Stone Heart (39 page)
Authors: Candace Sams
- She noted the pain on his face. "Go on."
- "Tonight ... Karen ... I canna' say it." He shook his head a
- "Angus, there isn't anything you can't come to me and speak
- He took a deep breath and tried again. "After our meal tonig
- Shayla let out a breath and shook her head. "Herne's teeth!
- He dropped his head. The subject was so painful he could not
- "I said anyplace! That is my command. If the Goblins don't l
- "Thank you, Shayla. I wish ... I would give my life for hers
- She heard the break in his voice and wrapped her arms around
- "There, there, my lad. Time has a way of altering a great de
- For the second time in the same day, he was comforted by ano
- Chapter Ten
- Angus mumbled a curse. Karen wouldn't allow him to be near h
- "Damn it all, man! Do you want to lose an arm?" Gryphon grou
- "Sorry," Angus apologized. Then he gazed back toward the cas
- "Look, if you want to be with her, then go."
- "She won't let me."
- Gryphon snorted. "I'm guessing she's roughly one-third your
- Angus ignored him and stared at the path which lead out of t
- Gryphon saw Angus's worried expression and decided they'd bo
- They walked for the better part of an hour and neither of th
- "Were I you, I don't know that I'd be much better company. M
- The seriousness of the man's voice captured Angus' attention
- "You know my mate, Heather, has been working with Karen."
- Angus nodded then took a seat upon a nearby log. Gryphon str
- "Heather came home last night crying like a baby. She had to
- Angus gasped. "I ... I would have thought she would have ...
- "Then, the task comes as no surprise to you?"
- "It does no'. Karen has spoken with me about it. But the tho
- "Perhaps that's why she wanted Heather to help her. Maybe sh
- "If it were your mate who was dying, how would you feel? The
- "For a man who doesn't feel like talking, you're very eloque
- Angus stood and walked several paces. Was it possible that,
- Gryphon waited for the impact of the question to sink in. "I
- Angus shook his head. His thoughts were still jumbled over h
- "Karen. This is where she wants to be buried." Gryphon lifte
- Angus swallowed hard. In that moment, he'd have given the ar
- He ran until his lungs could draw in no more air, and then h
- * * * *
- Roland spoke slowly, his voice filled with intense rage. "Yo
- Tearach slammed his hand down upon the table. When he'd summ
- "Let the little baggage find another place to rot. None of u
- Tearach rose and faced the angry man now pacing in front of
- "I lost my entire family. My babies ... I can still see thei
- Tearach lowered his voice. "We all lost those we loved. I'll
- "Why? Why should you have to beg to keep a filthy outsider o
- "Calm down, man. Nothing will be gained by angering the Sorc
- "The Sorceress be hanged! I say we find the outsider, kill h
- Tearach knew the man was losing control. "You will stay with
- Roland stopped his pacing and stared at his leader. "How cou
- "I see them every second of every day," Tearach choked out a
- Tearach watched Roland's eyes glaze over as he stormed out o
- From nearby shrubbery, Roland watched Tearach leave the cabi
- * * * *
- "Why are you sitting here all alone, Karen?"
- At the sound of the soft, masculine voice, she turned. The h
- "It's a lovely day, isn't it? Where's your protector?" Wade
- She forced a smile and ran her right hand up and down her le
- "And how does your work go? You're not overdoing, are you?"
- Karen knew he was just being friendly, but it would be wonde
- "While going through the computer files, I've learned a grea
- "And what have you learned?" he asked, gently taking her han
- "You're fierce fighters but can be quite gentle, too. Your h
- He smiled and nodded. "That's the way of most myths. You kno
- "If I were the outsider in question," she readily admitted,
- Wade tilted his head and studied her for some moments.
- "What?" she asked, raising her eyebrows over his scrutiny.
- "You've a gentle heart and a wise soul, Karen. And Angus is
- "Me? A ... a treasure?" She ducked her head to hide her expr
- He lifted her chin with his index finger, forcing her to loo
- "Walk?"
- "Yes, in the woods. I've wanted to walk with you since I met
- How on Earth had this happened? Why would a man like Wade wa
- "Why are you asking me this? I know what the offer means."
- "You're the most courageous person I've ever met. You've com
- "You feel pity, that's all. There isn't really much about me
- He shook his head. "Karen, there are other, more important t
- She grinned. "If it's my mind you're after, why do you want
- "Because, dammit! Someone needs to hold you and whisper thin
- She looked at him sadly. Even if her health would allow it,
- "Then why not come with me?" he pleaded.
- "I just can't."
- He regarded her in silence, then nodded as if he understood.
- "Don't say that about him, Wade. He and I have never had tha
- "That's because the man is so self-involved." The volume of
- "I'm already regretting much, Fairy!" Angus had been careful
- At the sound of Angus' deep voice, Karen and Wade stood in u
- "Since you've probably overheard what was said, I won't repe
- "Wade, stop it!" Karen cried, placing her hand on the Fairy'
- Angus raised his hand. "No, lass. Let him finish. He has a r
- "And I intend to." Wade walked forward. "She should know wha
- Wade turned and walked back to where Karen stood. He gently
- "She will no' go with you," Angus said and glared at him. He
- Wade turned and walked away without so much as a backward gl
- "And have you?"
- She noted the very low tone of his voice. "Yes. I've done ev
- Angus walked slowly toward her. "He does know you. The part
- "What do you mean?"
