Donovan's Woman (11 page)

“Do you think we can trust her?” Marri asked as they left the witch’s house behind.

“I hope so,” Gryff muttered, but he had other things on his mind, like stealing a new ride. They had just about reached the end of the village boundary when he spied a Landskiff similar to the one he’d stolen before, only newer and in much better condition. He glanced around, wondering where the owner was. They hadn’t seen any other vehicles in the village.

A glance in the front window showed there was no one in the cockpit, no one idling near the craft.

Striding confidently toward the rear of the skiff, he knocked on the door of the cabin. When there was no answer, he lifted the latch and peered inside. After ascertaining it was empty, he dropped the bag Serepta had given them on the floor and closed the hatch.

Moving with purpose, he guided Marri to the passenger side, opened the door, and lifted Marri onto the seat.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Getting us a new ride. Hop in.”

When she started to argue, he closed the door, then strolled around to the driver’s side and climbed behind the consol. Raising the control panel, he fiddled with the computer, grinned when the skiff’s engine roared to life. “Hang on,” he warned.

Marri grabbed the door handle, her guilt momentarily swallowed up as the skiff shot forward. It went faster, rode smoother, than the last one. She slid a glance at Gryff, who was grinning like a child with a new toy. When he looked at her, she felt it clear to her toes, found herself grinning back at him. And then she frowned. She had never stolen anything in her life, and now she was an accomplice to a crime. But she didn’t care, nor could she ignore the little thrill that ran through her when Gryff winked at her. No one had ever told her that breaking the law could be fun!

Gryff put the Landskiff on Auto-pilot, then sat back in his seat. “We should reach Tarnn tomorrow night,” he remarked.

“Really?” Marri stared at him, her heart pounding with excitement. One more day until they reached Aisley Cloister and her sister.

He nodded. “We’re making good time. This bucket’s a lot faster than the last one.” Suddenly restless, he took over the controls again. No doubt she would be glad to see the last of him. She would certainly be safer behind convent walls than with him. Damn and blast, though, he would miss having her around.

* * *

Marri sat in her bunk, staring out the window of the skiff. The day had passed quickly. All too quickly, she thought, when she realized that, after tomorrow night, she would never see Gryff again. She blinked back tears, suddenly overcome with a sense of impending loss. The thought of his leaving hurt more than she had thought possible. He was uncouth by court standards. He fought like a savage. He had not a drop of royal blood…but his kisses…She pressed her fingertips to her lips, remembering the touch and the taste of him, knew she would miss him for the rest of her life.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, all thoughts of the morrow forgotten when she saw movement through the window.

Peering through the glass, she saw a big black wolf standing beneath a tree. Was it Gryff? Even as the thought formed in her mind, the animal changed. One minute, a wolf stood there; the next, it was Gryff.

She met his gaze through the window. He made no move to cover his nakedness as he stared back at her. But then, why would he? She had seen it all before.

Her pulse quickened as he strode toward the hatch. A moment later, he stepped inside, fully clothed.

Her disappointment brought a rush of heat to her cheeks.

“Better get some sleep,” he said quietly. “We’re leaving at first light.”

* * *

Marri turned onto her side, then onto her back. Sleep. No matter how she chased it, she couldn’t catch it. All she could think about was never seeing Gryff again. There was no denying the attraction she felt for him, but now, she realized it was more than that. She liked him. A lot. His subtle humor. His willingness to defend her. If not for Gryff, she would likely be dead now, killed by Trist and Dakkar weeks ago.

The light of the planet’s twin moons shone into the cabin. Turning her back to it, she found herself looking into Gryff’s eyes — eyes dark with desire.

He wanted her. She felt the pull between them like a tangible force. Thoughts of right and wrong didn’t seem to matter when he was looking at her like that, when the outside world seemed to fade away and only they remained.

“You’d better stop looking at me like that,” he growled, “or I won’t be responsible for what happens next.”

Marri stared at him, her breath trapped in her throat. If only he hadn’t put it to her like that, leaving the decision — and the guilt, should she say yes — in her hands. “Oh, that’s so unfair!”

He frowned at her. “Unfair?”

“I want you so much and I know it’s wrong. How can I expect the sisters to accept me when I’m such a wanton? If you’d just…just…” She shook her head when she realized what she was saying. “Never mind.”

Sitting up, Gryff raked his fingers through his hair. “I know what you want. You want me to take you without your consent so you don’t have to feel guilty about it later.”

Marri looked away, her cheeks flaming with shame and embarrassment. It was unfair of her to expect him to take all the blame for whatever happened between them. Murmuring, “I’m sorry,” she turned her face to the wall.

She heard him swear softly and then he was sitting on the bunk beside her, one hand lightly stroking her back. “Listen, Marri. There’s no use pretending. Like you said, you want me. I want you. Maybe, if you weren’t untouched, I’d take you in my arms and make love to you all night long. But I’ve never deflowered a virgin and I’m not going to start with you. You deserve a hell of a lot more than I can ever hope to give you.”

