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And he’d gone to her because he couldn’t help himself. If that wasn’t enthrallment, then what was it?
He’d lived with centuries of guilt for having been so weak and here he was again, caught in a similar drive to be with Regan. Only this time, a phenomenon had hold of him, something other mastyrs had experienced.
He also knew he had to be open to the power their connection could bring. From the same conversations and loop emails with the bonded mastyrs, he knew unexpected powers could emerge, abilities with great potential for use against the Ancient Fae.
When he reached the foothill village of Juniango, he veered west and began the climb in altitude to 5000 feet. Regan’s warm body pressed up against his, kept his need for her thrumming strong, despite the serious questions he had about their relationship.
The battle with Braden had drained him. He needed to make love to Regan and to feed again. Whether he liked it or not, she was a blood rose and he’d made a commitment to take the journey with her as far as he could.
He knew she had her doubts as well, which kept his conscience clear.
When he topped the final rise, he flew down into a large green meadow. The cabin was perched between a meadow and a small river. Behind the cabin was the typical Dauphaire mixed forest.
A hot spring bubbled from the top of the meadow at the western end, flowing in a shallow stream to the river. He often used the spring to ease sore muscles after a hard night of battling, then bathed in the river at the point the spring emptied its superheated contents into the cold water of the river.
He slowed his flight as he headed to the front porch.
“Ian, you have a paradise here.”
He smiled. “I do. And in case you’re concerned, only my caretaker, whom I trust with my life, knows about this property. He’s stocked the fridge for us and I think he said he’s provided a dish of his wife’s homemade lasagna.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
As he dropped to the wide, wood walkway that overlooked the river, she stepped off his foot and turned to view the broad rush of water. “I’d be here all the time. I mean, I enjoy the location of my fae retreat, but we don’t have anything like this nearby.” She leaned on the handrail, peering over the side.
He drew up next to her. His gaze lifted to the rising moon, and he was reminded again what Regan’s blood had done for him. “I’m still amazed I don’t need the sunglasses anymore. This amount of light would have given me a serious headache.” He twisted his thumb ring. “I’m grateful, Regan. I want you to know that.”
She glanced at him as he settled his forearms on the thick wood, then rubbed his shoulder. “I’m grateful as well. It was always hard for me knowing how you suffered, but I could never do a thing about it.”
He nodded, holding her gaze. “You have a good heart.”
Her lips curved in a soft smile then she shifted her attention back to the river.
He did the same, taking a moment to enjoy the sound of the river, the small white-caps as the current hit immoveable stones, the glimmer of moonlight reflected in the water.
As often happened when he came here, he found he could breathe. Of course it helped that Stone was in Camberlaune and would take care of anything the Invictus might throw at his realm through the rest of the night.
After several minutes of shared appreciation, he turned to her. “Hungry?” he asked.
She nodded, smiling. “Starved, especially since you mentioned lasagna.”
A few minutes later, he had two plates loaded with the warmed up, layered Italian casserole, a pair of forks, and two glasses of wine settled on the table by the deck window.
Regan had never stopped looking outside. She held a glass of wine to her lips and even now her gaze slid to the forest on the opposite side of the river, then the starlit sky above. “This place speaks to me.”
An image flew through his head of keeping Regan secluded in his cabin for weeks or months on end. His hips arched in response. He grabbed for his wine and gulped, then settled in to chow down on the lasagna. He needed this meal.
“You should eat,” he said.
“Yes, you’re right.” She smiled in such a way that he knew she’d caught how much he wanted her right now.
He didn’t try to pretend otherwise. He was ready to take her to bed. Only what would it be like, after all these centuries, to be buried between her legs once more?
CHAPTER SIX
What surprised Regan wasn’t that Ian was anxious to move things along, but just how clearly she could feel his blood hunger rising. It was like a soft crawl across her skin moving toward her heart. Her own supply had increased and felt like a weight on her chest. Ian needed to feed and she needed a strong bite.
But she also needed nourishment, so she kept her fork busy. “I noticed your cabin has a second smaller story. Is your bedroom up there?”