- "I am saying that the man is right. I have been more concern
- "W-what are you saying?" she asked and heard her own voice b
- He cupped her face with his hands. "I'm asking you to come i
- She swallowed very hard and tried to stop the tears from wel
- "'Tis no' pity, my sweet. And what has Amber to do with this
- Karen had to draw in a long breath before she could speak. "
- Angus tilted his head. "I dunna' know what you saw, but some
- "Are you saying that you and she didn't have sex?" Karen loo
- "Since being cursed, I have no' touched a woman in that way,
- Karen was flabbergasted. Two godlike men were proclaiming to
- He slowly shook his head. "Amber is a friend only." He stepp
- "And this isn't out of gratitude?"
- "No. While I am grateful to you, there is so much more. So m
- All she could do was nod. But sudden thoughts of his life af
- Determined not to let his sorrow show, Angus nodded, smiled
- Karen knew if she did die tonight, it would be the happiest
- Angus slowly stood. "I will see you later, sweet lass. For n
- Karen lips trembled as she smiled at his retreating form. Sh
- * * * *
- "Is it ready, old woman?" Roland looked at the bent hag befo
- "No good will come of this, Goblin," she croaked.
- "But it doesn't seem to bother you enough to refuse the mone
- The old woman stooped over her boiling plants and sniffed lo
- "You are," Roland admitted.
- "Then it's just as well that I sell this to you and get from
- Roland grinned. "Right again, old woman. It isn't." He watch
- "It's ready, young pup. But remember, you didn't get it from
- He raised his hands up in agreement. "Absolutely!"
- "Because if I thought Shayla would find out I'd been brewing
- Roland's eye narrowed as he gazed at the older woman. "Perfe
- "Good." She picked up a green bottle, ladled some of the flu
- "And this will work? You're sure?" he asked as he gazed at t
- "It'll work. There's nothing on Earth like it." She pulled t
- "All right, you old crone. Here's your payment," Roland snee
- He looked around the small clearing, threw the body over his
- Chapter Eleven
- Karen thought the anticipation would keep her from resting p
- She sat up in bed and watched the sun setting outside the es
- "Are you ready, lass?" he asked as he moved toward her.
- She knew complete joy when he placed his hands upon her shou
- He leaned back enough to gaze into her eyes. "I do want this
- He hugged her to him and she placed her head over his heart.
- "As am I." He lowered his head and gently kissed her. She wa
- He stepped away from her and took her hand. In silence, they
- Karen looked around her. "You know, don't you. You know this
- "Aye. O'Connor brought me here." He paused for a moment. "At
- "No, Angus," she said as she took his hands in hers. "Don't
- "Aye," he whispered, hoping the twilight hid the tears in hi
- "Oh, Angus, I-I love you too!" she cried as she walked into
- He picked her up and carried her very near the small pond. T
- She placed her palms against his cheeks and slid her hands i
- At first, he lowered his lips to meet hers in a slow, gentle
- Their tongues met and the kiss deepened. Her hands caressed
- She grasped his shoulders and pulled until he moved over her
- "Calm, you," he crooned. "The night is young."
- "Please, Angus. I don't want to wait. I can't. I..."
- He watched her back arch and her head go back. She thrust he
- "Angus," she breathed.
- He moved over her to cradle her within his embrace. But she
- "You're magnificent," she said, kissing his neck and chest.
- He felt her heart beating far too fiercely beneath his palm,
- "No," she panted, stroking his back. Her legs circled him.
- He slowly pulled back, then moved into her again more fully.
- "Stop holding back, Angus. Let it happen, my love. Let it ha
- Her soft entreaty destroyed his efforts to control himself.
- He lay, replete, in her arms. Nothing had ever been so clear
- "My love?" He quickly sat up and pulled her carefully agains
- "I-It's all right," she gasped. "Everything will be all righ
- Her smile was bright despite the darkness and waves of pain
- She felt him trembling with fear. If the choice were left to
- He rocked her and nodded. "Then it shall be so."
- "I'm so happy. You have no idea how happy."
- He felt it mingle with the pain. Deep, peaceful emotions pou
- Lowering her to the ground from his embrace, he found wood n
- I might have killed her. How could he survive without his he
- * * * *
- Karen woke with a pounding in her veins that made her want t
- "You will be my mate, Karen. As soon as you are able to walk
- She grinned. "What if I say no?"
- "You will not!" he growled playfully and nuzzled her cheek a
- "Then, I guess I'd better agree."
- "This time of the morn, the Sorceress will probably be near
- "Just try to keep me from it," she said, kissing him until h
- There wasn't much time. Now Karen's heart was beating far to
- He helped her dress then pulled his own clothing on. Determi
- * * * *
- "Where could Roland be, Tearach? It's as if the man has disa
- "I told him to stay on our land. But ... and trust me on thi
- "You think he's up to no good, don't you?"
- "He's half-crazed with anger over the Matthews woman. I don'
- "The Sorceress, Hugh, and some of the others should be here
- "Let's hope so, before he does something insane." Tearach ra
- As he spoke, Shayla and a large group of followers walked in
- "How long has he been missing?" she asked, as she approached
- "Since last night. He was supposed to take his turn standing
- "But you have an idea what he might be doing, don't you?"
- He noted her imperious look and ominous tone. The Sorceress
- "For your sake, as well as his, you'd better pray to Herne h
- "There are Angus and Karen now," Pluck's voice rang out as h
- "What has happened, Sorceress?" Angus asked as he walked for
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