The warrior froze, a confounded look upon his face.

Gooseflesh p.r.i.c.kled along Tierra's arms as she watched her heart-sister fall into a trance. Liana was a seer, and her trances most often led to a vision of the future.

"Death..." Liana's voice filled with anguish as she pressed the palm of her hand to Renn's forehead. ".. .it comes on a storm. Many lives lost.. .many souls taken..."

Aric moved as though to reach for Liana.

Tierra stilled him with a hand to his arma"but her blood turned to ice at her halia's next words.

"A choice." Liana's body trembled, her wan features becoming paler yet. "Child of Fae.. .her choice means the dawn of a new beginning.. .or death to us all."

Chapter Ten.

Chills rolled over Tierra as Liana's words bled through her mind...

Child ofFae.. .her choice means the dawn of a new beginning.. .or death to us all.

Liana's eyes flew open and she stumbled back from Renn, a terrified expression upon her face. Aric reached her in a single stride and caught her by the waist, turning her into his embrace and holding her close.

Before Tierra even realized it, Renn was at her side, his arm around her shoulders. Protective. Territorial. When she looked up at him, she saw that his gaze was on Liana.

"What did you vision?" he asked, his voice rough and commanding, his gaze focused intently upon the Tanzinite seer.

Aric's black eyes flashed as he scowled at Renn. "d.a.m.n the G.o.ds, leave her be."

"She spoke of Tierra." Renn clenched his fists as he faced his brother. "I must know what danger my heartmate faces. How best to protect her."

"I am not your heartmate." Tierra jerked herself from Renn's embrace and glared up at him. "And I do not require your protection."

"Release me." Liana pulled away from a stunned-looking Aric and took Tierra's hands in hers. "How does my vision relate to you, Halia? I saw a possible future, heard a voice speaking to me of death and Fae, but I did not see you."

"Child of Fae." Tierra squeezed Liana's hands. "That is what the visitor said to mea"the handsome man who sent me to search for you and Ranelle."

Aric still appeared thunderstruck. "Heartmate?" he said to Renn.

Renn scowled at his brother, then said to Tierra, "What handsome man?"

"To'en." Her gaze met his and she almost smiled at his jealous expression. "A powerful-looking man with white hair that came to a widow's peak and brilliant blue eyes."

"Toen?" Renn frowned. "The wolf shape-shifter?"

"No. To'en," Tierra said, p.r.o.nouncing it like the man had, To-an. "And he was most certainly a man, not a wolf."

Aric had a broad grin on his face as he slapped Renn on the back. "Sotted fool, eh?"

Liana placed her hand on Tierra's arm, drawing her attention. "Child of Faea"do you know how this relates to you?" Liana asked.

Tierra nodded. "I have only just learned I am Faerie. The second-born of twins. Sister to Anistana, Queen of Faerie."

"I knew there was something familiar about that Faerie," came a female voice behind Tierra.

"Ranelle!" Tierra cried out as she whirled and threw her arms around her heart-sister, drinking in her friend's scent of vanilla and spice and enjoying her warm embrace. "I am so very happy to see you. I missed you both more than you will ever know."

Ranelle pulled back, tears in her silver eyesa"eyes so startlingly like Renn's. And a symbol upon her forehead.. .it glittered silver, just as Renn had said.

"I thought about you and Liana day and night." Ranelle's voice caught with emotion. "I could not bear it if anything had happened to you."

"We're together again." Tierra put one arm around Liana's shoulder and her other around Ranelle's and drew them close. "Thank the G.o.ds. Nothing can separate us now. Nothing that is not of our own choosing."

Renn shook his head while he watched the women. After their first hugs and greetings, they each began chattering so fast he wondered how they could possibly understand one another.

"So, little brother." Aric moved beside Renn, laughter in his voice as he spoke. "I seem to recall something you said upon the eve of my joining with Liana." Aric's grin broadened as Renn's scowl deepened. "What was it? Ah, yes. You said that I would never see you behave like a sotted fool over a pretty little wench."

"'Tis quite similar to what he said to Ranelle and I in Seraphine." Jalen appeared beside the men, humor glinting in his eyes.

Aric slapped Jalen on the back. "Have I told you how much it pleases me that you have joined with our sister?"

Renn grunted. "It pleases me, as well."

Jalen smiled as his gaze rested on the laughing and chattering women. "'Twas as though my life began the moment I first saw Ranelle."

Despite himself, Renn found himself nodding in agreement as he watched Tierra.

He was a sotted fool, indeed.

