"How did you come to find me in the cottage?" Tierra asked as she brought her hands to her lap and clenched them. "I should have been at the inna"I had never been ill a day before in my life."

To'en looked directly at her. "Your illness.. .that was to keep you safe."

"You made me ill?" Tierra's jaw dropped. "What about Liana and Tierra? Why did you allow them to go?"

"They were being watched out for and I knew they would be in good hands." He gestured toward Renn. "Renn was needed at Phoenicia and could not come for you 'til he met you in the wood. A guardian followed you, to keep you from harm."

"What?" Tierra's fury rose. "I-"

"Enough." To'en cut her off. "We must deal with the matter at hand."

Still fuming, Tierra snapped her lips shut and glared at the Overseer.

Renn folded his arms as he faced To'en. "What news do you have of that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Zanden?" Renn asked, his voice tight with impatience.

To'en surveyed his audience before speaking. "I believe you have already realized the Sorcerer has always intended to exploit Liana's, Ranelle's and Tierra's offspring in order to keep each species in linea"from Faerie to Elvin to Nordain to Tanzinite."

The Overseer's expression was calm, at odds with the anger curling tight within Tierra's belly. "The Sorcerer," he went on, "intends to create his own magical races."

Liana's hair slid around Aric, as though she sought his comfort as she said, "But haven't we already set the direction of our fates by the choices we have made?"

"I wish it were so simple." To'en sighed. "Zanden has determined that the fates have worked in his favor by you, Liana, marrying with the Nordain King; with Ranelle being a Nordain Princess and having wedded the future Elvin King." To'en's gaze moved to Tierra. "And Tierra, you are of course second in line for the Faerie throne and wield more power than the Faerie Queen herself. If you join with Renn, second in line to the Nordain throne, that makes you even more valuable to the Sorcerer."

"Let me go on." The Overseer held up his hand, halting the words of fury that burst from each man present. "By bedding each of these high-placed women, the Sorcerer believes he will show his dominion over all of Dair. And he will join their collective abilities into an unstoppable force."

Aric clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with anger. "The b.a.s.t.a.r.d will never touch any one of our women."

"We would each die to protect them," Jalen said, the cutting tone of his voice belying his calm expression. "And all of our armies behind us."

Renn smacked one fist into his open palm. "I will rip the son-of-a-qinok's head from his body and throw it into the bowels of Mount Taka."

Despite To'en's dire words, Tierra had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing out loud at the show of masculine rage. It was sweet, really. But she sobered at once. In the depths of her soul she knew that no matter their fierce loyalty and desire to protect, these men could not stop Zanden from coming for the three women.

Ultimately it would be up to Liana, Ranelle, and Tierra to stop the Sorcerer.

"Unfortunately," To'en continued, his voice rising over the shouts of the furious men, "Zanden has stumbled upon the oldest magic, which heretofore has been known only to me and my people, the Overseers. This magic has been forbidden to all but Overseers because of the potential for misuse."

The room became impossibly silent as those gathered absorbed what To'en said.

To'en continued, "The Sorcerer intends to use his own binding spell, tying Tierra, Ranelle and Liana irrevocably togethera"body, soul, and mind."

The Overseer's words weighed so heavily that Tierra could scarce breathe. "But we have each fended him off, alone."

"He was merely toying with you." The Overseer's gaze traveled to each person in the room. "Testing your abilities."

"Please continue with why the Sorcerer wishes to bind Liana, Ranelle and Tierra," Aric interjected.

"By binding the three women," To'en said, his gaze resting on Liana, "Zanden could "see" everything and anything on Dair, whenever he wanted to. This magic from Liana, bolstered by the strength of her halias."

To'en turned next to Ranelle. "The Sorcerer could project his voice anywhere, to put a spell on anything. This with Ranelle's powers, also backed by her heart-sisters."

Tierra's skin chilled as the Overseer's blue eyes met hers, and his voice dropped an octave. "Zanden could also kill at will, by the simple twist of a finger. This would be possible with Tierra's temper and spellbindings, and of course, her powers magnified by her halias."

No one in the room seemed to be able to find anything to say, so dire were To'en's statements. And what he said next, made Tierra's blood run cold.

"With this unholy triad," To'en said, his voice low yet resounding throughout her soul, "Zanden would be una.s.sailable and unapproachable, as he would always know the future. Invulnerable since he would be able to cast spells over groups or armies, from a distance. And he would be extremely deadly as he could kill individuals who displeased him in seconds with the spellbindings."

To'en paused, and then said, "If he accomplishes all of this, as he has long planned, the Sorcerer Zanden would rule all of Dair."

Chapter Twelve.

