swiveled its head from Max to Ellyn as if trying to make up its mind who to attack. The boar sniffed the air and approached Ellyn.
Ellyn didn’t move. She kept her eyes on the animal and worked hard to stay calm. Max stamped the staff on the ground and bellowed his war cry. The boar stopped. Its muscles quivering with tension, it turned and charged at Max, forcing him toward the large boulders by the cliff.
The crack of her staff and the squeals and grunts from the boar went on as Max successfully kept the boar at bay. Little by little, Max moved the boar farther away from Ellyn and closer to the cliff.
Facing each other, the boar pawed the ground and bellowed in frustration. Finally, it charged at Max.
Max stood still and waited. The boar came closer. The ground rumbled as the animal gained speed. Max held his position. When the beast was an arm’s length from Max he stepped to the side. The animal flew at him and careened over the cliff.
Ellyn ran to Max. They stood and gaped as the animal tumbled through the air and dissolved into nothing. It never hit the ground.
She stared in disbelief at the empty space where the animal plunged. She looked back at the Grand Master. His bruised and bloodied body indicated a different story. She didn’t ask questions. It appeared the Otherworld had its own rules.
“Sit here.” She once again prepared to help him.
“The scrapes are nothing.” He sat on a rock as she requested. “The animal wasn’t real.” He pointed out to the gorge.
“The animal may not have been real but your bruises and scrapes are. I didn’t see the animal strike you. I don’t know how you got these wounds.”
“The Ancestors are playing with us,” he muttered.
Ellyn leveled her gaze and gave him a serious look.
“Perhaps they want you to give me another healing kiss?” His smile was mischievous. “I may ask them for more challenges.”
Her hand trembled when she reached out to swab the wounds. He grabbed it. “I was only making jest. To break the tension. I meant no disrespect.”
“I know. We are both tired.” She kept at her work.
“Your staff…”
“Yes, what about my staff?” She continued to dab at the scrapes on his chest.
“It glowed when we both held it.”
She stopped her ministrations, her hand in midair. “It’s only glowed once before. When I first touched it. My father believed it recognized me.” She kept working her way across his chest and down his forearm. “The staff is ancient. Its secret has been lost over time. I thought it only glowed for its owner. Perhaps it wants to belong to you.”
She traced her finger over each wound. Every touch warmed her in the most personal places, followed by delightful shivers of desire. She tamped down her feelings. The Ancestors had a sense of humor. How could she find someone now when she was dying? He was a bit crusty on the outside but she knew there was a softer, kinder side to him. Somehow her destiny was caught up in his. Are the Ancestors testing my healing to see if it is worthy? Perhaps they need proof that it is strong before they take it back and give it to another. I won’t let them have it until Max is safe.
If it was the last thing she did, she would protect him. He had to carry the message back. The people depended on him.
She cleaned the last wound. Gently she caressed his head in her hands and placed a healing kiss on his forehead. “For the Ancestors.”
Max slowly stood. Tenderly he tilted up her chin and kissed her forehead. “For the Ancestors.”
His breath bathed her cheek and she closed her eyes.
He kissed each eye before he planted a searing kiss on her lips. He took her in his arms. “This attack was too close. You’re in too much danger.”
“It was you who was bruised and scraped.”
She rested her head on his chest and enjoyed his strong, steady heartbeat.
He tormented her with his kisses, built a heat in her that was both frightening and delightful. She wanted him to touch