“I think I’m in love with you.”

He swore again when he heard the tears in her softly spoken words.

“Marri. You’re so young. I doubt you’ve known very many men. Don’t confuse lust for love.”

“I know the difference!”

“Do you?” He lifted her into a sitting position, brushed her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. And then, unable to resist, he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her, his mouth devouring hers, his hand skating up and down her back, skimming the curve of her breast. When she was limp and breathless in his arms, he drew away. “Was that love?” he asked. “Or lust?”

She stared up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “Don’t be mean to me, Gryff. This is our last night together.”

He knew that, but hearing her say it made it more real, more painful. He’d been in lust a dozen times, but love? Damn and blast. Maybe he was the one who didn’t know the difference.

Murmuring, “Forgive me, sweetheart,” he drew her into his embrace once again, his hand delving into the wealth of her hair. He wanted her more than his next breath, more than life itself, but like he’d told her, he’d ever defiled a virgin. How could he start now, with the woman who rested so trustingly in his arms? He knew what she wanted. Hell, he wanted the same thing. But she was a princess. Perhaps one day she would be a queen. Surrendering to his desire for her could easily ruin her life. And what if there was a child? No method of birth control was fool proof, and even if it was, he didn’t have any.

The chance of a child of his falling into Serepta’s hands cooled his ardor.

Easing away from Marri, he kissed the top of her head. “You should get some rest.”

She slipped under the covers. When Gryff moved toward his own bunk, she grabbed his hand. “Stay with me?”

He hesitated a moment before stretching out beside her, careful to keep the blankets between them. It didn’t help. His body reacted as expected as she pillowed her head on his shoulder. It was, he thought ruefully, going to be a long, painful night.

“Gryff?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m curious about something?”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve never known a shape-shifter before. Are there others like you?”

“I’ve never met any.”

“What did you mean the other night, when you said the wolf is what you are?”

“It’s part of me. Changing into anything else requires a lot of effort and concentration. But, like I said, the wolf is who I am.” He paused a moment before asking, “Does it bother you?”

“No. On the contrary, I rather like it.”

She was one in a million, he thought, and wondered how he would ever let her go.  

Artur sat back, his hands stroking the carved arms of his father’s throne — the throne that would soon be his. But at the moment, his attention was on the woman who had requested a private audience with him. She was stunningly beautiful, with waist-length hair and slanted eyes as black as onyx. An air of power clung to her.

Steepling his fingers, he asked, “How may I help you, my lady?”

“I have news of your sister.”

“Marri?” He leaned forward. “Is she well?”

“First, a favor.”

“Name it.”

“She is traveling with a man. I believe they are on their way here.”

“Who is this man in league with my sister?”

“He is of little consequence, milord. But he is mine.”

“Then what is he doing with my sister?”

“You misunderstand. He
belongs
to me. I am willing to pay you well for his safe return.”

Artur regarded her for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Should he come here, I will hold him for you.”

Serepta smiled inwardly. She had attempted to conjure a locator spell to find Gryff and the woman, but it had failed. And she had her mother to thank for it. But it didn’t matter. The locator spell would have allowed her to find Gryff sooner, nothing more. Gryff was on the run. There was no place for him to go, and to her knowledge, nowhere for the woman to go but home. Gryff wouldn’t let her make the trip alone.

Serepta nodded. For all she knew, Gryff had always intended to return the woman to her brother and claim a reward. Whatever his intention, she would collect him and he would be in her power again. Whether he arrived in days or weeks was of no consequence. Her mother had taught her the value of patience. Sooner or later, Gryff would be hers again.

This time for good.

In the meantime, she would make herself at home in Brynn Tor.  

Marri woke slowly, reluctant to leave her dreams behind. In them, Gryff had made love to her, sometimes quickly, sometimes slow and tender, as if she was made of fine crystal. But, fast or slow, it mattered not because she had been in his arms, lost in a magical world that could never be more than a dream.

His arms…she opened her eyes to find that she really was in his arms.

“Morning, princess.”

Her gaze slid away from his as, remembering her dreams, she felt a flush climb up the back of her neck.

“You all right?”

She nodded.

“We should be on our way.”

“Yes, but…couldn’t we wait a few days?”

“You’re the one who’s in a hellfire hurry to get to Tarnn.”

“I know but…” She bit down on her lower lip.

Lifting his hand, Gryff traced the curve of her cheek. “I don’t want to leave you, either.”

Frowning, he weighed the danger. As far as he knew, no one was hot on their heels. Seleena had conjured a spell to prevent Serepta from locating their whereabouts. The food she had packed them would last for a couple of days if they ate sparingly.

“Two days,” he said. “No more.”

* * *

Marri glanced at Gryff as he climbed into the cockpit, smiled as she admired his profile. He had a fine straight nose, a strong jaw, sculpted lips…she blushed as she wished her dream the night before had been reality. Had he grown more handsome since they met, or was it just that she fell a little more in love with him with every passing day? For love him she did, whether he believed it or not.

