“I hope when Evie is through with you that you still call me friend.”
Thorvin’s jaw tightened. “You won’t step in?”
I laughed. “I keep reminding everyone she is not a Lord. Evie might be my mate, but she is an earthbound goddess. I could no more stop her than I could stop the sun from rising.”
She came over the hill, dark hair dotted with daisies flowing behind her like a banner. Her azure eyes glowed with magic, and flowers rose behind her as she walked toward us, healing the land with every step she took. She’d removed or lost her shoes somewhere along the way, no way to tell with her.
Desire tightened my skin. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She moved like an assassin, silent and lithe.
Thorvin cursed softly before letting out a sigh of resignation.
“Is she going to kill me?”
I was so caught up in watching my mate walk toward us it took a second for his words to register. “Not today.”
Thorvin let out a soft snort. “You got it bad, man.”
I did and life was finally as it should be. “She’s magnificent. I hope one day you experience this.”
Thorvin was silent for a long moment. “Me too,” he said quietly and pushed off from the vehicle to meet his fate.
Chapter
Twenty
My mate stood beside the man who’d allowed his land to die and watched me like I was water in the desert. Magic rode me, spilling from my hands and feet into the ground. Life sprang up behind me, not enough to heal the land, but enough to begin the process. Healing what this spell had done would take me a while.
But first, Thorvin would know what he had done; he would see and feel what I felt the second I stepped into his territory.
The Lord left Rowan and started toward me. I said nothing, only threw my magic into the ground, opening a wide, deep hole. Thorvin’s eyes widened when he saw what I was doing. His steps hitched, and I thought for a moment he might turn and run. But the Lord squared his shoulders and kept walking.
“LORD THORVIN. AS A STEWARD OF THIS LAND, I HAVE FOUND YOU LACKING.”
Thorvin bowed his head. “I am aware. My power comes from books and knowledge, and I waited too long to heal this cancer on my land. For that, I cannot be sorry enough.”
Vines rose from deep in the ground, struggling to rise through the dead parts of Thorvin’s land. I encouraged them tobreak through, healing them as they rose. They wrapped around Thorvin’s arms and legs, lifting him high into the air.
Thorvin did not struggle or beg. Instead, his face turned stoic. “If you kill me, there will be war.”
“YOUR DEATH IS NOT YOUR DESTINY TODAY. SEE WHAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED TO TRANSPIRE, LORD, AND KNOW HOW YOUR LAND SUFFERS.”
Without further ado, I directed the vines to gently deposit Thorvin into the hole. I made a pocket of air to ensure he would survive and sent dirt pouring back into the hole.
Danu would take care of the rest.
Once he was buried deep inside the earth, I opened my eyes, my magic draining into the ground.
Rowan stood before me, eyes glowing. “The voice thing is new.” Amusement and a touch of wariness colored his tone.
I’d noticed too. “My power keeps growing. Dad did something the other day at that ceremony.” I grimaced. “Haven’t felt the same since.”
A scream rumbled through the ground. One of Rowan’s eyebrows rose. “Should I ask?”
“Plausible deniability.”
He nodded. “He’ll be alive when he comes out?”
“Should be. I asked Danu to ensure he can…recover.”
