Blood roared through him as he swooped down onto the saddle, landing behind Tierra. He shifted into his human form and she screamed as he slid his hands over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s at the same time.

"b.a.s.t.a.r.d." She laughed and leaned back against him as Feymir charged deeper into the wood. "You scared the qinoks.h.i.t out of me."

"It was no more than you deserved, wench." He pushed her forward, bending her low over Feymir's mane. "Now to punish you."

"G.o.ds, yes." She moaned as he slid his fingers down over her smooth b.u.t.tocks and into her soaking wet core.

Renn withdrew his hand and unlaced his breeches, freeing his c.o.c.k. He grasped Tierra by the hips, lifting her easily with his strength, and brought her down, sheathing himself in her quim at the same moment.

"Renn!" Tierra cried out, unable to believe he was f.u.c.king her on horseback. The rock of the stallion combined with the feel of Renn inside her was almost too much to bear.

Feymir jumped a small creek and when he landed, Tierra went down hard on Renn's c.o.c.k. She almost could not breathe, so exquisite was the feel of her body jarring against his. Her c.l.i.t rubbed against the saddle, Feymir's mane whipping up and teasing her nipples at the same time.

Renn kept his grip on Tierra's hips, moving her up and down on his c.o.c.k as the horse ran at a hard gallop through the forest. Thrusting into her, his breeches rubbing against her naked a.s.s, the wind sliding over her bare skin, the saddle between her thighs.. .the sensations were unbelievable.

He rubbed his stubbled cheeks over her back. "Do you enjoy being f.u.c.ked on horseback?"

Tierra moaned. "Yes, my Lord, yes."

The pounding of Feymir's hooves beat in time with her heart and Renn's thrusts. Branches sc.r.a.ped her skin, and every time the stallion changed direction or dodged an obstacle she felt it through Renn's c.o.c.k and straight into her quim.

"Oh, my G.o.ds," she cried as her climax built up in her. "Oh, G.o.ds." She held onto the reins tighter, her body clenching and stars exploding inside her head. "Renn!" she shrieked as the powerful o.r.g.a.s.m ripped through her.

Renn continued to ram her up and down on his c.o.c.k, making her o.r.g.a.s.m continue on in endless waves.

Then with a shout, he came. He clenched his hands tightly on her hips, moving her still, milking his seed into her womb.

He wrapped his arms around Tierra's waist and raised her back up, and she slumped in a boneless ma.s.s against his chest. Vaguely she was aware that Feymir had slowed to a trot. Her channel continued to contract around Renn's c.o.c.k, sending aftershocks through her, so many she did not think she could take anymore.

"Stop." Her voice was breathless as she spoke. "Feymir. Stop."

Renn kissed her neck, his breathing even harsher than her own. "I love you, denai. I shall always love you."

Tierra had not responded to Renn's declaration of love, and the knowledge did not sit well in his gut. This woman would drive him mad. G.o.ds' h.e.l.ls, she already had.

Once Tierra had dressed again in her Elvin garb, Renn grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close to him. "We've been gone far too long," he murmured.

She nodded and cupped his face, her emerald eyes searching his features. "The Sorcerer is coming soon. We must be prepared."

Renn sucked in his breath. "Our troops will be ready for him. And you will be safe inside Sky Castle."

She shook her head. "You cannot protect me. I know you want to, but Zanden is too powerful."

He scowled. "I will not fail you."

Tierra's mouth curved into a smile, and she caressed his cheek. "I know."

They mounted Feymir, with Renn riding behind Tierra, holding her close as they headed back to Sky Castle. He had troops to prepare, battle strategies to discuss with his brother and brother-at-arms. In truth he'd had no time for dalliances, but his need for Tierra had been so great that he could scarce concentrate on the matters at hand.

Only Tierra could calm his raging desires.

Only Tierra owned his warrior's heart and soul.

Chapter Thirteen.

The following morning Renn strode out of the castle and into the courtyard to meet with captains representing all the armies that had marched to Phoenicia to join the battle. Some troops had come by river, others by field or sky. Some rode horses. Others were footsore and well-muscled from the walk. But to a one, they shared a common purpose: unite as one fighting force and destroy Zanden.

For now, the hosts were stationed below the Phoenician Mountains, upon the barren plain where the battle for Liana had taken place recently. This thought gave Renn pause, but he forced it from his mind.

