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  Soren opened his eyes. They appeared even darker and more crimson than before. He whispered something in Gaelic, but Tara couldn’t quite make out the words. Then with one long, hard thrust, he drove himself home.

  Tara shivered as he pushed himself deep inside her body. Her magic rose to the surface, and she held it back. Not yet. She was still exhausted from bonding with Donar and would need everything Soren had to give if she was to stand a chance of bonding with him.

  Soren held himself still and she knew that he was waiting for her to adjust. She could feel him hold back and try to gain control of himself. He didn’t want to hurt her.

  Did he know that she needed him to let loose of his emotions for her magic to work?

  “Fuck me,” she said. “Fuck me hard and fast.”

  The edge of his mouth curved upward in a half-smile. “With pleasure.” He pulled back and thrust deep, causing them both to shudder. Tara slipped her arms around his neck and held on as Soren developed a steady rhythm of advance and retreat. Again and again he drove himself inside of her, causing her pussy to become slick with need. With each thrust, he pushed her up against the wall. She felt the smooth surface against her back and his warm hands on her ass. Tara let go of her thoughts, let go of her concerns and lived in the moment.

  He felt so good inside of her. She tightened her legs around his hips, urging him deeper. He rested his forehead against hers in concentration. Again and again he entered her, each thrust making her race faster toward that unseen goal. She curled her fingers into his shoulders and rode out the emotions, letting her desire tumble through her like a waterfall.

  “I have to go deeper.” Soren moved away from the wall and to the nearby counter. He set her upon it. The surface was the perfect height for him to thrust deep. She leaned back and spread her legs open, allowing him better access.

  “Yes.” He grabbed her hips and thrust harder, deeper. The change in position caused slightly different sensations. He touched a different place in her channel, a place more sensitive, more intimate. She groaned as he built up a rhythm once more and started racing toward the edge.

  She heard him grunt, felt his hips press flush with her body. Pressure built and her muscles tightened with need. A light breeze caressed her skin, then grew into a light wind. She felt the familiar vortex of power surround her as she hovered on the edge of ecstasy. Then he reached down and pressed her clit with his finger and her world exploded.

  “Soren,” Tara cried out as she tumbled into oblivion. She let out her wings, filling the room with color and light. Pleasure poured into her body, filling up every inch of her soul.

  She heard him cry out, then felt his darkness pour from his body and fill her mind. She grasped it and held on, dragging him over with her into oblivion.

  Power filled the room, both light and dark. It swirled around them and Tara felt energy drain from her body. It was a pleasant experience, as if she was being lifted away from her physical presence and carried away on a cloud of pleasure. Her magic flowed out of her faster and faster. Tara felt lighter and lighter, as if she could float away on a sea of nothingness.

  “Tara.” Soren’s voice filled her mind, calling her back to the present. She didn’t want to go. It felt too good where she was.

  “Come back to me, Tara.”

  As good as she felt, Tara knew that she couldn’t leave Soren alone. He needed her. As Tara slowly drifted back to the present, Soren leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. “That’s it, baby. Come back to me.”

  She opened her eyes. Soren smiled and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.” He carried her over to the bed.

  As he settled her under the covers, Tara felt exhausted, but happy. She had survived the coupling.

  Soren sat down beside her and lifted her arm. She watched him run his fingers around the edge of the heart tattoo. His tattoo. The red in his eyes was gone and she studied his beautiful, relaxed face.

  My tattoo matches Donar’s now. His words filled her mind.

  Yes. We will be able to read each other’s minds.

  Will I be able to read Donar’s?

  She furrowed her brow in thought. I don’t know.

  No matter. He turned her hand and kissed her palm. Rest now. He crawled into bed and sprawled out next to her. She sighed as his body spooned against hers and his arm wrapped around her midsection.

  Rest, little one, we will watch over you. And once you regain your strength, we will finish what we started—all three of us.

