Mists of Velvet

The hoot of an owl in the distance made them break apart.
    “We must go,” she hissed, jumping up from the grass.
    “Wait a minute,” he said, tugging her back down till she was sitting on his lap. “I will fight for you, Bronwnn. I will. I’ll prove I’m your true mate, and we will be shrouded. Believe that.”
    She wanted to. How badly she wanted that. But it wasn’t to be. She had offered an adbertos , and once offered, it could never be taken back.
    “Come,” she said, pulling him up. “Back through the forest to the castle. The oidhche will be there soon.”
    He pulled her up short, her body colliding with his hard chest. “We will be mates. And I will see you in the morning.”
    And then he kissed her, filled his hands with her bottom, and lifted her up against him, kissing her fiercely. She returned the kiss, fearing it might very well be the last time they were alone.
    But the owl hooted again, and the adder on Rhys’ arm began to hiss. They parted, and Bronwnn changed into her wolf form, silently following him back to the castle. When she was certain he was safely inside, she turned and made her way to the temple, where the goddess would be awaiting her.

    “I need to talk to you.”
    Rhys sat up in bed and scrubbed his hands over his face. “What time is it?”
    “Dawn.”
    Peeking through his lashes, he saw Keir standing in the room. Beside him, the bed was empty. How long had he slept, and where was Bronwnn?
    “She’s speaking with Cailleach.”
    “Now?” Rhys snarled. Jumping from the bed, he snatched his pants from the floor and pulled them up over his hips.
    Keir shut the door behind him and prowled into the room. Rhys watched him, sensing his discomfort. Something was wrong.
    “The Supreme Goddess has also spoken with me.”
    Rhys wondered when his turn would come, although he had no desire to meet with that coldhearted bitch. “When did you see her?”
    “Just now.”
    Damn. He’d slept through a lot. And, of course, he’d been left out of everything—again.
    Keir’s gaze dropped to Rhys’ chest. “I haven’t apologized for leaving you. I am ashamed I left you unguarded.”
    “It’s not a big deal. The way I see it, it’s fate. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found my mate.”
    Keir actually winced. “About that,” he murmured.
    Something about Keir’s tone put Rhys on the alert. “What is it?”
    “You really need to talk to Bronwnn.”
    “About what?”
    “Damn it, Rhys,” Keir snapped. “Just do it.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Sorry. I’m not myself.”
    “I can see that. What’s the problem?”
    Keir glanced at him. “There’s more than one.”
    “Rowan?”
    “She’s one of them.”
    “How is she?”
    Keir shrugged. “Weak. The weakest I’ve ever seen her. And this morning”—he swallowed hard—“I couldn’t wake her. She was exhausted.”
    “You okay?”
    Keir turned away from him and looked out the bedroom window. “I have to find a way to save her.”
    Rhys finally understood the consuming need that ran through Keir. He loved Bronwnn. He’d do anything, sacrifice anything, in order to keep her safe, just as Keir would for Rowan.
    “I can feel her slipping away,” Keir murmured. “I can see the light fading in her eyes.” Glancing over his shoulder, Keir pinned him with his silver eyes. “Be thankful for your mortality.”
    Rhys didn’t know what to say to that. He’d always believed he’d gotten the short end of the stick. But now he realized that immortality had its drawbacks—especially now. Keir was immortal. He’d live forever without the woman he loved.
    “You need to feed?”
    “No.”
    “To talk?” he prodded. Damn it, Keir needed something. He could sense it; he just couldn’t understand what it was, or if he could even provide it.
    “I came only to tell you that Cailleach wishes to see you.”
    “Why? To fry my ass?”
    Keir barely cracked a grin. “She would have done that already if she was going to.”
    “Have you told him yet?”
    Rhys whirled around to find Bronwnn standing in the doorway. He smiled and gathered her up in his arms. “Morning,” he murmured in her ear. “You look good enough to eat.”
    She melted into his arms, and he held her close, savoring her. He felt like shit, considering that Keir was standing there worrying about Rowan, but Rhys couldn’t help himself. Bronwnn was his, and he had only so much time with her. He was already thirty. The MacDonald men lived