Feeling her gaze, he smiled at her.

She felt it all the way to her toes.

Turning his attention back to the road, he checked the nav system, made a hard right and then a left. Thirty minutes later, he brought the skiff to a stop in the middle of a glade surrounded by a pine tree forest.

Marri looked out the window. Tall trees surrounded them. Beyond the trees, a lake sparkled in a splash of sunlight. Lush, rolling hills rose beyond the lake, a refreshing change after days of barren desert. “Where are we?”

“The outer boundary of Tarnn. The convent’s about thirty miles east.” Stepping out of the craft, Gryff rounded the front and opened her door. “Come on.”

“It’s beautiful here,” Marri said, taking his hand. “It reminds me of a story my mother used to tell me, about an enchanted land inhabited by fairies and elves.” She looked up at him, a twinkle in her eye. “Can you transform into an elf?”

“No,” he said. And then he laughed “A troll, maybe, or perhaps an ogre.”

“No need. I have my brother for that.”

Hand in hand, they walked down a gentle slope to the lake. As they drew closer, she saw that it was ringed with flowers in rainbow colors. Tall ferns slow-danced in the faint breeze. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see a water sprite or two flitting about.

Gryff paused in the shade of an overhanging branch and drew her down on the velvet grass. Overhead, a gray squirrel with a long fluffy tail chattered at them.

“I don’t think he likes us,” Marri said.

“I could trap him and roast him for dinner.”

“No!” She looked at him in horror.

“Calm down, love, I was joking.”

“I don’t think you were.”

He shrugged. “I’ve eaten my share of rabbits and squirrels in my day, when there was nothing else.” He grinned at her. “Mighty tasty with a little salt and pepper.”

“I think he understood you,” Marri remarked as the squirrel jumped to another tree and disappeared from sight.

“Maybe. Or maybe he sensed the wolf in me.”

Marri looked at him, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Some animals shy away from me, though not the predators.”

“Are you going to prey on me, Gryff?”

“Marri….” Damn and blast, the woman tempted him almost beyond reason. If she kept looking at him like that….

Muttering an oath, he swung her into his arms and carried her into the lake.

She shrieked as he sank down into the water. “It’s like ice in here!”

“You’ll get used to it.”

When he released her, she let out another cry, then threw her arms around his neck and clung to him like a nettle.

“Come on,” he chided, “it’s not that cold.”

“I can’t swim!”

He immediately scooped her into his arms. “Sorry, love.” Returning to shallow water, he set her on her feet. “I just thought we could use a little cooling off.”

“Next time just say no,” she muttered, and headed for shore.

Gryff stared after her, wondering how much longer he could keep his lust under control, because wet or dry, angry or not, she was the most tempting female he had ever known.

He followed her out of the water. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, sitting beside her. “Forgive me?”

“Maybe.”

He lifted one brow. “Maybe?”

“For a kiss.”

“I’ll have to scare you more often,” he murmured, before claiming her lips with his.

* * *

Later, they stretched out on the grass, side-by-side, while the warm sun dried their hair and clothing. “You’ve never mentioned your mother,” Gryff remarked. “Is she still alive?”

“As far as I know. She ran away after my brother, Cobb, died. He was always her favorite. No one knows where she is.”

“Where do you think she went?”

Marri shook her head. “I wish I knew.”

“Why does your brother want you dead?”

She hesitated a moment, then said, “Because I’m next in line for the throne.”

“Ah. Now it all makes sense.” He thought a moment, then asked, “What about your father? Is he still alive?”

“He was when I left home.”

Gryff dragged a hand across his jaw. Not only was she a princess; one day, she could very well be queen of Brynn Tor.

* * *

Marri sighed with regret as she climbed into the skiff. The two days they had spent in the glade were the happiest of her life. Gryff had taught her to swim. She had been reluctant at first, but there had been no way to resist his teasing smile. He swam in his trousers, she in her shift. She had been embarrassed at first, but he had soon put her at ease. They had spent the day by the lake, talking and napping, and swimming again before nightfall.

The next day they had taken a long walk through the tall grass. She had seen rabbits and squirrels and deer. To her amazement, the animals had not been afraid of them.

And now it was time to leave.

She glanced at Gryff as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Already, her heart was aching at the thought of leaving him.

“You ready?” he asked.

“I guess so.”

His gaze met hers. If he asked her to stay with him, would she say yes? Almost, he was tempted to ask. But he had nothing to offer her, nothing but a life on the run. She would never be safe with him as long as Serepta was alive…

Marri frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing that hasn’t been wrong from the start.”

“I wish we could stay a little longer.”

“Yeah. But we’re almost out of food and water.”

She couldn’t argue with that.

She held onto the door handle as the skiff’s engine roared to life. Moments later, they were speeding toward Tarnn.