here"

Skye released Paenther’s hand and went to Ezekiel, giving him a quick peck on the cheek "Thank you"

Paenther bit down on his jealousy as the Mage s with exciterabbed his hand It was all Paenther could do not to pull her into his ar him toward the back door He followed her down the steps to the sand, the sea breeze wrapping around him like a cool, da at herto work I can feel it" She pulled off her shoes, then shed the rest of her clothes as the h the clouds and illuminated the perfection of her skin

Paenther tried to resist her for three full seconds and lost He pulled her into his ar his hand down her bare back to her finely rounded rear as he slid his tongue inside her mouth to taste hints of dinner mixed with the clean, fresh taste of her

She pulled away "I can feel it coin to turn, her excitehten until it pained hi as he’d watched her practice for hours

But little by little, her excite frantic

"Skye, what’s wrong?"

"It’s not working"

"I’ to kill him," Paenther vowed between clenched teeth

"No, it’s not hi bleak "The Shaic," she whispered, and arched with pain as the first of the cuts tore across her bare chest

Paenther lunged forward and sla her unconscious, then swung her into his ar her in," Ezekiel said, sticking his head out the back door

Paenther struggled for control and forced himself to look down at her, not sure he could watch her suffer again To his bone-deep relief, only three harsh cutsher unconscious had disabled the curse This time

Goddess, but he wanted her safe He turned toward the Mage, jealousy fighting with his deep need to protect her It wasn’t like he could ever keep her himself Even if he wanted to She’d be better off here where Birik and Inir would never find her

"What happened?" Ezekiel asked, holding the door as Paenther swung inside with Skye in his aric so she couldn’t enchant anyone in Feral House Birik planted punishments in her cantric so she’d bleed if she didn’t perforrowled "Damn them both, especially that distrustful Therian All he had to do was look at her to see she was pure"

"Can you unbind her e stared at her, then shook his head "I ht have been able to at one time, but Ino I don’t have that kind of power any in the e "Can she stay here with you? Will you keep her safe?"

"For how long?"

Paenther felt the words like gravel in hisas you’ll allow Forever"

Ezekiel looked at him curiously "She’s your only real chance, warrior Once that daic, she should be able to help you reconnect with your animal Without her, I fear your days are nu for her back there I’m not sure I can keep her safe"

"You protect her at your own expense, yet you don’t love her?"

"I justdon’t want her to get hurt She’s too dahed "She , warrior You know it as well as I I don’t think you’d care for her the way you do if you didn’t recognize a strength in her that was aintensity, the wisdoer together than either of you will ever be apart"