"I am in desperate need of a bath," Tierra said to Liana after the men had left to discuss battle plans with their troops. "You both are so lovely." She gestured to her own worn and grimy forest green tunic and breeches. "But I look and smell like a green dragon dropping."

"Ha! You are as beautiful as you were the last time I saw you, if not more so." Ranelle smiled at Tierra and squeezed her friend's arm. "You would look fair even covered in mud from your brow to your toes."

"The last time you saw me, I was quite ill and looked like a pale dragon dropping." Tierra laughed as she clasped Ranelle's hands. Tierra took in her halia's beaming expression and sparkling silver eyes. "But look at you. You are more gorgeous than ever."

"As for a bath." Liana crooked her finger, indicating they should follow her. "Just wait 'til you see what I have to show the both of you."

Tierra gaped at the opulent furnishings as she followed Liana through the castle. "Your new home is grand," Tierra said with awe in her voice. "I am so happy for you, sister. You deserve this all and more."

Liana smiled over her shoulder. "This is your home now, as well as mine."

Tierra started to disagree, but Liana continued in her familiar mind-speak, Do not argue with me.

Since when did you become quite so bossy? Tierra thought in return.

Liana and Ranelle both stopped short and Tierra stumbled into Liana.

When did you learn to speak in thought? Liana asked as she steadied Tierra.

Ranelle's expression filled with amazement. This is wonderful!

You both heard me? Tierra widened her eyes in surprise as she turned her gaze on Ranelle. You spoke to me in thought, like Liana. She gasped and her hand went to her mouth. I did it, too!

I had wondered. Liana smiled. I have heard much of'Anistana's powers. When you told me you are the Faerie Queen's sister, I suspected you could mind-speak, just as she can. You simply needed the opportunity.

This could be most useful. Ranelle looked thoughtful as she tossed her mahogany hair over her shoulder. If we can learn to speak with one another, yet hide our conversation from anyone else who might be listening.

Liana nodded. We have been bound to one another since we were children. We know each other better than anyone else possibly could.

Ranelle winked. In most ways, sister.

Both Liana and Ranelle giggled and Tierra smiled.

The women continued speaking in thought as Liana led them through Sky Castle, down past the dungeons, toward an underground cavern. When Tierra recognized the pa.s.sageway to the cell Anistana had locked her and Renn in, she could not help but smile. His hard muscled body as he was stretched out on the stone floor, his rigid c.o.c.k, the way he felt deep inside her...

Tierra quickly turned her thoughts away from images of f.u.c.king Renn, praying that her heart-sisters had not heard or seen what was in her mind. She was not ready to share any of that with them. Yet.

When they reached the cavern, Tierra was amazed at the beauty of the colorful glittering world beneath the castle. The pools of water under the sparkling ceiling were crystal green, the air as moist and warm as the steam rising from the water.

"This is one of my favorite places in the castle," Liana said as she approached one pool. She slid her gown from her shoulders, letting it drop to the smooth stone floor, baring her flawless pale skin. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pert, her nipples pebble-hard and the patch of hair between her thighs the same moonbeam color as the hair flowing around her body.

As unselfconsciously as Liana had shed her gown, Ranelle removed her riding outfit. She had large b.r.e.a.s.t.s with dark nipples, a slender waist and rounded curves. And the patch of hair between her thighsa"a symbol glittered there, a symbol that matched the one upon her foreheada"just as Renn had said.

Tierra undressed, ridding herself of the breeches and tunic she was so tired of wearing, and then joining her halias in the pool. The deliciously warm water soothed Tierra's aching muscles and sore quim as she settled onto one of the carved stone benches. "This is heaven," she murmured. "The water is the perfect temperature."

Liana reached for a cake of soap beside the pool. "I am told this cavern is much like the caves of the world into which I was born."

"I always pictured Tanzinite caves as dark, dismal places," Tierra said as she caught the sweet jensai scent of Liana's soap. "But if their underground world is anything like this, then I can understand why they would make it their home."

While they bathed, the three women continued catching up on what had happened to each of them over the past several days. The time amounted to just over two weeks, but it was as though a lifetime had pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye for each of them.

Tierra was still amazed at all that her halias had been through while she herself had been lost in that d.a.m.ned forest. It was unbelievable that Ranelle and Liana were each married and each pregnant.

After meeting both the handsome Nordain King and Elvin Prince, Tierra had determined that Ranelle and Liana had found men that were worthy of her heart-sisters. But she had made it just as clear to Jalen as she had Aric, that she would not tolerate any unhappiness in Ranelle's life. A spellbinding would do the trick nicely if need be.

