Awaken to Pleasure Read Online Free PDF Page B

swish and splash of the water as it trickled through the pond never failed to calm her; inhaling the crisp night air, she closed her eyes, willed her body to relax, muscle by muscle, and meditated on her dilemma.
    She didn’t much like the answers that came. While freeing Boone to be her mate could mean eternal happiness for her, what about the numerous others who resided in the haven with her? The reason that they were all able to coexist so peacefully and in such comfort was because they all pulled together as one, putting the needs of the group before those of the individual. The old Moira, the one who had been taught to think of nothing but herself in order to survive, threatened revolt at the notion. What good would food in her belly or peace in the haven do her if she was miserable enough to want to die, the old Moira taunted. If she freed Boone, she could have the comforts of body
and
soul.
    But Moira had sworn an oath to herself on the day she had finished building her hut in Mavi. It was an oath to revoke her former life and to give herself entirely to the new way. To look after those who needed it, as she hadn’t been able to look after her parents. And if she intended to honor her vow, then she knew what she needed to do.
    With a heavy heart she rose from her seated position, unfurling her long, slim legs from where they had been curled up beneath her. She might have been gratified to realize that her absorption in her thoughts was a testament to this oath, for she was so deep into her meditation that she never sensed the attack coming.
    The old Moira would have greeted it with a wicked-looking blade in each hand and a grin that could chill to the bone.
    This Moira was caught unawares—unawares and unarmed.
    A fat hand that reeked of onions was clamped tightly over her lips, effectively silencing her scream. She was still strong, but her muscles and instincts had weakened over the months from lack of use, and her captor had the element of surprise on his side. Though she managed a sharp kick to the tender instep of the man—for she was sure it was a man—the delicate kid slippers she was wearing caused far less damage than her heavy steel-toed boots of the past would have.
    “Got you now, you uppity bitch.” Moira struggled to place the familiar voice, and as she did she caught the holder of it sharply in the gut with her elbow. His breath wheezed out, hot and sour, and he relinquished his hold on her as he stumbled backward, falling hard on his rear on the cobbled ground.
    “Gale Grocer?” Moira’s voice held incredulity and a faint trace of scorn as she watched the rodent-like creature scrabble about on all fours on the ground. “Gale
Grocer?
”
    Gale spat on the ground in anger at the clearly evident disgust dripping from her words. He opened his mouth to speak, likely to spew a stream of ear-burning obscenities, but the light tinkle of a female laugh stopped him before he could speak.
    “That’s quite enough, Gale. You might as well scurry home now with your tail tucked between your legs, if you can’t even keep control over a small female.” Though the voice was melodious and musical, beautiful, even, something lurked beneath it that made Moira’s skin crawl. She looked around wildly, searching for the source.
    Energy crackled, just below her skin. She could feel it…she detested it…
    Magic
.
    “And aren’t you still the feisty little one?” Moira felt her lips part in shock as the speaker approached, walking…no, floating…over the cobblestones toward her. The translucent white skin, the vivid crimson hair, the radiating aura of power.
    The crimson pentagram that marked the skin beneath the creature’s ear.
    Moira’s brain worked frantically, sliding her back through time so quickly that she felt sick. The memory was wrenched out of her like a coal from a fire.
    The woman who had been their quiet, calm neighbor before the witches had banded together. The woman who had looked after