I made a point of complimenting him on his marksmanship and thanked him for not actually killing me either time. I had an idea he might have only been attempting to placate a witch whom he knew could blast him off the face of the planet, but since he hadn't needed to tell me anything at all, I decided that this was yet another reminder to me that I really should travel more and meet new people. After all, it's much harder to wage wars with your friends than with people you've never met.

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I really wanted to meet Brandon's witch, too. We needed to form a network! With my abilities and hers- she might be able to do a lot more than make snow!-we could probably whip the place into shape in no time- perhaps even get slavery abolished. I'd have liked to learn how to control the weather, too, but doubted that I ever could, because witches are born with their own set of innate abilities. We can develop them more as we grow, but they aren't something that can be taught.

I mean, I couldn't even begin to guess how to teach someone to talk to squirrels!

As we neared the village, it became perfectly obvious that Rafe had heeded my advice and hadn't stopped or probably even wondered what had happened to Leo and me-though he might have decided we were dead and spared no more thought for us than that. This was unkind of me, for he'd only done exactly what I'd told him to, but it would have been nice to think he cared enough to wonder what had become of us.

My shoulder ached like the devil, and the one night we spent out on the trail was one of sheer torment. I slept very little, and though Leo was allowed to sleep with me, we weren't what you'd call intimate with one another for obvious reasons-one of them being that Gerald and Craynolt shared our tent, and we also had a guard or two close by. Anyway, by the time we arrived at Rafe's doorstep, I was tired, hurting, and horny as hell-in no mood, therefore, to put up with any crap from anybody.

But, of course, the gates were shut fast against us, and it was obviously going to take a good bit of persuasion to even get Rafe to come out and parley.

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300.

Cheryl Brooks Brandon signaled to Kyle, who, right on cue, produced a knife that he held tightly against my throat.

"Forgive me," he whispered softly, "but I have to make this look good."

"Oh, go right ahead," I grumbled. "What's one more wound?"

"That's the spirit," Kyle said with genuine approval.

"We'll get the bastard out here-you wait and see.

Brandon's got quite a mouth on him."

"Come out!" Brandon roared. "Or the witch dies!"

"My, how dramatic!" I commented acerbically.

"Might I remind you that Rafe probably doesn't give a damn whether I live or die?"

At another signal from Brandon, Kyle pressed even harder with the knife. It was going beyond mere discomfort into the realm of actual pain now, and, so far, there was no indication that Rafe was paying any attention at all. Leo was, though, because I could hear him growling-presumably at Kyle.

"Do you want her blood on your hands, too?"

Brandon shouted. "She means nothing to me! However, I would hope that the witch of your realm might be of use to you and your people. Perhaps they might have a say in this?"

Despite the fact that a troop of armed men stood ready to kill anything that moved, a crowd was beginning to gather. Not exactly an angry mob, but there were a few grumblings amongst them. I recognized many of the faces, for they were people I had cared for in the past. Looking further, I saw the woman whose child I had once found, and she was being pretty vocal on my behalf. I hoped Rafe was listening, because having a *300 *54*.

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knife pressed against your throat is not a pleasant experience, even if a charming fellow like Kyle was involved.

Brandon shouted at Rafe a few more times-his deep, raspy voice sounding more like a roar than ever- and the crowd began to take up the chant as well. I was in the process of telling Kyle's horse to please stand still and quit fidgeting, lest I inadvertently lose my head, when the gates opened at last. Kyle lowered the knife, but didn't loosen his grip on me.

Rafe and Carnita were flanked by what was probably each and every one of Rafe's men, right down to the stable boys. All of them were armed and ready, though I wasn't sure if their intention was to win a fight, or merely to deter one. Rafe stood there glaring at us defiantly, holding a nervous Carnita tightly around the waist, as though he was afraid she might escape. If I hadn't known better, I'd have said she was a hostage herself. Rafe and Brandon were wasting time staring daggers at one another when, to my delight, Max trotted out, happily wagging his tail. He looked a little stiff, but seemed otherwise okay.

"Max!" I exclaimed. "It's so good to see you! I was so worried! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he replied staunchly. "Want me to bite someone?"

Good old Max! "No, if I need anyone bitten, I've still got Gerald in my cloak," I said as Gerald stuck his nose out to watch the show. "And Craynolt is around here somewhere."

"Morgana is in our stable," Max reported. "She's fine, too. And the boys are glad to be home. They didn't like being with that other man."

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302.

Cheryl Brooks When Rafe finally said something, it was to inform me that if Morgana gave birth to a live foal, I owed him a stud fee. Sinjar had scored at last!

"Sorry I can't pay you right now, Rafe," I apologized.