Wind whipped loose strands of hair at Tierra's forehead as she paused to watch her heart-sisters practice their magic. The three women and the Overseer were in Sky Castle's ma.s.sive garden, upon a gra.s.sy slope at the base of the flowerbeds. Sweet perfume from colorful blooms of red, yellow, orange and purple filled the garden, shades of brilliance that defied the dark shadow hanging over all.

Her fingers ached from countless hours practicing her spellbindings. Mentally she was exhausted from mind-speak training and learning how to effectively block any being from reading her thoughts without invitation.

And the transference practicea"that was enough to make her numb from head to toe.

She tossed her braid over her shoulder and her eyes rested on To'en. The pale muscle-bound G.o.d of a man had been working with the three of them endlessly and tirelessly, yesterday and today.

Lords, was it only yesterday that he had fully explained the Sorcerer's evil intent, and the danger that they all faced?

With a bone-deep sigh, she rubbed her hand on the comfortable material of her clothing. Like her halias, Tierra was dressed in an Elvin tunic and breeches, with soft boots laced up to her knees. The fine cloth kept out the cold, yet served another purpose as the color of the material shifted to blend in with the wearer's background.

Chameleons. The women were like chameleons who changed as their destinies guided them.

No matter their clothing. No matter the men who believed they could protect Tierra and her heart-sisters. The women would not be able to hide from the Sorcerer, and no one could save them unless they saved each other.

Liana, Ranelle, and Tierra knew they had to face Zanden and be done with his threat forever.

For a moment Tierra closed her eyes, chill wind sliding over her skin in quick gusts. The very air seemed to sizzle and cracklea"a tenseness that made her feel fidgety and insecure.

She lifted her eyelids, her gaze again going to the southeast. Somewhere in the distance, the Sorcerer's fortress hunkered like a vicious animal waiting out its prey. The wind smelled of an oncoming storm and something else...something far more sinister. As though wings of evil were speeding their way, somehow riding the black clouds upon the horizon.

Only those clouds had not moved for nigh on two days now. No, instead they had become dark as night, clinging to that one patch of sky and growing ever larger.

Soon evil would come for Tierra and her halias.

Would they be ready?

The sound of hoof beats drew Tierra's attention, and she recognized the glossy black steed galloping up the slope. But it was the proud and fierce warrior upon the stallion's back that captured her attention and refused to let it go. Oh, lords but that man made her quim tingle and her nipples ache. When would she tire of Renn's touch, of the way he looked at her, the way he filled her?

Never.

She brushed the annoying thought aside as she put her hands on her hips and gave Renn a sa.s.sy smile. But instead of slowing down his steed, the warrior continued straight at her. For one instant her breath froze and she feared the man was not Renna" but the Sorcerer instead. She raised her hands for a spellbinding at the same moment the man reached her and she saw his silver eyes.

Renn.

He swooped one arm down and she shrieked as he grabbed her and threw her over his lap, Feymir still going at a wild gallop. Her braid flipped over her head and the ground rushed past at a dizzying pace.

"What in the G.o.ds' h.e.l.ls are you doing?" she said, half yelling and half laughing.

"Quiet, wench." Renn swatted her backside and her laughter turned into a moan. "I intend to have my way with you."

Her dark warrior's words brought an immediate ache to her quim. The bulge in his breeches pressed hard against her belly as she hung over his lap, and her nipples chafed against the side of his thigh.

From her upside down position, she saw that he had entered the forest surrounding the castle, Feymir charging deeper into the woods. Trees, bushes, rocks, logs, gra.s.s.. .everything was a blur.

When Renn halted the stallion, he put his hands at Tierra's waist and slid her carefully off his lap and set her on her feet. She buried her fingers in the material of his breeches, trying to steady herself after her dizzying ride.

They were in a small clearing, walled by rock that reached her shoulders, with more forest beyond that. It smelled crisp and clean, as though the foulness she had caught the odor of earlier would never penetrate this fair place.

Her gaze returned to Renn who remained in his saddle. His hands rested on the pommel, a light grip on the reins, and l.u.s.t in his expression. Shivers of excitement ran through Tierra and she could not wait to see what her dark warrior had planned for them.

His eyes narrowed. "Strip."

She blinked and released her grip on his breeches. "Pardon?"

"You heard me well enough." He leaned forward, his eyes focused intently on her. "Take everything off, wench."

Tierra drew in a deep breath, her nipples beading even tighter beneath her tunic. "Yes, my Lord." A slight smile curved her lips as she bent down to unlace her boots, an idea forming in her mind.

Slowly she removed the first boot, pausing to glance up at Renn beneath her lashes.

"Hurry," he demanded, his voice rough. She knew he wanted her so badly he could barely contain himself.

All the better.

Tierra ignored his command and took her time unlacing the second boot.

