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 Ah & we have a dilemma. Her spell upon you will be broken once you pass
through, though. You will see. You will not care.
Killian glanced at Tyra and then beyond her. Turning, Tyra drew in a sharp gasp.
The portal yawned before her, gleaming like some great mirror and yet she discovered
that she could see his plane from where she stood. It was indeed a world of fire, red rock,
red sky. A molten river flowed between two armies of fearsome looking daemons. Even
as she watched the daemons on the other side launched themselves at one another in a
horrific battle.
When Tyra dragged her gaze from the scene, staring at Killian.
She knew at once that one of those armies was his, realized immediately that that
was why he had been so enraged when he had been pulled away from his world.  Go
Killian, she whispered, swallowing a little convulsively.  I do not need you to fight my
battles.
He flicked a glance at her and turned to look at Avoran again.
Abruptly, he seemed to come to a decision. Whirling away from her, he launched
himself toward the portal and as he did, it seemed to close around him as if it had only
opened for him.
Tyra felt as if the air had been crushed from her lungs.
 This is just too rich! Avoran exclaimed, laughing.  You were caught in your
own spell?
Tyra jerked at the reminder of her own danger and whirled to look at her uncle.
 My army is marching even now! she said without a good deal of conviction.
 Grandmother knows what you have done! You will not get away with this!
It seemed she struck a chord of doubt in him. He stopped gloating and frowned at
her.  She is old and weak! She could not stop me before! How do you think she will
stop me now?
Tyra frowned.  Stop you before?
His humor returned.  When I & removed the other obstacles in my path, he
murmured chidingly.
Despite the fact that she had always suspected that he had had a hand in the death
of her parents, she was shocked at his brazen admission.  You killed my parents!
He snorted.  I killed my brothers! You do not think I hesitated a moment to kill
your mother, as well?
 Or that you will hesitate to kill me.
He studied her.  It occurs to me that there is no real rush for that. I have always
& admired your beauty. No one need ever know what has become of you.
Revulsion rushed through Tyra. She thought for several moments that she would
be physically ill at the suggestion.  Do not think for one moment that I will allow you to
VALLEY OF SHADOWS Desiree Acuna & Juliette Barrymore 62
touch me, you vile, disgusting man! You are my uncle! How could you even think like
that?
He shrugged.  I will not hold an accident of your birth against you, he said,
laughing.  I would have given much to get my hands on your mother, but you will do
nearly as well. He paused.  I will not need your compliance, my dear. I believe I will
enjoy it more, in point of fact, if you scream. And I have a place where you may scream
all you like.
He transferred his attention to his men.  Take her! Bind her well. I would not
like her to fling herself off of the wyvern before I have had a chance to entertain myself
with her!
Tyra screamed when the men began to advance on her, looking wildly around for
some possible avenue of escape. Even as she turned to try to fling herself through the
portal, however, Killian stepped through.
Blood and fleshy matter spattered him from head to foot and his face was a mask
of such rage that it halted her in her tracks. Fortunately, it gave the men behind her
pause, as well.
Avoran s smile of triumph fell.
 Short battle! Killian growled. Uttering a howl of rage that almost literally made
Tyra s hair stand on end, he charged straight toward her. She squeezed her eyes shut,
tensed all over for the pain she expected.
The men behind her screamed. Whirling, she discovered that Killian had
bounded over her. Blood and torn flesh spattered her as Killian seized the nearest man
and used his body to bludgeon the others. The wyvern began to scream, as well, to dance
and buck. Flinging the men from their backs, they took flight.
Avoran managed to collect himself. Even as he struck the ground, he summoned
a spell. A ball of fire formed in his hand. He flung it toward Killian and formed another.
Killian shredded the soldiers trying to battle him and flung both their weapons and the
parts of their bodies he d ripped off at the sorcerer.
Caught in the line of fire, Tyra screamed and threw herself toward the stone stairs
as a fireball whizzed toward her. It struck her before she could hit the ground and
oblivion claimed her.
* * * *
Huffing for breath, Killian paused when he discovered he could not find another
target for his rage. Satisfaction flickered through him briefly when he had scanned the
area and discovered that he had slain them all. It died when he did not see Tyra and
panic took its place. A desperate search with his gaze finally settled on her, crumpled on
the steps of the temple. For a few moments, he could only stare at her, fighting a horrible
sense of dread, dizziness. Shaking his head to throw it off, he strode toward her and
dropped his knees.
She was so limp when he carefully turned her over that anguish flooded him, the
urge to howl. As he battled his churning emotions, however, he realized he could still
detect her pulsing heart, her breath.
Relief flooded him. With great care, he gathered her into his arms, cradling her
against his chest so that he could give her some of his essence. The coolness left her
skin. Her heart began to beat more strongly.
VALLEY OF SHADOWS Desiree Acuna & Juliette Barrymore 63
She was bloodied. For a few moments, he stared at the mess in horror, until he
realized that most, if not all, was from him. Rising with her in his arms, he looked
around and finally moved away from the temple when he caught the scent and sounds of
water. Following them, he came upon a small stream just beyond the line of trees.
He settled her on a carpet of moss and stepped into the frigid water, bathing the
gore of his battles off and then tore her gown away and used that to bathe the blood from
her. She gasped when the cool cloth touched her.
Killian paused, waiting for her eyes to open.
For several moments, she merely stared at him as if she did not know him and he
felt his belly tighten.
She struggled to sit up abruptly and glanced around fearfully.
Her gaze was sober when she turned to him again.  You came back.
He swallowed with an effort.  I would not have left you at all if I had thought I
could defeat Avoran, he said with remorse.
She stunned him by scrambling to her feet and throwing herself at him. He
caught her against his chest gratefully and curled his arms around her.  You came back
for me, she whispered shakily.
 Yes, beloved. Emboldened by her behavior, he held her close.  I am not a
creature of your world, my precious, but I am your man. I have defeated my overlord. I
would pledge myself to guard you from your enemies & ally myself to you in case of
need, if you will have me.
She pulled away to look at him, but he could tell nothing from her expression.
 You need only call me and I will come.
She swallowed audibly and lifted a hand to his cheek.  Would that include the
possibility of & calling you to my bed?
Desire flooded him instantly.  Aye, beloved. It would.
She ducked her face, tracing a finger along his chest.  I don t suppose that I
could convince you to be my consort?
Disbelief flickered through him, hope, and then he felt it die.  You are to be
queen. You must produce an heir, he reminded her.
She looked at him.  I would & . She paused.  It would give me the greatest
pleasure to welcome your seed into my body and bear your child, Killian. Can & can
you not give me your child?
He stared at her, hardly daring to believe that she meant it.  You would welcome [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]