"I'm...occupied at the moment. If it's not too much trouble, would you please talk to Brandon and try to calm him down? He's rather...testy."

"I will not!" Rafe seethed. "I have nothing to say to him."

"Yeah, well, he has plenty to say to you," I said. "Tell him, Brandon."

Brandon still sat on his big, white stallion and was looking down at Rafe from that superior height, as though he were an insect to be stepped on. "You may keep my sons in exchange for your wife," Brandon said.

"Those are my terms."

Which sounded reasonable to me, but just because Brandon wanted Carnita, Rafe now seemed to want to keep her at all cost. It was probably only to save face, but the townspeople had seen Rafe's boys, and were now looking at Brandon with some degree of interest- and recognition. I heard a few murmurs in the crowd about the resemblance. Rafe himself had never admitted that he believed it, but the fact that-according to Leo, whose insight was very helpful at this point-Carnita was pregnant again was now a factor. This child was also his own, or so Rafe claimed.

"Bullshit!" I exclaimed with disgust, completely losing the guard I usually keep on my tongue concerning the use of swear words-in public, that is.

"She and Brandon got together when the cartel met!

He told me so!"

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"He would say anything!" Rafe spat out. "The poor, childless wretch!"

Brandon appeared to be too tongue-tied with anger to even respond to being called a poor, childless wretch, so I went on, "Come on, Rafe! Admit it! You don't believe those are your kids! You can't possibly! No one believes it! The only one you're fooling is yourself." I looked at Carnita. "Tell him, Carnita. You know the truth better than anyone."

"Don't say a word to that scum!" Rafe warned her, tightening his grip around her waist. "He stole my sons, killed my servant, and sent armed men out to kill us,"

Rafe shouted to the crowd. "Tisana, I can't believe you've been taken in by him!" Then his eyes narrowed, taking in the fact that Leo was also being held captive.

"Oh, I see," he said grimly. "He's threatened to kill the slave if you don't cooperate. Well, I'm sorry Tisana, but I am not giving up what is rightfully mine. Not for you, or anyone else."

I heard a gasp from someone in the crowd, but didn't have the opportunity to notice who it was, though it was obviously someone who thought Leo was pretty neat. I looked over at Brandon, rolling my eyes before turning back to address Rafe. "It still comes down to property and ownership, doesn't it, Rafe? Is that all you care about? That, and saving face? Because you won't be, you know. Everyone in the cartel must know the truth."

Rafe ignored this. "I keep what is mine," he said firmly.

"What about Leo, then?" I asked. "You gave him to me just to shut me up! You knew!"

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304.

Cheryl Brooks "But you haven't shut up, have you?" he said nastily.

"So I guess the deal's off, then."

I looked over at Carnita. "Spend five minutes with Leo, and you'll never let Rafe-or Brandon, or anyone else, for that matter-touch you again. Believe me, he's a better lover than any mere human could ever be! One taste of him, and you'll be having orgasms 'til you can't see straight."

"I'll second that," a female voice called out from the crowd.

I was dying to know who that was, but couldn't take the time to check it out just yet.

Carnita seemed momentarily diverted by this. "Oh, really? I just thought he looked interesting."

"Trust me, Carnita. He's much more than interesting!" I said earnestly. "I wouldn't trade him for any other man on the planet-all of them, in fact. And that's aside from the fact that he's the only one I love."

"And love is the only thing that matters in this life,"

Leo said gravely. "Whatever else we may possess, love is the one thing that cannot be bought." His gaze sought Carnita's. "For all of Rafe's wealth, you do not love him," he said simply. "It is plain to see."

Carnita's eyes reflected her indecision. It was apparent that she loved Brandon, not Rafe, but it was very hard for her to admit to it. Honestly! She and Rafe deserved each other! Brandon would be much better off going back to his witch, even if he never had any sons! Rafe was making me mad, too, and just when I thought he'd made a change for the better! I wanted to slap them both!

"Rafe, I'm surprised at you!" I snapped. "She plays *304 *55*.

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you false, passes off Brandon's children as your own, and now she's pregnant again! You wondered how anyone could have gotten in there without making a stir the night the boys were taken, well, this is why! She let him in! She's the enemy here, not Brandon! He's as much her dupe as you are."

"I am no one's dupe!" Rafe roared. "And she is not the enemy! She is my wife!"

"She did let me in," Brandon said quietly. "And we have been lovers since before you were wed. I loved her then, and, despite everything that has happened, I love her still."

"Which is a lot more than you deserve!" I spat at Carnita. Fireballs were forming in my eyes, and it took everything I had not to fire one at her. "People have died because of you! And you aren't worth it!" I said disgustedly, "Best give it up, Brandon. She's not worth the effort. Go back to your witch and try to be happy."