  Tara bit back the sliver of fear that ran through her body. She was so exhausted. Most of her magic had gone into the second stage of binding with both men. She doubted that she’d be strong enough to perform the final part of the ritual with one of them, let alone both at the same time.

  She didn’t want to ruin the moment with her concerns, however. Instead she snuggled closer to Soren and closed her eyes.

  Tara was almost asleep when she heard the door to the room slam against the wall. She opened her eyes to see Donar standing at the top of the stairs.

  “You better come up here, Soren. We have company.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “What happened?” Soren jumped out of bed and started throwing on his clothes.

  “Just come quickly.” Donar disappeared out the door and up onto the deck.

  Tara tried to move her limbs, but it was as if she was slogging through mud. Everything felt thick and hazy. If she hadn’t used so much energy in the binding, she wouldn’t be so vulnerable.

  “Stay here. You need rest.” A fully clothed Soren bent over and kissed her temple. “I’ll be right back.”

  How did he get dressed so fast? Tara knew that she needed to move, but lacked the strength. The twins needed her. She could feel their anxiety, their stress.

  She steeled her jaw and forced herself to sit up. Then she sat there, under the blankets, too tired to make her mind work, let alone move her body.

  What’s happening, Soren? She threw the question out toward Soren’s familiar darkness.

  Keep out of sight.

  Suddenly shouting erupted from upstairs and she heard footsteps overhead. There was a spike in Soren and Donar’s fear and she knew that she didn’t have a choice. She needed to help them.

  What’s going on? she asked Donar.

  Stay put.

  Like hell she’d stay put. Tara gathered her strength, then slowly moved into a sitting position at the edge of the bed. The air was cool against her skin, causing Tara to rub her arms for warmth. She resisted the temptation to huddle back under the blankets and reached down for her pants.

  The room tipped and she righted herself once more. No pants, then. She gathered the throw blanket at the end of the bed and wrapped it around her body. It would have to do.

  She climbed up the stairs, stopping halfway and waiting for the world to right itself once more. The coupling with Soren must have taken more out of her than she cared to admit. She grabbed the door handle and swung it open. After a brief moment to gather her strength, she stepped out onto the deck.

  The twins’ backs faced her. Both men stared at the shoreline a few hundred feet away. Small cottages dotted the landscape as if they were in a Norman Rockwell painting. Quiet. Peaceful.

  She had forgotten that they were on water. Tara eased the door shut and flattened her body against it. Fear gripped her chest and she fought it back. She could get through this. She had to.

  Soren turned and glanced in her direction, his eyes crimson and menacing. “Get back, woman.”

  Tara steeled her jaw. Did he think that he could use intimidation to get what he wanted? Fat chance. Tara swallowed her fear and stepped out into the open air. The boat gently rocked back and forth in the water and Tara’s heart jumped into her throat. She grabbed onto the side and peered around the twins at the shoreline.

  Soren had anchored the boat close to the rocks, probably to keep them hidden from the other boats. What he hadn’t re
alized was that they were only a short swim from shore. Someone could throw something at them from the rocks or take a leisurely swim in the calm waters. It appeared as if someone took advantage of their vulnerable state.

  A dark-haired figure stood on the rocks, his hand outstretched. Beside him stood a tall women dressed in leather from her toes to her fingertips.

  Tara recognized them immediately as Nergal and his creature from the hotel. If they were here, where was Samir?

  “What do you want, Nergal?” Donar shouted across the water.

  “I want what’s mine, deahman,” Nergal ordered. “Come to me.”

  Tara felt the surge in dark energy. It cracked through the air like a whip and gripped hard on the twins’ consciousness. Tara felt her own hold on them waver.

  Donar flexed his fingers and steeled his jaw. Soren squinted as sweat beaded on his temples.

  Tara tightened her grip on the boat. “You can’t go to him.”

