The Lost Soul Trilogy (Primani Book 5) (103 page)

“I feel it too.” Killian wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the top of my head.

I pressed my back against the hard planes of his chest and felt his heart thud against me.

He met my eyes in the mirror and said, “You’re not going to lose yourself, babe. You’re strong and powerful enough to be with me now; you’re my partner, my equal. You balance me and I love you for that.” He drew my hand to his mouth and kissed the tips of my fingers one by one. He moved slowly, carefully, purposely. Every touch, every taste was seductive.

I watched in the mirror, my breath caught in my throat. His eyes stayed locked on mine as he kissed the center of my palm and rested it against his cheek.

I sighed and melted back against him, soaking in the heat. His unique musky scent mixed with the herbal notes of lemongrass soap filled my head as I inhaled slowly. His hair was still damp and he’d just shaved. His skin was silky smooth against the backs of my fingers as I ran them over his jaw.

Turning into his arms, I breathed him in and leaned up to kiss him. His lips were soft as they played gently against mine. I felt his breath on my cheek as he dragged his fingers through my hair and dragged his mouth along my jaw and over to my ear. Slowly, carefully…his mouth moved, his tongue stroking the silk of my skin. The trail of heat sent goose bumps racing over my arms and I shivered with anticipation.

His whole body tensed with the effort to hold himself still against me. With slow hands, he peeled off my wrap and let the soft cashmere float to the floor. With one hand locked in my hair and the other smoothing over my bare skin, he practically set me on fire.

“Lean your head back for me,” he ordered softly. He tugged my head back to expose my throat.

My pulse jumped and I trembled in his hands. His eyes shimmered and he licked his lips. The sight of his tongue and the raw hunger in his eyes was so erotic I wanted to throw him to the floor.

Patience, love.

His mouth burned across my throat and nibbled on the sensitive skin covering my jugular vein. My heart rang in my ears and I’m sure he felt the surge against his tongue as he bit gently on my neck. The slight pain of his bite sent my senses into overdrive and I had to grab his arm to keep from sinking to my knees. He was making me mental.

“Killian…” I lost my thought completely when he cupped my chin and slanted his mouth over mine. As his tongue slipped inside, his thumb stroked tiny circles under my jaw. I pulled his hips closer to me and let myself fall.

He took what he wanted from me but somehow gave more back. The combination of leashed power thrumming through his body and the gentleness of his touch left me mesmerized and liquid. It was control and power and tenderness and love…

All in perfect balance.

My head was spinning and tiny little fireworks were shooting off over us…I had no idea what we were doing when someone knocked on the bedroom door. I blinked stupidly as he crushed me against him and groaned in animal frustration.

“What?” he snarled at the closed door. His heart hammered against my chest and I closed my eyes and tried to calm down.

While my hormones took control, my hands had been doing their own thing. I yanked my hand out of his shirt and pulled it down for him.

He made me lose my mind. Wicked sexy, supernatural, hot creature that he was…Damn!

Dec’s voice came through the door. “She’s already pregnant. You can stop practicing.”

Growling low in his throat, Killian tugged my wrap around my shoulders and straightened his clothes. I fluffed my hair and tried to calm the blazing heat in my eyes by the time he yanked open the door.

Dec sniffed and shook his head. “It’s morning! What are you two thinking?”

Killian snapped, “Little brother, you sound like an old woman.”

Dec just laughed and headed downstairs humming a line from Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.”

I needed to find him a girl.

Someone had put on some Christmas music and made coffee. Dec was flipping scrambled eggs around a skillet when I walked into the kitchen. Bacon sat cooling on a plate and a box of pastries completed the meal. My stomach hissed in demand and I laughed at it. Yes, yes, I know. Eating for two; got it!

I was barely pregnant and hadn’t had morning sickness yet. The book I was reading said it wouldn’t start for a few weeks. I was hoping to skip the puking this time. Killian insisted we buy a box of crackers, just in case. They sat in the middle of the counter.

