Sallara chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve got a secret admirer,” she said to Riann. Riann’s eyes met hers as he noticed her for the first time, and they widened in shock as he recognized her through the bond. She felt a brief flash of joy from him, followed by a wave of anger that she was here. No doubt he was going to scold her for waltzing right into the midst of all this danger, but on the other hand, he had quite a bit of explaining to dohimself.
“Are you even listening to me?” Sallara scolded, dragging his attention back toher.
“Sorry.” Riann blinked. “You wanted me to do what withyou?”
One of the bandits snickered. “If you haven’t figured that out by now, boy, you’re a lostcause.”
The others burst into laughter, and Sallara scowled at them all. “I’ll see you at dinner,” she said, flouncing out of theroom.
The others shook their head at Sallara’s behavior, and agreed that they would present the dog to the baron at dinner. When the bandit who had brought her in tried to take her away, Tariel immediately trotted over to Riann’s side and refused tobudge.
The bandit shook his head. “Guess that means you’re in charge of her, then,” he said. “Don’t do anything stupid between now anddinner.”
Riann said absolutely nothing as he left the great hall, but Tariel could still feel his anger. As she followed him down the long corridor, her stomach knotted withworry.
“I can’t believe you did this,” he muttered as he stalked into what had once been a well-appointed drawing room, now decorated in stained upholstery ripping at the seams, threadbare carpet, and peeling wallpaper that revealed the yellowed walls beneath. “What were you thinking, coming here all alone? And where are Yarim and Calrain?” He shut the door behindher.
“Outside the valley entrance,” Tariel said. He started, disconcerted by hearing her voice come out from behind her animal façade, she guessed. “It wasn’t safe to bring them with me. Can you see me through myillusion?”
“Yes,” he said, squinting. “You’re a bit blurry, but I can see you behind the dog. You’re getting better at your illusions.” He smiled a little, despite himself, and Tariel felt a surge of happiness through the bond. “I suppose if anyone could sneak into Lord Traize’s hidden keep, it would beyou.”
“And if anyone could figure out how to befriend bandits, it would be you.” Tariel let the illusion drop. “I’ve missed you,” she said, hugging him fiercely. She breathed in his masculine scent, let it soothe her taut nerves. “Why are you wearing theircolors?”
“Lord Traize’s daughter, Sallara, has taken an interest in me,” Riann said, stroking Tariel’s hair. She felt another flash of jealousy that was quickly smoothed away when he kissed her forehead. “She convinced her father it would be better to use a man of my talents than chop off my head. If not for her influence, I might very well bedead.”
“I see.” Tariel raised an eyebrow as she lifted her face to his. “And is there a…price, for herpatronage?”
“Indeed, but I have thus far managed to get out of paying it.” Riann lowered his mouth to hers. “You are the only woman I want,Tariel.”
A surge of heat rippled through Tariel’s body as Riann kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue between her lips. She opened for him eagerly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his. He crushed her against him, his hands fisting in her hair as his hard length ground against her hip, and she moaned into his mouth as need took hold of her, filling every drop of blood in her veins withfire.
“More,” she demanded, pushing him back against the wall. She climbed up his body, wrapping her legs around him, and his big hands slid beneath her legs to cup her bottom, holding her as she ground her wet, aching sex against him. All this magic was beginning to take a toll—she needed to rejuvenate, to connect with herman.
“Gods,” he groaned as he buried himself deep inside her. His thick length filled her completely, easing and intensifying the ache all at once, and they began to move frantically together. Riann kissed her hard, muffling her moans with his tongue as he pounded into her, pushing her closer and closer to the edge until she was flying high, pleasure rushing through her, saturating both mind andbody.
As magic blossomed inside Tariel’s chest, filling her with power, she dug her nails into Riann’s shoulders and urged him faster, clamping down on his length with her inner walls. He groaned into her mouth as he spilled his seed, and the sensation of him pulsing deep inside her, his big body trembling in her arms, made her grin like aloon.
“That was incredible,” Riann panted, leaning his forehead against hers. His sky blue eyes were soft as he looked into her eyes, and a smile curved his lips. “I’ve missedyou.”
She smiled back, tucking a strand of blond hair behind his ear. “I hope your new girlfriend doesn’t mind,” sheteased.
He smirked. “I’m afraid I’ll have to tell her we are parting ways. I’ve found someonenew.”
They curled up on the settee together, and Riann told her what had happened since he had been taken. Tariel held him close as he recounted the events of the past few days, feeling his pain and anger as he described burning down the home of an innocent family, and the hostages who suffered in the dungeonsbelow.
“We have to do something to help them,” he said, his blue gaze burning with the desire for retribution. “We can’t just leave them here todie.”
“Agreed,” Tariel said. “But how to get out undetected? The place seems to be on lockdown. If I hadn’t come as a dog, I would have been killed onsight.”
“The king has sent a regiment up here to investigate,” Riann said grimly. “Of course, if we wait it out, they might get here in time to liberateus.”
“Or, they might never find this place, and Yarim and Calrain will eventually be caught,” Tariel pointed out. “No, we will have to figure a way out ofhere.”
Riann cocked his head. “Do you think you might be able to disguise us both as animals, and we canescape?”
“I can try, but it might take me some days to get to that point,” Tariel said. “It was difficult enough just to turn myself into a believable dog. And that still doesn’t help the others.” Calrain and Yarim would be coming after her in less than nine hours. They had to find a fastersolution.
But magic flowed strong in her veins, and as she wriggled her fingers, sparks skipped along her fingertips. She would work on the illusion, and in the meantime, hopefully she and Riann could figure out a plan to free theothers.
