She repeated the words over and over, pouring her magic into him. Minutes ticked by with nothing. In response, she pushed her magic harder, further. Rennie could feel something strange happening, but she refused to stop and see what it was.
A warm hand covered hers. Startled, she jerked her head up to find Dale’s dark eyes open and looking at her.
“Dale?” she whispered incredulously.
“Aye, lass,” he said with a wink and tugged at a strand of her hair. “You saved me, Rennie.”
Dale’s brow furrowed. “Rennie? What is it?”
“Hang on,” she murmured.
Rennie closed her eyes once more and searched through her magic as the ancients had instructed. Hidden deep inside herself, a small and brightly shining flare of magic different from anything else caught her attention.
She reached for it and drew it closer. As she did, she saw it was a spell to give one Warrior the chance to become mortal once more, binding his god forever.
With a smile she opened her eyes. “I know what my destiny is.”
He pressed on his now-healed chest before he sat up. “You mean it’s no’ bringing a Warrior back from the dead and removing the
Rennie couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter. “No.”
“There’s more?” he asked, surprised. When she nodded, he looked around her to the tunnel. “You got rid of Harriet.”
“For good.”
He frowned. “You didna kill her, did you, lass? You doona want that stain on your soul.”
“No, I didn’t kill her.”
“I can no’ take it anymore,” he said with a grin. “Tell me.”
Rennie swallowed and took one of his large hands in hers. “Do you like being a Warrior?”
“There are things I like. Feeling your magic for one.”
“If you had the choice to bind your god, would you?” she asked as she caressed the back of his hand.
For several seconds he stared deeply into her eyes. Then, he answered, “Aye.”
“I can do that for you.”
He merely sat there as he considered her words before he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “So my vision was real. I can grow old.”
“If that’s what you want. I have the spell that can grant one Warrior that gift.”
“And you would give it to me?”
She shrugged. “If you want it.”
“Aye, lass. I want it,” he said and tugged her to him for a heated kiss.
As their lips met, Rennie put her hands on his chest and pulled up the spell to bind his god. There was no need to say the words, for there weren’t any. The spell had to be passed from her hands into the Warrior of her choice.
It took but a moment, but as soon as the spell went into Dale, he jerked away from her, his eyes wide. “I can no’ hear Shomi anymore.”
“Is that your god’s name?”
“Aye. He’s always been so loud in my mind.”
“Not anymore. He’s gone.”
“Just like that?”
She nodded, unsure if he was happy or not.
Dale frowned and looked as if he were concentrating. “I’m trying to call to him so I can shift, but it isna happening.” His face broke into a wide smile. “Lass, you gave me what I didna think I could have.”
“You deserve it.”
“Do I? I’m no’ so sure, but I’ll take it,” he said and ran his fingers down her cheek. “I thought I’d never hold you again.”
“You can hold me for as long as you want.”
“How about forever?”
Rennie leaned into his hand that now cupped her cheek. “I like the sound of that.”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
The seriousness in his tone caused her heart to skip a beat. “You don’t have to stay with me because you feel obligated, you—”
He put a finger over her lips to quiet her. “Hush, lass. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”
Rennie blinked, doubtful she had heard him correctly. “You love me?”
“With everything I have.”
“That’s good,” she said with a smile, her heart bursting with joy. “Because I love you.”
In an instant he was on his feet and tugging her after him as he practically ran from the chamber into the tunnel.
“Where are we going?” she asked, laughing.
“I’m taking you to be where I plan on keeping you for several days. We’re going to start a new tradition beginning on the winter solstice and lasting until Christmas morning.”
“And that is?”
“Seeing how many times I can make love to you.”
Rennie’s laughter only grew when they reached the surface and he lifted her in his arms and raced to the house.
She had gotten her Christmas wish after all. One that would last for many, many years to come.
Read on for an excerpt from Donna Grant’s next book
MIDNIGHT’S TEMPTATION
Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Late August
He tangled his fingers in her long, thick, ebony tresses, her sighs of pleasure making his blood singe his veins. Her feminine curves were a heady delight to a man starved for her.
Golden skin speaking of Spanish heritage and as smooth as satin called him to touch more of her. He lay on his side, her body pressed against him. His hand glided past the indent of her waist and over a gently flared hip down to her thigh.
Her legs parted instantly. His lungs seized when his fingers delved into the black curls, trimmed and partially shaved, hiding her sex.
“Please,” she whispered.
Her voice, seductive and low, beckoned him, urged him. And he wasn’t going to disappoint.
He groaned, his cock swelling even more, when her back arched and her nails dug into his shoulders. Her breathy sighs filled the room as he caressed the sensitive flesh of her sex.
It wasn’t until she shook from need that he finally dipped a finger inside her. He ground his teeth together at the feel of her slick heat.
She was everything he wanted and more, so much more. To finally have her in his bed, to have his hands on her … it was almost too good to be true.
Her eyes opened, and he looked into dark pools of desire. She clung to him, her lips parted as her hips rocked against him.
He rolled her onto her back and settled between her legs. She grinned up at him, daring him to take her. His