The symbol upon Ranelle's forehead glittered silver and Tierra moved closer on the stone bench. "May I touch it?" she asked, indicating the symbol.

"Of course." Ranelle smiled and leaned forward as Tierra reached up her hand. "It is called enrli, a sacred design of the Seraphine Elves. Mine is one of the G.o.ddess's symbols for strength, honor, and love."

"It tingles." Tierra traced the silver design with her damp fingertip. "Renn told me that you now bear the mark of the Seraphine Elves here." Her glance dropped to the water where Ranelle's symbol glittered from beneath the water. Tierra drew her fingers away from Ranelle's forehead, warmth moving to her cheeks. "And upon your mound, too."

"Yes." Ranelle winked. "It is a most enjoyable part of the Elvin world."

Liana placed her hand upon Tierra's knee, her sea green eyes glinting with mischief. "We have told you about our husbands. Now tell us how you have enjoyed the fine warrior stud who brought you to us."

Tierra bit the inside of her lip as she looked from one expectant face to the other. "Ohmylords," she said in a rush. "Renn is the most amazing lover."

Ranelle and Liana squealed with laughter, and Tierra could not help but remember the days in their youth when they had shared moments of happiness, despite their caretaker's cruel treatment. Uba had never squelched their spirits, no matter how hard the witch had tried.

"I knew my brother would be your heartmate," Ranelle said, her eyes sparkling. "I just knew it."

"No." Tierra's smile died and she shook her head. "I will be bound to no man. In all my life I have never been free 'til now."

Liana clasped her hand over Tierra's. Love frees your heart and soul, sister, she said in thought.

What Liana says is true. Ranelle's voice chimed in.

Perhaps for you. Tierra frowned. But I have no desire for such shackles.

Later, after Tierra and her heart-sisters had bathed, they hurried to Liana's bedchamber and changed into fine silken gowns. A private dinner had been prepared in honor of the guests, with only the halias, Aric, Jalen and Renn to be in attendance.

Without hesitation, Tierra dressed in a translucent gown in a rich shade of emerald green that Liana had brought to her. When Tierra saw her reflection in the looking gla.s.s in Liana's bedroom, she delighted in the absolute certainty that it would drive Renn out of his mind with l.u.s.t. The gown hugged her body, clearly showing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and dark nipples, and hinting at the fiery curls on her mound.

Liana and Ranelle both dressed in similar gowns; Liana in pale pink and Ranelle in royal blue.

The moment Tierra walked into the dining room, Renn went still, his gaze riveted upon her. She could tell by the way his eyes turned a dark pewter that he could barely control his desires for her. He had dressed in a clean black tunic and breeches, his dark hair shining in the candlelight and his face clean-shaven.

Lords, just looking at the man made her c.l.i.t tingle.

When she slid into the chair beside him, he leaned close and murmured in her ear, "Would you enjoy it if I bent you over the dinner table and f.u.c.ked you in front of everyone?"

Warmth crept to Tierra's cheeks. Her nipples hardened and her quim ached so badly for his c.o.c.k that she squirmed in her seat. "You would not dare."

"Do not tempt me, wench," he all but growled.

Throughout the dinner, Renn would casually brush his hand against her breast or caress her leg beneath the table. Slowly he would ease his hand up to her mound, usually when she had just taken a bite of her dinner.

In retaliation, Tierra made sure to rub her breast against his bicep and rest her hand upon the bulge in his breeches whenever he turned to speak with Aric or Jalen.

She would delight in even more revenge once they were alone.

After dinner, Tierra and her heart-sisters retired to the drawing room. The men had escaped to Aric's study as soon as they had finished their dessert of sugar seed cakes and downed their ale. Tierra had to smilea"she'd had the impression the men had no idea what to do with three excited women who could not seem to stop talking.

In the drawing room, Tierra, Liana, and Ranelle huddled close to a fire blazing in the hearth.

"Zanden." The name popped out of Tierra's mouth unexpectedly and both her heart-sisters frowned. "I hate to even speak of him but we must." Tierra reached up to rub the starmark on the back of her lobe as she spoke. "The b.a.s.t.a.r.d is coming for us. Soon. If we can speak to one another in thought, then that could give us an advantage over him."

"He could hear my thoughts." Liana shivered. "I wish I had done more than wound his thigh with Aric's dagger."

"That wound helped me to escape him." Ranelle offered Liana a smile. "If not for that, I might not have gotten away so easily." Her expression grew serious again. "I was able to block the b.a.s.t.a.r.d from my mind, so I know it can be done. All of us should learn how."

Liana's tresses moved as though in tune with her thoughts. "Why does he want all three of us?"