Page 68 of Woods of the Raven

I turned to check on him.

“Kick her ass,” he yelled, which was horrendously inappropriate.

“Go inside!” I shouted, noting he was petting Gwyn by the door but doing it carefully, as she was covered in blood, bits of skin, and pieces of organs and bone. She must have eviscerated the wolf that she’d been squaring off with.

“What are you?” Rulaine roared at me.

“What are you?” I shouted back.

“I am the Sorceress Rulaine of Dragon Marsh,” she crowed.

I had no idea where that was or what that was. It sounded cool and scary, but sadly, that turned out to be the last of our conversation, as a loud, ground-shaking clap of thunder finally brought the rain. It came down in sheets.

I heard her howl something, and then she came flying out of the darkness, straight for me, and I had no doubt I would have been cleaved in two had she hit me.

Dropping to the ground, I shoved my hands into the dirt that was quickly becoming mud and, as steward of Corvus, called for aid. I needed to keep the land safe, keep the dogs safe, and guard the rift.

And the man, it said.

And the man, I answered, and smiled.

It knew me well.

Roots erupted from the ground like ravenous pythons, gripping, grabbing, catching the sorceress by her wrists and ankles.

“Look away!” I shrieked back to Lorne in warning.

I didn’t hear the sound of tearing and her howl of terror and pain, nor feel her hot, thick blood splash over me. Everything was swallowed by the rain, washed away, drowned out.

A sinkhole appeared, not deep but enough to take her, suck her down into the mud before it refilled, leaving nothing but the pounding, driving storm. In moments, the vargrs were swallowed as well, gone from sight.

I knew better than to allow evil to poison our sacred ground, so I called on the wards to purify what was unclean, to let nothing pass through into the land, the water, the trees or grass, nothing that was not for our highest and best, both for myself and, more importantly, for Corvus. Many minions and servants had died over the years, sacrificed themselves for the gain of their gods, thinking if their blood tainted our land, it could be called upon later, like a curse, to allow access to all those who would do harm to others.

My people, though, they were planners. Just as we thought to protect our neighbors, we thought to protect our land. I could reach the wards I was tied to body and soul, through blood and tears, flesh and bone. All was well, and all was safe.

My thanks, I said to the land.

Our thanks, it answered.

And I fell sideways into the mud.

EIGHT

My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Lorne standing by the hearth, towel-drying Gwyn, who seemed to be enjoying his ministrations quite a bit if her lifted head and closed eyes were any indication. I loved how he was talking to her, telling her what a good girl she was, and I enjoyed seeing the spectral hound’s tail wag lazily. It was amazing.

“What’re you doing?” I asked him, enjoying watching the muscles bunch and cord under his T-shirt. His bulging biceps and powerful forearms were gorgeous as well.

He looked up at me, grinned, told Gwyn to stay, and then bolted over to the couch I was lying on, several towels between me and the soft burlap since I was covered in mud.

“Are you going to wash me next?” I teased him.

“Yes,” he replied, smiling warmly. “We’re getting in together, and I’m gonna scrub you clean, and then we’re going to get into bed and sleep.”

“Sleep,” I whined.

He bent and kissed me, and I opened for him, my tongue wanting to taste him, draw him down inside me as deep as he could go. Never ever had I wanted anyone more. He’d seen me at my darkest and scariest and didn’t fear me in the least. My skin felt electric with how much I needed him.

Lifting up, breaking the kiss, he stared down into my eyes. “You were amazing. You saved me and the dogs from…what was she, some kind of demon?”