When Sean had demolished the last of the bacon, Dec leaned back with his hands behind his head. His expression turned sneaky and he elbowed Killian.

“What are you up to?” I asked.

We didn’t have any decorations this year and the house felt a little bare to me. I wanted a tree but it didn’t make sense to go to all that trouble since Sean and Killian were leaving tomorrow. I didn’t need the decorations, really, but I missed them a little. The roaring fire and howling wind provided all of the winter atmosphere I was going to get. Snow slammed into the windows with the ting of ice pellets. Mother Nature was throwing a Christmas tantrum.

Standing up with a grin, Killian winked at me and vanished.

“Where did he go?” I asked Sean.

Sean just shrugged and gave me an innocent look. Dec loped over to me and covered my eyes with hands that smelled like bacon.

“Don’t peek, darlin’.”

A heartbeat later, the atmosphere shifted and Killian was back. Warmth struck me like a personal sun and I flung Dec’s hands from my eyes.

“My tree!”

Killian brought my beautiful golden Christmas tree from the farmhouse in New York. He carefully set it down on one of the end tables. It glowed with all the warmth and magic of the angels who created it with their own blood and
saols
.

“It’s still breathtaking. You guys are so sweet!”

The silky strands of gold clung delicately to the intricate branches of the tree. Its fire warmed my face as I peered more closely at it. A work of art it was. More precious than a Hallmark card or a diamond ring. As beautiful as before, but with an intricate set of ornaments that were new this year. Gossamer threads wove patterns of runes throughout the hanging silk threads…delicately drawn with whirls and flourishes, they were beautiful ornaments on the magical tree.

Delicate...and yet their power was unmistakable. I recognized it as soon as my mind acknowledged the runes’ existence. Each rune had a faint halo, like an aura, around it.

“The runes are for protection and good health. This one’s meant to protect the baby from demons.” Killian pointed to one in particular. It was more vividly drawn than the others, as if the artist used more force to give it shape. It had no frills or flourishes; instead, its form was made from strong brush strokes and solid lines. Its power radiated in a faint blue halo. Its bold lines screamed authority. Killian had created this one.

“Give me your hand.”

His eyes were steady on mine. There was no stress or intensity in them. No reason for it; he was doing what needed doing. This was a practical exercise. He tucked my hair away from my eyes with a feather light touch and smiled to reassure me.

With a wave of a hand, the music shut off abruptly. The crackling fire seemed supernaturally loud in the void.

Sean and Dec stepped forward as Killian pulled
Sgaine Eiron
from its sheath. I held out my palm and took a deep breath as the others did the same.

Gone was the Primani. The high priest had returned. Killian stood utterly still in front of the blazing tree.

With a flick of his wrist, the tip of the blade pierced the center of my palm and drew a bit of blood. He repeated this action with everyone.

“Alam ne infant seain diote.”

Murmuring softly, he carefully swirled some blood from each of us onto the blade. Unlike other ceremonies, this one was elegant and graceful. His movements were as delicate and careful as an artist, and he wielded the golden blade like a paint brush. Even the motion to capture the blood was fluid, as if he were swirling paint on a pallet.

“Alam ne infant seain diote,
Raphael.”

He called upon Raphael to hear his words and watch over the baby.

He paused and held each of our eyes for a beat before placing the blade against the rune he’d drawn over my belly the night the baby was conceived. He lowered the blade to it and let the blood drip to cover it. As the blood settled on my skin, it turned to golden light that seeped into my pores and tingled in the center of my womb. With feathery strokes, he traced the shape of the rune and set the protection with simple words.

“All who would harm this infant beware: the blood of Primani protect and defend him.”

Not the words of prayer; the words of a curse.

At his words, the tiny rune began to throb with life. An unexpected rush of heat shot outward and wrapped around me in a flash of pale blue.

