threatened.
And then she came apart. Her body shuddered and her walls clamped down on his cock. The roar in his blood grew as the contractions of her sheath took him over the edge.
He plunged deep and let his release take him.
His body jerked with the force of the orgasm. He threw back his head and shouted with the power of it, the sheer intensity.
As the orgasm subsided, Galen wrapped his arms around Reaghan, and still inside her, he fell to his side, taking her with him. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her rosemary scent while fulfillment and contentment wrapped them in its web.
He placed his hand over her heart and felt its rapid, erratic beating. Galen let his eyes drift close. Holding Reaghan against him, he felt as if everything were, right.
Perfect.
As if fate had aligned them together. But Galen knew how quickly life could be snatched away from him. It had happened before. It could happen again.
The thought of Deirdre getting her hands on Reaghan made his fury rise, but also his fear. Reaghan was precious to him. Not just because she held some secret from Deirdre, but because of who she was. His attraction to her might have begun because he couldn’t read her mind, but it had gone far beyond that.
Galen didn’t want to take a closer look at his feelings for her. All he knew was that he wanted her, needed her. Yearned for her.
Reaghan’s smile, her sweet laughter had brought a light into his life he hadn’t known he was missing. He had seen how close Hayden had been to losing himself to his god, how close Logan now was.
Would he also find the darkness taking him if something should happen to Reaghan?
Galen knew the answer. He had come close once before when he had used his power to control another’s mind. He didn’t even want to think about it. But the coming days couldn’t be ignored. Deirdre would see to that. If only they had managed to kill Deirdre the first time. Had they known her black magic was so powerful, maybe they could have been better prepared.
It wasn’t just Deirdre’s coming attack. There was also Reaghan’s spell. He wished he knew exactly what she had done to herself. The why of it was obvious — she was hiding from Deirdre.
But was she just hiding herself or was she hiding something else, some secret? That was the question. And one that was likely never to be answered.
Galen had seen how Reaghan studied the castle that morning. He had wanted to ask her if what she saw was the same as her vision, but he hadn’t wanted to speak of it. He’d been selfish and wanted Reaghan to only think of him and their time together.
Yet he knew they would both have to face her memories soon. How much she could recall without harming herself was what really worried Galen.
“What makes you fret so?” Reaghan asked.
Galen squeezed her. “I’m wondering if I should have someone stand guard in case Mairi tries to come through the door.”
Reaghan’s laughter shook her body. “I haven’t seen Mairi since we arrived. The only Druid who has come down from her chamber is Fiona, and I think that’s because of Braden.”
“You haven’t spoken to the others?”
“Nay. Cara says they overheard a few of them speak of leaving. The others won’t come down because of you.”
He frowned, wondering what he had done to the Druids other than save them. “Me?”
“Not you specifically, but ‘you’ meaning all the Warriors. They are fearful.”
“I was afraid of that.”
She frowned and softly caressed his arms. “I’m sorry, Galen. None of you deserve to be treated this way. I will speak with them.”
“Doona worry about it. We want them to stay because they know we will protect them, and because Deirdre is searching for any and all Druids. There aren’t many of you left.”
“I know.”
It was the acceptance in her voice that gave him pause. “Are you frightened here?”
“Nay.” She turned in his arms until she faced him. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it feels as if I’m supposed to be here.”
“Your magic is telling you that, I suppose. Whatever the reason, I hope you stay. If Mairi wants to leave, she will try to talk you into going with her.”
“I won’t. As I told you, I want to help fight Deirdre.”
Galen ran the back of his fingers down the side of her face, marveling at her satiny skin. “It is verra important to her that you stay with them.”
She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his chest. “I wish I could remember the spell and why I did it. I feel as though it’s important, as if something hinges on my remembering.”
“The past sometimes is better left buried.”
“Is that what you wish you could do with your memories?”
Galen let his fingers glide over her back as he thought of the day the wyrran came for him, the day he lost his family. And of the day he had ruled another’s mind. “Sometimes.”
“And others?”
“Other times those memories of my family help keep me steady.”
She inhaled deeply and fisted her hand on his chest. “I don’t have those kinds of memories.”
“Maybe no’, but you’re making new ones.”
“I am, aren’t I?”
He rolled her onto her back and kissed her. “I’ll give you all the memories you could want.”
TWENTY-NINE
Reaghan snaked her hands around Galen’s neck. “Shouldn’t we go down to supper?”
“Hm,” Galen moaned as he kissed her throat. “I suppose if you’re hungry. Or I could go down, get us some food, and bring it back here.”
“Now that sounds heavenly.”
Reagan was deep in Galen’s kiss when the knock came. Galen sighed and put his forehead to hers. “I suppose you had better see who it is.”
Reaghan would have preferred to stay in bed with Galen. She hurried to pull on her chemise and gown, forgetting her hose and shoes, and opened the door to find Braden. She smiled down at the boy. “What can I do for you?”
“Mairi has bade me find you,” the lad said, as he kicked the toe of his boot against the floor in obvious displeasure.
Reaghan glanced over her shoulder at Galen. “I’ll return shortly.”
“I’ll have food by the time you return.”
Reaghan took Braden’s hand and ushered him away from her chamber as she shut the door. “How did you know where I was?”
His small shoulders shrugged. “I asked Logan. He said I could most likely find you in your chamber. I like Galen. He makes you smile.”
Reaghan squeezed his hand. “I’m pleased to hear you like him. He and the other Warriors have been kind to bring us to their castle.”
“Aye. Mum is glad to have their protection. She doesna like that the others are talking about leaving. Are you leaving?”
