“My oh my. You’re not scared of me at all. That’s strange—unique even. I intimidate most men, but you have no fear. Usually when there is no fear, it’s because one is either an idiot—you’re not, are you?—or you’re reckless and brave. A warrior, perhaps, on a crusade full of passion and righteous indignation.”
He didn’t respond as she breathed in his scent and for a moment the world around him suspended. She lay the briefest of kisses on his lips, which caused him to grab her waist and hold her aloft in revulsion.
“Ah, a warrior. I like that—I like that a lot. No man has ever stood up to me and lived. What’s your name?”
He swallowed, unsure why this would be important to her. “Marcus Drayton. I’m a soul-shifter, head of Orion in the absence of my commander Ben Steel.”
The Morrigan tilted her head and her smile widened as she smoothed her hands over his biceps, digging her sharp nails in. “Handsome and virile. I bet you’re good at fucking too?”
At her words, he dropped his hands from her waist and wiped his mouth. The idea of being with this creature made him sick. She stared long and hard at him, tapping her nail on her lip and still smiling, as if assessing his every reaction. Seconds later, she returned to the center of the stone patio and raised her arms in a wide, sweeping arc.
“While you traitors plot against your queen, my hordes are culling those who stand against me. I will not give you another chance. You have a month to decide your fate or prepare your graves. The numbers of victims will rise until there is no one left to stand against me. I will bring darkness and chaos into every corner of this land and destroy those you love. My army is rising.” She clapped her hands and vanished, leaving the crows in her stead, cawing and flapping their wings and flying into the crowd as everyone ducked and batted them away.
Marcus searched the crowds as everyone raced away indoors, debating the queen’s words. He knew the alliance would disintegrate if he didn’t urge everyone to stay the course despite the threat. Somehow the Morrigan knew all along they were meeting. Someone inside the Assembly had betrayed them. But who?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ella attempted to slip out of bed, only to have a semi-naked Marcus grab her shoulders as he sank to his knees in front of her, and pressed his palm over her cheek.
“The only way Elizabeth would let you leave yesterday was if you agreed to let me take care of you and to ensure you rested. If you want to argue with someone, Ella, give her a call later, but right now, I need to make sure you and the little one inside you are all right. How are you feeling?”
She stretched, but winced in pain as she stared down at her flat but wounded belly. “My shoulder is sore, but otherwise not too bad. Is the baby okay?” She ran her hand over the light dressing, enjoying the heat vibrating from her hand as it boosted her healing.
Marcus gave a quick nod, his eyes never leaving hers. “Yes—the baby is fine, but you gave everyone a scare. You were cut and bleeding. Care to explain?”
“I told you. The Morrigan was there. She held Steel all along in the dream world,” she snapped.
“And you fought her?”
“Yes—but Ariana helped me. She gave me a sword and guided my actions.”
“Ariana was there too?”
“Yes—no, not in person—in my head, instructing me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if she hadn’t been. The Morrigan is behind everything. She orchestrated my abduction, and Nate’s delivery. Why she wanted Nate, I don’t know, but she said she could take him any time she wanted. She’s out to destroy us.” She closed her eyes, reliving the scene from last night, and bit down on her lip as she saw the clash of swords as she remembered her chilling words. I will wipe out all your kin and restore life to my beloved using that warrior of yours, little one. I will give him pleasure and power beyond his wildest dreams, and he will never want to return to you.
“Sh, it’s over now. Come here, let me make you feel better.”
Opening her eyes, she peered down at him, as he pushed up her sleeveless silk vest and held her waist to drop small butterfly kisses where the knife had slashed across her skin, leaving vivid red marks. Ella grabbed his thick hair, weaving her hands through his tousled dark locks, needing him close. The warm, soft touch of his lips on her flat abdomen sparked an outbreak of desire that devoured her whole. After submerging herself inside Steel’s consciousness, hearing the Morrigan’s words sent shivers down her spine. The need to kill the goddess drove her to fight and brought her to her knees.
Now, the need to make love to Marcus consumed her. Forgiveness was another issue. Knowing he willed her to forget about searching for a man who may be her brother left a sour feeling inside that wouldn’t go away. She knew his actions stemmed from his love and