Sean and Dec spoke together in a formal tone. “I give my blood to protect this child. He has the protection of my Primani powers descending from the archangel Raphael. Enemies beware: My retribution will be swift; your death slow.”

A chill ran down my back as the meaning of their words sank in.

Killian tapped the eye of the blade against the rune and added in a terrible voice,

“En vitrao dutre aain methite. Dio sai infant y Mica.”

Loosely translated he’d said, “I will find you and rip your heart out with my bare hands if you touch my wife or child.”

With a gentle stroke of his finger, the cut on my palm disappeared.

Hours later, the heavenly aroma of roasting cow lifted me off my feet and pulled me into the kitchen to check the temp on the roast. The thermometer said it was nearly done. Time to whip up the Yorkshire pudding.

“Dec? Are you doing the veggies?” I called out as I knelt to grab the flour.

Rematerializing next to me, he laughed when I jumped a foot. Deftly snagging the flour from me, he said, “I’m all over it, darlin’. Green beans are simmering away and the potatoes are almost done boiling. I bullied Sean into setting the table while you were, uh, occupied upstairs.”

“Declan Manning. Let’s get something straight right now.” I poked him in the arm to be sure he was listening. Using my best condescending tone, I said, “Killian is leaving for God knows how long again. Apparently I’ve been searching for him for 3,000 years. I really, really, really think we’re overdue for some alone time. So you need to stop nagging at us about it and just be happy we’ve found each other.” I blew out an exasperated breath of air.

“And besides, Raphael told Killian he had to be the one to heal the wounds in my heart. His words, not mine. So there!” I stuck out my tongue for emphasis.

Bursting out laughing, Dec stabbed a potato and tossed a green bean to Domino. “You’re adorable when you try to be mad at me. You know that, right?”

I glanced at the spotted pooch for some support; she ignored me in favor of human food. Traitor! I tried a glare and they both laughed at me. Huffing indignantly, I beat the heck out of the batter for the Yorkshire pudding.

An hour later, the chaos that precedes dinner was in full swing. By some kind of unspoken agreement, the guys all chipped in to help. Sean wielded the carving knife and sliced caveman-sized slabs of prime rib. Dec topped all non-meat items with too much butter and sat the bowls on the table. I was busy cutting up the uber-delicious Yorkshire pudding and dumping rolls into a basket. Killian lounged in the doorway with arms crossed, amused and content. He’d already uncorked and poured wine.

Sean licked his fingers and said, “There’s something weird about your face, bro.”

Killian lifted an eyebrow in question.

I stopped to look. Did I miss something? Nope, still looked like Killian to me.

Sean pretended to study him seriously and finally exclaimed, “You look different. Did you let Mica give you a facial?”

Killian chuckled shortly and said, “Yeah, like that would ever happen. This is my ‘peaceful’ look.”

Sean barked an unbelieving laugh and said, “Oh yeah? Better take a picture of it--today’s the end of our peace for a while! It’s back to maiming, killing, and blowing shit up tomorrow. Can’t wait to get my hands dirty!”

Elbowing Sean on my way to the table, I chided, “Stop! There’ll be no talk of blood, guts, or torture during Christmas dinner! We’re going to eat, drink, and open presents. Relax and enjoy it.”

As everyone sat down to eat, I whipped out the camera. Sean was right. We had to capture this dinner. Everyone was relaxed for a change; I had to get it on film. Dec made horrible faces while Sean tried to keep a straight face. Killian scowled at the lens. Finally Dec snatched the camera and took some of me. Killian surprised me by pulling me closer so Dec could take one of us together as a couple. He set the timer and took one final shot of the four of us standing by the tree. I didn’t know it then, but I’d learn to cherish that picture.

Just after we finished eating, the laptop pinged. Skype was calling me. Dec beat me to the computer and had the picture up just as I shoved him off the chair. Janet’s smiling face was the first one to greet me.