Page 56 of Beauty

Before I can explain, she doubles over, her knees coming upand a low wail moving from her mouth. Pain is etched on her face, her handsstiffening into fists.

“Please make it stop. Why won’t it stop?”

I look to my sister. “What’s wrong with her? I can’t feelher. I should be able to feel her. We’re bonded but there is nothing connectingus now.”

My sister seems to be treating us like dangerous predators.She moves forward slowly, holding her hands out to show she has no weapons.Even though she moves cautiously, I find himself clutching Bron tighter, andLach bares his fangs.

“I am not taking her from you. Damn it. Calm down both ofyou. You’re scaring the entire village, and we seem to need them as you did notbring an army with you.” Gillian stands in front of them.

“They left the army behind.” The phooka moves from his perchon the roof to the pole that held Bron. He hangs there, his claws sunk deep.“Though I wouldn’t call it an army, exactly. More like a small unit.”

“And they brought along a little devil.” Gillian frowns atthe phooka before turning her gaze back to us. “Do you not know what that is?It’s a trickster. Did he trick you away from Father’s men?”

Bronwyn moans softly, tears squeezing from her eyes. I’m notin the mood to hear about our choice of vehicle. “Tell me what is wrong withour mate.”

Gillian gets to one knee. “Bronwyn. Bronwyn, did they giveyou anything? Did they put something in your food or water?”

Bron bites her bottom lip and forces herself to nod. Hermouth opens as though she’s trying to speak, but her body convulses again.

Even Lach seems to come out of his fever long enough to beworried. “What’s wrong? What did they give her?”

Gillian ignores us both, putting a hand to Bron’s foreheadand feeling it. “She’s burning up. I suspect they gave her something to quiether, but it wouldn’t explain why she’s in such pain.”

I lean over, looking into her face. “Tell me how to helpyou, a chumann.”

One hand comes to my head, her fingers soft on my hair.“Kiss me.”

Her mouth tilts up, touching mine, lips pressed to lips. Ifeel like I’m falling into a dark well and Bron is the only spark of light. Hersoft moan has my cock leaping in my pants. An aching want suffuses my body withdesire. My heart speeds up, and a horrible pain begins in my cock.

I need. I fucking need her.

“Damn it.” Gillian stands and turns back to talk to someone.

I don’t care. I know what she needs now. Her body calls tomine. That bright, shimmering line that connects us is starting to come back.

“It hurts. She’s hurting so much.” Lach feels theconnection, too, our minds opening to each other now that Bron is awake again,but the connection is marred by her pain, her outrageous need.

Gillian steps forward again. “Pick her up. We need to gether inside. We have no way of knowing until we do a count if you killedeveryone you should have. Reymon has a house close by. He’s willing to give itto you for the time being. I’ll keep watch for this squad of men who I have tohope will be smart enough to follow you.”

Through my haze, I manage to get up and haul Bron with me,her slight weight nothing against my strength. She clutches at me, her eyesfevered with desire. She pushes at my shirt, trying to get her hands on myskin. I can’t help it. I need her so badly. She’s the fever in my blood now. Ikiss her, my tongue plunging deep.

I need to get her away from here. I have to protect her, andI can’t take her here. It’s too open. I don’t want eyes on us. This is ourbonding time.

But if I don’t get inside her soon, I might burn down thevillage around me. Already I can feel the need to unleash my power. I’ll losecontrol if I don’t satisfy Bron’s desire.

Lach is at my side as I begin to move toward the small houseGillian pointed to. The door opens, and a woman gestures to a back room. Thehouse is a storefront. Candles and herbs cover the shelves. The man namedReymon points us through to narrow stairs.

“Our bedroom is small, but the bed is comfortable. ’Tis anhonor to host your first night, Your Highnesses.” Reymon nods. “We’ve hoped forthis for so long. The Unseelie will finally come.”

I don’t want to think about the man’s enigmatic words. Iwant to take off my wife’s clothes and be with her finally. She mewls andtwitches in my arms. Lach goes up the stairs first, checking the bedroom andfinally turning.

“Leave us, sister.” Lach nods toward Gillian, who stands inthe doorway.

Gillian takes a deep breath as I set Bron on the bed.

“Take her. Make her yours,” Gillian says. “Bond fully withher so there can be no question from the Seelies that she belongs to our clan.Impregnate her if you can. And do it quickly. We need to be gone from thisplane by the morning. I’m going to go and clean up the mess the warrior halfleft. And brothers, it is good to see you and to see just how powerful you’vebecome. When the time is right and we unite the tribes, you will be the trueKings of the Fae. I honor you, brothers, and the woman who will bring theUnseelie into ultimate power.”

Gillian turns and walks out, the door closing behind her.