Earth Borne (38 page)

Everyone laughed and her cheeks incinerated. Would she ever grow used to her lusty centaur? She smiled to herself.
Sweet Demeter, I hope not.

***

Thereus stomped his hooves, impatient as ever. Arsenius refilled his glass, but the liquor wouldn’t quench his thirst. His parched throat yearned for the nectar of his sweet Melita.

“It has begun.” Ignoring his drink, he met Arsenius’s questioning stare. “Apollo. The opposing army. When I spoke with Persephone, she insinuated Apollo was behind Philaeus’s greed for war, and for Melita. If she’s right…” His shoulders tensed with the admission. The war to come would tear their races in twain, and this time, they might never recover.

Arsenius leaned forward and inched the glass toward Thereus. “Best drink to the current breath of peace, my friend. We’ll speak of war tomorrow. Today, you’ve a bride to wed.” He smirked, for the fiftieth time today, at Thereus’s bonding mark. “And bed.”

Thereus chuckled. “Aye, aye, Capt’n.”

***

The women surrounded Melita and led her away. She halted, glancing toward Lucian, who seemed too enthralled with the many creatures before him to notice her absence. She wrung her fingers. Though Thereus had assured her Halcyon was safer even than Westgard, her instincts stumbled over whether she ought to leave him in the care of strangers.

Aedre slipped a delicate hand onto Melita’s shoulder. “Don’t fret. Gaven will watch over him, and we’ll take care of Lucian this eve as though he were our own.” Her hand pressed to her curved belly, and Melita’s anxiety eased.

She followed the women to a stone cabin. Cassiopeia’s villa. Aedre chatted away, informing her that the Wind Borne lived in the log cabins, while the Water Borne preferred either the dwellings deep in the lake or the stone villas on land. Cassie was also a fantastic seamstress. The maiden opened her closet to reveal dozens of ornate gowns.

She perused them with an expert eye, studying Melita’s shape and coloring. Aedre fussed over her hair, weaving white flowers into her locks.

“How did you tame such a notorious rogue as Thereus?” Kyme, Melita quickly learned, spoke exactly what was on her mind. Possessing an air of regal confidence, she was fearless.

Melita, being far from fearless, greatly admired such strength.

She was also infinitely grateful not to be the sole mother present. Aedre’s distended stomach proclaimed there’d soon be another playmate for Lucian.

Melita told them her story, amidst numerous interruptions as the women exclaimed over the details. They also shared tidbits about their mates. All save Cassie, who was content with her “pets” or so she claimed. Dozens of furred creatures roamed about the living space. Even a bird flapped its wings in one corner.

“There,” Aedre proclaimed as she finished Melita’s hair.

Cassie helped her into a lovely gown of dark green silk. “You are stunning,” she declared, and the other women agreed with murmurs of approval.

“It’s a shame it’ll be ruined once that centaurs gets his hooves on you.” Kyme winked at her. Melita’s cheeks flushed. The amazon was right. Thereus would tear this dress to pieces.

A sharp knock pounded at the door. Cassie opened it, and the Water Borne male named Kai announced, “Time’s up, ladies. That is one impatient centaur.” He grinned at Melita while the women laughed. Her cheeks flamed once more.

“Bonded males.” Kyme huffed.

They ushered her out of the cabin and through the village, toward the lake. At the end of a dock, her centaur paced. Behind him, the vast ocean sparkled as if the sun dropped diamonds onto its surface. A handful of sleek vessels bobbed with the currents off to his right, framing the perfect scene. Spectators gathered on the land, mermaydes floated in the water, and in the distance, a musician strummed a harp.

His gaze solely on her, Thereus, her magnificent centaur, waited to make her his bride.

***

Even the drink Thereus shared with Arsenius while they’d spent the hour conversing had done nothing to calm him. He’d waited more than mere weeks for this—an eternity.

Melita stole his breath as she glided to him in a dark green dress that perfectly accentuated her feminine curves and the rich mahogany of her hair and eyes.
I’d wed her in a paper sack.
He’d trekked through Hell to be here and he’d do it a thousand times more. Just to hold her. To kiss her. To love her.

True, it would have been nice to have his family at his wedding, but the people of Halcyon were his family as well.

This time the ceremony was quick. Thereus never had a chance to feel nervous. Within minutes, they’d both spoken their vows and he was kissing her. Nothing had ever tasted as sweet as Melita’s lips. Fire seared his bonding mark, completing the ritual. He reined in his horse, remembering the spectators. There’d be enough time for that. Very shortly.

Pulling back, he peered into her shining eyes. Melita.
His
Melita. So beautiful, so brave, yet such a gentle soul. How could he ever have mistaken her for anything but his mate?

“No matter what form you take, you’ll never hide from me again. Come here, me buxom beauty.” Flashing her a wicked grin, he scooped her in his arms and carted her off. The crowds parted with cheers and howls of encouragement. While he carried her, his nymph set about using her seductive talents, diverting his strength into that part of him which would claim her endlessly.

Damn, but returning to his home was the best decision he’d ever made.

He was one lucky centaur. One lucky centaur indeed.

*****

Glossary

Acknowledgments

I could not be happier to be publishing the second story in my Halcyon Romance Series. I love exploring this crazy world of Greek mythology and I’m so excited to finally share my lusty centaur Thereus with everyone.

Thank you to all of the members of the FTHRW critique group who read through early versions of this story and helped shape it.

I couldn’t have done this without the support and encouragement of my lovely beta readers—Ashley, Nicola, Bonnie, April, and Gina. Love you, ladies!

To my amazing street team, Rachael’s Rush Hour, I truly appreciate your endless enthusiasm.

Thank you to my awesome review team for “hugging” me with all of your fantastic reviews.

As always, thank you to my wonderful copy editor, Kelley Heckart, for your great insights. A big thanks to NovelArt Designs for this gorgeous cover!

Karie, my ninja PA, you are the best sounding board, hand-holder, and cheerleader any author could hope for. I’m so lucky you’re mine!

Thanks to my family for always sticking with me through the long hours and hard work. Hugs and kisses.

And a huge thank you to my readers for making all of this worthwhile. Dream on!

About the Author

Rachael has explored forgotten temples in Cambodia, kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, and stood inside the Roman Coliseum. She loves studying people and cultures, current and ancient. Her appetite for romance began with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, which she later nurtured with a healthy dose of Jane Austen.

As a writer of scorching hot fantasy romance, Rachael blends the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. If her heroines can’t meet their heroes toe-to-toe, then they’ll bring them to their knees.

No matter what torture she puts her characters through, true love will always prevail. Love is, after all, the most powerful force on Earth, and beyond.

Rachael holds an Honours BA in anthropology, as well as a CELTA. Her secret indulgence is her passion for baking, which she offsets with her addiction to running (she’s completed four marathons). She resides on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, two children, cat, and dog.

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Books by Rachael Slate