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He braced his hand against the trunk of the oak as he felt the earth’s energy rush up his body to steady him From his bare feet, up his spine, and down the thick arms that held her

He had crushed boulders with these arms Killed immortals older and more powerful than himself Ripped the earth with his hands and renderedprecious now, so he coaxed the earth beneath hi their bodies together as his other hand gripped the small of her back She pulled away for a rowled softly and pulled her back

"Oh," she breathed out "The earth really does ain, and a low purr left her throat the saers into the thick ainst his skin and he reveled in the sensation as he pressed her closer

Mark ed at his hair, tilting his neck back before she ran scorching lips down his neck till he felt the sharp point of her fangs slide across his skin His own fangs grew long in his roaned

A soft "

He pulled herto hell," she mumbled between kisses

"They can’t have you You’rea tiny bead of blood that he licked away and sed greedily "Sweet," he gasped He sank to his knees in front of her, the taste of her blood rushing to his head like a drug

More, more, more!

Carrapped his arms around her hips and pressed his face to her soft breast "So sweet, Brigid"

Her hands skimmed over his shoulders as he closed his eyes and pressed her closer

"I love you," he whispered again "How did I not see it before?"

Her heart was pounding He could hear it Her teroin The need for her was roaring through him Take Drink Possess Caranted every inch of her Her body and her heart

A prie reared its head Mate Here was his mate She was his, and he… he was utterly and co into his neck, and he couldn’t stop the slight wince when her skin ainst the tree, and the bark blackened beneath her palid stared at hiain"

He shook his head "No, Brigid Don’t I’ her eyes She dashed theainst her own skin Carwyn tried to grab her hands, but she twisted out of his eid!"

She didn’t turn back Carwyn turned and sluainst the trunk of the scalded oak tree, confused, aching, and alone

Chapter Twenty

Scotland

July 2011

Brigid tossed the s it flip in the low light as she lay in bed and the fire she had started crackled in the grate Madoc snored by the door as she catalogued her accomplishments for the previousCheck