Inadvertently, I'd said exactly the right thing. "Your witch?" Carnita exclaimed in disbelief. "Your witch?"

Her voice became more high-pitched and screechy with each repetition. "You said you were faithful to me, that you'd never looked at another woman!"

Brandon must have seen this as his best weapon, because, God love him, he gave it his all. With an insolent smirk, he said, "That does not include witches." His smile became more pronounced as he added, "There's a difference." He sat his big horse with a casual arrogance, obviously very sure of himself now. He had her, and he wasn't going to have to beg, either. "She was a good lay," he said, glancing over at me. His lust-filled eyes raked my body with such a fierce heat, I could almost feel his gaze ripping my clothes off as it went from my *305 *55*.

306.

Cheryl Brooks head to my toes. "Most witches are, you know-as is this one."

He was very convincing, and, by the gods, if I hadn't known better, I'd have believed him myself. Even Leo, who knew it to be a lie, was growling again, and that Carnita believed him was evident. Kyle was chuckling softly in my ear and whispered, "I'll bet you are, too," as his arms tightened possessively around me, pulling me back against him. He was enjoying this immensely, and if I wasn't mistaken, it was making his cock hard.

"Her too?" Carnita squealed, her face flushing with anger as she stomped her foot. "Oh, you cad! You swore you'd be faithful to me forever!" She squirmed out of Rafe's hold and started toward Brandon, her fists raised in fury.

Rafe grabbed her arm. "You are not jealous of him?"

he demanded.

"You bet your sweet life I am!" she swore, wrenching away from him. "Just let me get my hands on him. I'll kill him!" Ordinarily, I wouldn't have thought she'd had it in her, but if I'd been Brandon at that moment, I think I'd have been just a tiny bit afraid, because from the way she was glaring at him, it was a wonder he wasn't dead already. I'm pretty sure if I'd looked at him that way, he'd have been reduced to smoldering embers in no time at all.

Brandon obviously wasn't afraid of her, for he never flinched, but simply let her approach, still with that provoking smirk on his face. Seizing the bridle above his horse's bit, Carnita spun the poor thing in circles around her while she screamed at Brandon like a banshee. I didn't catch everything she said, but *306 *55*.

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I know that ripping Brandon's balls off and feeding them to the dogs was in there somewhere. Finally, she managed to get the stallion off balance enough that he fell over in a tangle of thrashing hooves and frothy white tail. Brandon jumped clear and then stalked toward Carnita menacingly, stripping off his gloves as he came. Striking her full across the face with one of them, he snarled, "Shut up, bitch!"

She might have been surprised, but it didn't stop her-barely slowed her down, in fact-and she launched herself into him, fists flying. Brandon stood it for a few minutes, then he did what he should have done all along and, pinning her arms to her sides, kissed her fiercely, right on her wide open, screaming mouth.

"Damn, this is getting me hot," Kyle swore against my neck as he thrust his hips forward against my ass.

"Are you sure that cat's really that much better than the rest of us?"

"Kyle, my friend," I said, smiling as Carnita finally began to return Brandon's kiss, "you have no idea."

"How about three or four of us together?" Kyle persisted. "He couldn't top that, could he?"

"Bound, gagged, and standing on one foot," I replied absently, still watching Brandon and Carnita. Rafe snarled and went back inside, slamming the gates on the scene, as though the mere sight of it made him physically ill. He was going to be better off without a wife who didn't love him, of that much I was sure, even if he wasn't used to the idea yet. It really was the boys who held a place in his heart. Maybe now he could find a nice local girl who wasn't quite as beautiful and provoking as Carnita and finally get some peace.

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308.

Cheryl Brooks "I've got a really big cock," Kyle assured me. "You'd like it."

My voice was firm. "Not as much as his, Kyle. We are talking deluxe model now. You might as well give it up."

"But I've always wanted to fuck a witch," he said wistfully. "Are you sure you wouldn't...?"

"Absolutely. And besides, if you'd wanted to fuck a witch, you should have done it before now," I scolded him. "I've been sitting in that cottage all alone for years and years! You could have come to visit me anytime."

"But I didn't know where you lived, or how...sexy you were."

"I wasn't," I replied, smiling at Leo, who had dismounted and was now heading our way. Oh, wow, did he ever look like the man of my dreams! Glowing eyes, fanged smile, pointy ears, curly hair, and all-and I couldn't even see his cock at that point. "He did that to me," I said firmly. "Made me what I am today. He's the one."

Leo came closer and, reaching up, he took my hand, pulling me from Kyle's grasp, who he took no more notice of than he did the horse we sat upon. Entwining my arms around his neck, my feet never touched the ground as my dear Leo kissed me.