Leather creaked as Renn shifted in his saddle. "Do you require punishment, wench?"

Yes, please. Lightly running her tongue over her lips, Tierra pulled off the boot as she stood. "No, my Lord." With her eyes fixed on his, she unlaced the front of her tunic, pulling at the string in a deliberate motion.

Renn swallowed hard, his throat visibly working as his gaze remained locked on her chest. When she reached for the bottom of her tunic, she could hear his breathing deepening. "You will pay for your sluggish actions, woman," he said with a growl, desire raging in his tone.

Tierra eased the tunic over her head, the soft material covering her smile. Cool air brushed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, making her nipples even harder as she tossed the tunic onto her boots.

"Your breeches." His knuckles were white, so tightly he now clenched Feymir's reins. "Remove them. Quickly."

She kept her gaze on him as she shimmied out of her breeches and then stood before him, completely naked.

"By the G.o.ds, you are beautiful." His gaze traveled from her bare feet, over the red curls of her mound, up her waist to her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"What would you have me do now, my Lord?" she asked as contritely as possible, eyeing the huge bulge that was large enough to be seen beneath his breeches.

"Put your clothing into Feymir's saddlebags." He reached down and unfastened the flap of one bag and held it open for her.

Tierra complied, stuffing her soft boots, tunic and breeches into the saddlebag. While he secured it, she backed away 'til she was well out of arm's reach. She tensed her muscles, ready for what she was to do next. "And now, my Lord?"

"Come here." He motioned for her with his hand. "You will ride with me."

"But first..." She ran her tongue along her bottom lip and then smiled. "You will have to catch me."

Tierra whirled and bolted for the short rock wall and easily scrambled up it.

Behind her, Renn shouted and cursed. She was already well into the trees when she heard him thrashing through the brush as he followed her.

Her heart raced and her blood sang at the thrill of being chased once again by her dark warrior. She had a good head start on him, and this time she would not allow him to catch her so easily.

Sunlight dappled the path before her, leaves crunching beneath her flying feet and leaves brushing her bare skin. Her braid slapped her back in rhythm with her movements.

And then she realized she did not hear the warrior any longer, only the sounds of her own flight and her heart pounding in her ears.

Tierra dodged behind a giant pine, the trunk so large it could easily hide three her size. She pressed her back against the rough bark, enjoying the feel of it against her naked flesh and the wind brushing her nipples and the wet curls of her quim.

Maybe he would take her here, up against the tree.

Her breathing came hard and fast as she listened for any sound of the warrior. Only forest noises met her earsa"a squirrel chattering, twitters of many birds, wind through pine needles.. .and the soft cry of a nordai from above.

Tierra's heart pounded faster and her gaze shot up to see a common raven in the branches, not the larger version that could have been her Nordain warrior.

She breathed a sigh of relief at the same moment a hand clamped over her mouth. Tierra startled and looked up to see Renn's arrogant smile as he came 'round the tree. He pressed his clothed form against hers, keeping his hand over her lips. "Did you really think you could escape me, wench?"

He glanced up into the tree and through his lips came the call of a nordai. The raven answered in kind and flapped his wings, darting into the forest. Renn's gaze returned to Tierra's and he released his hold on her mouth.

Renn moved his body away from hers and braced both hands on the tree, to either side of her head. He scanned her form, from her bare feet, up to her mound, waist, b.r.e.a.s.t.s. When his eyes met hers, his expression even more c.o.c.ky than before. "I have many eyes here. Many friends. You will never escape me."

We'll see about that. With a quick flick of her finger, Tierra wrapped a spellbinding around one of Renn's wrists and whipped it around the tree to secure his other wrist. At the same moment she ducked down, dodging around him and running into the forest as fast as she could go.

"Wench!" Renn tugged against the magical bonds as he watched Tierra's naked form vanish back the way they had come. "Free me, or you shall pay."

Only if you catch me, came her voice in his thoughts, along with her teasing giggle.

Renn had to grin despite her gaining the edge over him. Again.

Most certainly he would capture her, and bury his c.o.c.k inside her sweet quim and f.u.c.k her 'til she was too sore to walk.

He jerked against the spellbinding with all his might.

At the same moment it vanished, and he stumbled back, nearly falling on his a.s.s. He shifted into his nordai form in a flash, soaring through the trees, in the direction Tierra had run. Wind rushed through his wings as he called to his brother and sister nordai as he flew, asking for their help in seeking the fleeing Faerie maid.

Immediately a response came back to Renn, telling him that Tierra had reached Feymir and had mounted the stallion. Like a spear shot from a catapult, Renn sliced through the air, his keen nordai eyes spotting Tierra now riding Feymira"and she was still completely naked.