  Donar turned to her and sneered. “Do you think I’m stupid?” He turned back to Soren. “Get us out of here.”

  Soren flexed his fingers at his sides. “The urge to obey…too strong.”

  Tara glanced back to the shoreline and knew that they didn’t have much time. With each passing second, Nergal’s hold on them increased. If Soren drove the boat any closer to shore, then they’d all be barbequed by the lady in leather.

  She focused her magic and tried to break through the darkness to reach Soren. The effort almost made her faint. She gripped both hands on the boat as the world around her dipped and swayed.

  “Come to me, slaves, and receive your punishment.”

  Tara felt the surge of dark energy, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She steeled her jaw and tried to fight off her exhaustion.

  Donar’s hands shook and he turned to Soren. “Bring up the anchor, Soren. It’s time to go home.”

  Soren stared at Donar for a long moment before responding. “Yes, master.” He moved to the opposite side of the boat and began to bring in the anchor.

  “No.” Tara stared at them transfixed, unsure what to do. In her present state, the men were too much for her physically. She was too drained to use her magic. And yet, if she let things progress, they’d all die.

  “Fuck,” she mumbled to herself and scanned the boat. Tara looked back toward the door and saw the steering wheel. An idea formed in her mind.

  She glanced at the twins. Soren had pulled the anchor up to the edge of the boat, and Donar was helping him pull it over.

  Tara turned her back to the water and stumbled toward the steering wheel. How did one drive a boat? She sent up a silent prayer to the goddess for knowledge.

  She spotted the key in the control panel and turned it. The motor roared to life.

  “What are you doing?” Donar’s voice rose up behind her as she heard the thunk of the anchor hitting the deck. She risked a glance over her shoulder and saw both men hurrying toward her.

  “Come on,” she mumbled to herself. Stupid boat. The motor was running, why wasn’t it moving forward? Fuck, fuck… she swore over and over again as she scanned the control panel. She spotted a lever right above the key. Would that make the boat go?

  Donar put her hand on her shoulder. “Step back from the wheel.” Darkness poured into her body, removing the last of her strength.

  Tara’s vision blurred. She was going to black out. No… She focused all of her energy on the lever and pushed it forward. The boat lurched in reverse, throwing all three of them forward onto the panel. The air flew out from Tara’s lungs as the men crashed on top of her.

  “Stop it, we must go to our master,” Soren grabbed her wrist and pinned her arm to the console.

  She struggled, but her efforts were feeble at best. There was just no strength left in her limbs.

  Donar pressed his torso over hers and held her down. “Get her other hand.”

  Tara fought with the twins as the boat raced in backward circles on the water. The world dipped and swayed and her fear tightened her chest, making it hard to breathe.

  “Master will be upset,” Soren said.

  “Control her, slave,” Donar ordered.

  Tara fought them both, her body weakening with each passing second. Soren grabbed her other hand, but she managed to slip away. Tara felt around for the lever and pulled it in the opposite direction as far as it would go.

  The motor coughed and the boat jumped forward. The men fell back, taking Tara with them. They all fell to the bottom of the boat in a heap.

  Tara could feel their surprise, but knew she only had precious seconds to spare. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the wheel. Using the last of her strength, she straightened the boat and pointed it in the direction of the opposite shore.

  Away from Nergal and his creation of death.

  The twins moved behind her and Tara fiddled with the lever on the control panel, trying to make the boat move faster. She glanced out the window and saw the shoreline get smaller and smaller.

  Nergal’s hold would lessen with distance, she knew, but how far away did she have to go before the twins could feel the affect? It wasn’t like anyone had ever tested it before.

  Donar was the first to his feet. “Stop it, woman, our master is waiting.”

  “No.” Tara fought against him, but he was too strong. He tore her away from the wheel.

  “Turn the boat around, Soren,” he said.

  “Stop, Donar, please. You don’t know what you’re doing.” Tara struggled, but her efforts were pathetic. She just didn’t have the energy left in her to fight.