They defeated the b.a.s.t.a.r.d once before, and they could do it again. h.e.l.l, this time, they had thrice the might, and thrice the resolve.

Brilliant standards snapped and fluttered in the icy wind. The unnatural wind. It blew in from the west, as if bearing breath from Zanden's foul fortress. Renn attempted to shove it from his senses as he joined Jalen and Aric before the captains.

Palme, Liana's birth father and commander of the albino Tanzinites, was present, as was the burly, blue-skinned Ichnok of the Dwarves from D'euan Deep.

Beside the Tanzinite and the Dwarf stood Chrys, the lavender-eyed Seraphine captain whose spirit equaled the wine-red shade of her hair. Renn had enjoyed pleasures with her and her Elvin sisters upon more than one visit to Seraphine.

But no more. Before the pleasures of my denai, even this one pales.

Chrys's wary gaze rested on Evvan, the dark-haired, powerfully-built roguish enforcer of the Devline Elves, who bore odd facial tattoos beneath each eye. Renn was not surprised at Chrys's obvious suspicion. The arrogant Devline resided in the far southeast and rarely involved themselves in matters outside their own realm. The Devline were primarily sword bearers, though many were also greatly skilled at the bow, as was Ewan. They considered themselves superior to other Elves and races.

Did ulterior motives bring the Devline?

Renn's fists clenched.

If only the Devline were vulnerable to probes by seers...

But he had no time for that. For now, the strange foreigners had come as allies, and they would be treated as such.

Humans were noticeably absent, as were the Overseers, despite To'en's promise that his people would arrive in time for the battle. To'en himself had shifted to the white nordai form he used for travel and had left late last night.

Of course Renn had not expected the Faeries to make an appearance. Their men were no more than drones who preferred play and s.e.xual pursuits to politics and battle. The women would be fine warriorsa"if they were of the mood to fight on anyone's behalf but their own. That was rare indeed, and beyond unlikely in this case, considering Anistana's feelings about Liana, Ranelle, and Tierra.

Troyas, King Aric's second in command after Renn, had just returned from a scouting trip. He had flown far enough west to see the Sorcerer's armies marching toward Phoeniciaa"countless troops of men and other beings.

Zanden had obviously ensorcelled humans and other creatures to do his bidding, in addition to those who followed the Sorcerer by choice. By Troyas's estimate, Zanden's forces would arrive the following day.

Blasts of cold wind intensified as Aric began to address the captains.

Renn could scarcely focus on his brother's words, or those of Jalen, even though he knew battle strategies were being mapped out, and plans laid.

His thoughts were of the Sorcerer, of defending his lands and his denai.

Tierra. I will not fail you, despite what you might think. You do not have to fight this war alone.

Renn's gaze traveled to the west, where the dark cloud still hovered in the vicinity of Zanden's fortress.

It would not be long now. The battle for Dair was at hand.

Tierra paced the room she and Renn had shared these past nights.

His room. It was intensely masculine, and utterly Renn. From the rich burgundy and forest green fabrics to the dark mahogany wood of the furniture and the trunk that he had bent her over just the other night.

Soon it would be time to face Zanden with her heart-sisters. Even with the combined force of their magic, she feared it would not be enough to stop him. The ancient power the Sorcerer had stumbled across could very well spell defeat for the haliasa"ii Zanden had learned to master that magic.

Wrapping her arms tight to her belly, Tierra continued to move restlessly around the room. Earlier she had felt dizzy and her food had sat queer in her stomacha"as though it might come back up.

What was this feeling clenching her heart and soul? The fear for her heart-sisters a" that she understood. Fear for all races, and that their way of life might soon come to an enda"that was clear, too.

But why did her thoughts continually return to her dark warrior? Out of all that could come from this battle, why did she fear most never again seeing Renn? Why did she fear never again hearing his deep and vibrant voice...never again feeling his touch upon her skin...never again enjoying his embrace through the night...never again waking in his arms in the morn.. .and never again hearing him saya"

"I love you, denai." Renn's powerful presence filled the room as his voice startled Tierra from her thoughts.

With a small cry she whirled to see him standing before the open bedchamber door. He let it swing shut behind him, his gaze intent on her, drinking her in as though he would never have his fill.

Frozen in place, Tierra absorbed every last detail of her dark warrior. His weary expression, his silver eyes, his windblown hair and stubbled cheeks. His muscular body, his scuffed boots and dusty tunic and breeches.

