“You cannot take her from Avalon,” the king spoke up. His tone was strong and authoritative. “Morgan will find her. I won’t let you put her in danger after I took her from her mother for her entire life!”
What was Wolf to say to that? He swallowed and shifted his gaze to Camelee. She was all that mattered to him in any world. If this witch called Morgan was a danger to her, he would find her and kill her. He could stop a spell and destroy it, but he had to be quick and not distracted.
And though he was an esteemed warrior in the earthly realm, he doubted he could take on Morgan and her magic there. He could only fight her in Avalon.
“We allow very few men here, and only for a short time.”
“Good,” he corrected and returned his sword to the scabbard. If he could come and go as he pleased, there was no reason to fight. “I do not plan on staying long.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Isaw himstep through the air and disappear. He did not turn to consider you, his brother, but left. He left you to your enemies. To me.” Leofric smiled close to Fin’s face. His breath was like old fish and ale.
Fin gagged a little. Other than that, he couldn’t move. He felt no restraints and, after a moment, he realized he was wounded.
He was in a clearing in the forest, tossed on the cold ground. He tried to sit up. Pain shot through his stomach. His chest felt as if it were on fire. He had been stabbed multiple times. If he knew any better, and being a warrior for many years he did, he’d say his wounds were fatal. He had escaped death many times, but not this time. And hell, Wolf had left him.
They’d been fighting the Saxons. Wolf had already killed seven or eight in his savage rage. But then he stopped fighting their enemies and fought the air in front of him instead. Fin kept as many of them that he could off his brother for as long as he could. He didn’t think Wolf even knew he was there.
He didn’t think Wolf would disappear. He didn’t know what Wolf was doing. But he stood by him and made sure he didn’t get killed while he did whatever he was doing.
But he hadn’t stood for long. Leofric showed up and came straight for him. They fought. Wolf didn’t stop fighting the air while Leofric and ten other men fought Fin and brought him down. In the end, sheer exhaustion had done him in. Wolf was gone. He’d disappeared as if there were a slice in the air. He remembered calling out. But nothing else after that. He wasn’t angry with Wolf…or he hadn’t thought he was until Leofric got into his ear. Instead of killing him, he’d kept Fin alive to torment him about his brother.
“Greetings, Fin.” He opened his eyes at the sound of a woman. What he saw made his heart batter against his ribs. She was beautiful, with raven hair cascading down her back. A silver veil covered it. Her skin was pale white. Her eyes were as green as summer blades of grass.
She wore a gown of blood red, as tight as a second skin. Her body was sensual, voluptuous, with curvy hips and a perfectly round arse. He immediately wanted to take her to his bed. He suspected he was under some kind of spell because he was half-dead and hard as granite.
She stroked her fingers over him, making him shudder. “I can make you better, Fin. Do you want to get better? Do you want to live?”
He nodded. He must be dreaming. Where had she come from?
“Who are you?”
“I am Morgan.” She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “Say my name and live. You do want to live, don’t you, Fin?”
He felt lightheaded and weak. Yes. He wanted to live. “Did Leofric send you to seduce me?”
“Who is Leofric but a mere servant? Forget him for now and kill him later. Now it is my time.”
He watched her lips as she spoke. They were painted red, a sharp contrast to her white teeth. Did he want to kiss her and possibly get bitten? He stared into her beautiful eyes. She…she was evil. It dripped out of every pore and he wasn’t about to give up his soul so easily after keeping his body alive for so long.
“Who needs to live anyway?”
Her eyes went from green to topaz flames. “You’re correct!” She balled her hands into fists and was about to fling her words at him.
He held her glare. In fact, he matched it in strength. This wasn’t the first time he’d looked death in the face. If she was waiting to see fear in his eyes, she would be here untilherdeath.
Finally, being overpowered by his fearless audacity, she opened her hands, cupped his face in them, and lowered her mouth to his.
He didn’t resist. He could have, but he felt his body rejuvenating, so he let her kiss him. He didn’t owe her anything since he hadn’t asked her for anything. This was free.
He licked his tongue across her teeth in a daring dance, hoping she didn’t bite it off. She didn’t. She was enjoying herself, filling him with strength, so he could use it on her.
He deepened their kiss and roved his bold hands over her luscious rump. He would move atop her and then flip her over and take her from behind—
She broke free and backed away. Her hair was falling around her face and her breath came hard and heavy.
He sat up and looked at his healed wounds. “You are a witch.”