  Donar pinned her to the ground with his long, hard body. “I’ve got you now.” He held her wrists over her head and glanced over his shoulder. “Turn the boat around, Soren.”

  “Yes, master.”

  Donar turned back to Tara, his eyes crimson and menacing. “Now, little one.” His gaze flicked to her mouth. “I am going to punish you for not obeying my command.”

  “No,” Tara whispered as he leaned forward and covered her lips with his own.

  * * * * *

  Sparrow dialed the number again and got a busy signal. Why wasn’t Tara picking up the damn phone? He had been calling all afternoon. Had something happened to her?

  He made a frustrated noise and threw the piece of junk across the room. He was in deep shit. He needed Tara to tell him her location quick, otherwise there was going to be hell to pay.

  Sparrow leaned his elbows on his desk and rested his head in his hands. He was royally fucked.

  The last time he officially heard from her was back in that alley by the hotel. He knew through his contacts that she had been picked up by one of the deahmans and taken to the storage lot down by the bay. There the twins were supposed to be captured and Tara delivered back to him.

  When he didn’t receive a phone call from her telling him she’d lost the twins, he knew something went wrong. He just hoped that whatever happened was fixable, otherwise those deahmans were going to come looking for vengeance, and he was the only informant they could get their hands on.

  Damn deahmans. Why did he ever agree to their demands in the first place? He should have stayed loyal to Darien. Things would have been much simpler.

  He’d had no choice but to betray his long-time friend, however. The deahmans had figured out what mattered to him most and used it to make him do their bidding.

  Sparrow ran his fingers through his dark hair and tried to weigh his options. The fact that Tara hadn’t contacted him yet didn’t sit well. Something was wrong, and it was only a matter of time before those beasts from hell learned of it. Maybe he could go into hiding for a while…

  “Sparrow.”

  Sparrow straightened in his chair and turned his gaze to the door. “Urian!” He smiled as he stood from his chair and walked out from behind his desk. “It’s so great to see you. We’ve been so worried. What happened?” He paused mid-step as a chill raced down his spine. Something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger
on it.

  Urian cross his arms and leaned on the doorframe. “You betrayed us, Sparrow.”

  The feeling of unease increased. What was going on? Play it cool… “Urian, if you had any idea what those bastards did—”

  “Oh I know what ‘those bastards’ did to you.”

  “You do?”

  Urian nodded. “And then you repaid us by leading us into a trap.”

  Us? “What do you mean, a trap?”

  “You never told us that the girl was a fighter.”

  “All Iatros are fighters.” Sparrow struggled to keep up with the conversation. Us? What was Urian talking about?

  “Yes, but not all are part of the elite guard nor are all of them strong enough to bind her soul with two deahmans and slip them from my grasp.”

  “What?” Sparrow leaned against his desk as his thoughts spun. “She bound two of them?” A sense of pride welled up ion Sparrow’s chest. He had always known that Tara was a powerful Iatros. The air around her practically rippled with energy. She just needed self-confidence and the knowledge of how to tap into her innate magic.

  “Well, they aren’t full deahmans yet,” Urian admitted. “The binding ritual isn’t complete, but she’s well on her way. Even now I can feel my grip slipping on them.”

  Sparrow pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. This was terrible. Stealing Darien away was bad enough, but when the deahman lord learned that the Iatros took the twins away from them as well, there’d be hell to pay. Wait a minute…

  “They slipped through your grip?”

  “Yes.” Urian straightened away from the door frame and held up his hand. A tattoo of three sixes surrounding a stone was burned into his flesh. Sparrow recognized it immediately as the mark of the beast. Someone or something had made Urian the deahman leader.

  “They belong to me and that bitch is trying to steal them away.” Urian closed and lowered his hand. “I’ve come to find out where they are.”

  “Your grip? You mean that you’re—”

  “I am lord now, yes.”