Druid Surrender (A Druid Quest Novel Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

touched her.
    Silence stretched while she waited for him to speak.
    Conscious of seconds ticking away, she didn’t move and tension slowly tightened her shoulders.
    Yet the blasted man continued to stare as if trying to divine her secrets by studying her face, and she caved at his silent demand.
    “I’ll agree to stay—” Brighid lifted her hand at his triumphant expression, “—but I need to collect my belongings first.”
    Magic spilled out of her at the casual gesture, and the painting behind him crashed to the floor. Brighid bit her lip, cursing her carelessness. Her magic rose with her emotions, and no matter how much she wished otherwise, his mere presence evoked disturbing feelings she didn’t know how to block.
    He strode to where the picture had landed and shook his head. “I’ll have them retrieved later.”
    “Unacceptable.” She couldn’t leave them behind. They were all that remained of her past. To lose more would break her.
    He picked up the picture, his brows furrowed, and re-hung the painting in the precise way she was beginning to suspect he did everything, and resumed the argument as if they’d never been interrupted. “I cannot permit it. You’ll be too exposed. The danger is still too fresh to risk it.”
    His arrogant assumption that she would obey put her on edge, and she rose to her full height, planting her hands on her hips to keep from strangling him. “I am not one of your subjects to rule.”
    “We need to find the truth behind the attack. You can’t go wandering the countryside when there are people out there who mean you harm.” He leaned over, planting his hands on the table and met her defiance with his steady gaze. Their faces were separated by only a few inches, those lips of his so enticingly close she could smell the sweetness of the port he had earlier. “I might not arrive in time to save you if it happens again.”
    Brighid wanted to laugh at the absurdity of his statement. If only he knew. Even if she wished to remain under his protection, she couldn’t risk it. People were already suspicious, watching her every move. She couldn’t chance getting caught, no matter how attractive she found him and his offer to protect her.
    She needed to get back to her cousins, help them complete their training and finally put a stop to the men hunting them before they managed to capture everyone.
    “Though your offer is tempting, I am truly sorry, but I cannot accept.” She tore her gaze away from his mesmerizing eyes, her attention drawn to the painting over his shoulder, and barely managed to stifle her gasp.
    All the trees, every shrub, every branch in the painting was stripped of foliage.
    The once-nude nymphs were now clothed in outfits constructed of leaves.
    Proof of her dratted gifts.
    Brighid turned away so as not to draw attention to the painting and hurried toward the door. Any faint possibility that she could stay had been dashed. Her fingers had barely touched the doorknob when he reached over her shoulder and held the door shut with a casual strength that she envied. Muscles corded his arms as he effortlessly trapped her inside with him. Her eyes traced the burns that marred his skin, blanching at what he had so foolishly risked for her, but her treacherous mind immediately landed on one thought.
    He saved her once.
    She tried to ignore the leap of illogical hope that he could save her from the past as well.
    “No,” he contradicted, not unkindly, “you’ll accompany me home and stay as my guest until the matter is settled.” His head descended, his lips inches from her ear.
    War raged inside her.
    Could she stay and not give herself away?
    The question remained unanswered when he spun her around. She braced herself to be kissed senseless. She opened her mouth, whether in protest or invitation, she didn’t know, when she spied a hank of rope dangling from his hand. Without giving her time to react, he bound her wrists, taking care to avoid her