"No matter what happens," he said, his resonant voice breaking the silence, "I will always love you."

Tierra bit the inside of her lip, her heart melting at the bare honesty in Renn's words and in his expression. Without another moment's hesitation, she ran toward him and threw herself against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as he embraced her tightly to him. She pressed her face against the material of his tunic that was still cold from being outside. He smelled of wind and dust, cedar and his own heady masculine scent.

For a long time he just held her, neither of them saying a word. She did not want to talk, did not want to shatter the precious moment that existed between the two of them.

The moment she realized she was in love with him.

As Tierra clung to him, Renn could never remember a time in his life that he felt such intense emotions for anyone or anything. He loved his brother and sister, had loved his parents, and cared for his people.

But his love for Tierra made every other feeling pale in comparison. His entire life before Tierra was naught but a shadow of what his life had become since he had found her.

A long shuddering sigh wracked her body. Renn pressed his lips to the top of her head, inhaling her honeysuckle perfume and drawing it deep into his lungs. She sighed again and he strode toward the bed with her snug in his embrace.

After he disentangled her from around him, he set her on the bed. He knelt before her on one knee and took her hands in his. "When this battle is over, I wish..." Renn swallowed, suddenly finding it difficult to find the words to say as he looked into Tierra's emerald gaze. "I would ask that you join with me and become my wife."

Her eyes appeared large and luminous as she stared at him. His heart near ceased to beat at the thought that she might refuse him.

He squeezed her hands tighter as he humbled himself before her. "Please say yes, Tierra."

The tightness in his chest grew even greater as Tierra's lower lip trembled, and he bowed his head. He could not let her go. How could he convince her to love him as he loved her?

"Yes," she whispered.

"I cannot live withouta"" His head snapped up and his gaze met hers. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." She cupped his face in her hands and smiled. "I love you, Renn. I will be your wife."

"Denai." He grabbed her to him and stood in one quick movement. Tierra shrieked and laughed as he whirled her around the room.

"You are making me dizzy." Tierra clasped her hand to her forehead, her head spinning and her stomach churning. "I love you, Renn, but you must stop."

Abruptly he halted, his face concerned. "Are you all right?"

She kept her hand to her forehead, not daring to nod for fear her dinner would come up all over her soon-to-be-husband. "Just allow me to lie down for a moment."

He set her on the bed so gently, as though he feared she might shatter if he was not careful. "Do you need a healer? A tonic perhaps?"

"You are sweet." Tierra took his hand and smiled. "But I am fine."

Renn frowned. "Sweet?"

A giggle rose up inside her and she could not keep it from escaping. "I bet no one has ever called you sweet before."

Renn's lips turned up into a grin. "Never." His smile faded as he eased onto the bed beside her, his hand still holding hers. "You are ill?"

Tierra shrugged. "I felt a bit queasy when you spun me around. And earlier, too."

He suddenly straightened. His grip on her hand grew tighter and his expression serious.

She c.o.c.ked her head. "What?"

His chest expanded as he took a deep breath before speaking. "I have not known how to tell you this..." He paused and then continued, "Do you recall when Anistana spoke of aradne dust?"

"A Faerie powder." Tierra nodded as she remembered how jealous she had been when Anistana spoke of using it with Renn. "It makes men wild in bed."

"Yes." He studied her for a long moment before he added, "Its use always results in a child between heartmates."

"So..." Her voice trailed off as flashes of memory came back to her. The dungeon. A glittering gold that had floated in the air and the wild f.u.c.king Renn had given her immediately after.

Hot anger flooded through her. "You used it with me."

A shocked expression covered his handsome face. "I would never do so without your knowledge or consent."

She raised her chin. "Then what are you saying?"

"Anistana." He shook his head, his black hair brushing his shoulders. "When she sent us to the dungeon, she apparently put aradne dust within the folded horse blanket. I did not realize it 'til after we had joined."

Tierra's skin tingled as she absorbed what he said. "It always results in a child?"

"Between heartmates, always." Renn brought her hand to his mouth, feathered his lips across her skin and she shivered. "I cannot lie and tell you I am not pleased. To know that you carry mya"oura"child is the second most incredible thing that has happened to me in my life."

I'm pregnant. Dear G.o.ds, save me. Tierra swallowed and then said, "What is the first?"