Enchanted Moon (Moon Magick Book II) Read Online Free PDF Page B

night.”
    “Let
me pass, or else!” Her voice went shrill despite her near whisper. She
attempted to stride past him.
    Quinlan
blocked her way. “Or else? Have you any idea what you are walking into, lass?”
    “Ailyn
is my name, not lass, and I’ll thank you to mind it. I care not what I nearly
walked into, nor do I intend to. I’ve far more pressing matters to attend to.”
Again, she strode. “Life and virtue matters.”
    Again,
he blocked. “Well, Ailyn , forgive me
if I dinna trust your sensibilities at the moment. You’re soaked through,
beyond disheveled, and in a fuss.” Wet tendrils escaped her long, thick braid.
Her pants might be protecting her, but her tunic clung to her like a second
skin. “Have ye gone daft and been swimming?” He shook his head. “I’ll be damned
if I leave your pretty neck vulnerable to the slaughter.”
    The
only boon her determination awarded was that each step drew them further from
the rite, deeper into the wood’s concealment. She sidestepped him again, but a
hint of a humor teased one side of her mouth. Or was that more anger?
    She
widened her stance and afore he could predict what she was about, she kicked at
his face, her heel aimed at his throat. Quinlan barely dodged the kick, more
surprised at it than anything. He stepped into a drop swing and braced his arms
around her. His shoulder hit the ground. With a twist and a buck, she flung him
off of her and scrambled to her feet.
    “This
should serve me a fine lesson in chivalry.” Quinlan rubbed his jaw where her
foot had whacked, and he couldn’t help but be a mite impressed. He towered her
by a head at least. She made up for the lack in height with sheer bravado,
though. “Nicely done, lass. I’ve no desire to imprison you, but I’ll not let
you pass, either.”
    She
threw her arms up in exasperation. The hum and beating grew louder in the
distance. “I value my life plenty and can protect it better than you ever
could. I warn you. You are interfering with official matters.”
    “I’ll
happily cease. Simply turn back whence you came,” he said, getting to his feet.
    She
looked naught but ready for battle now. “How long have you been here, in this
spot? Did you see anyone else pass here?”
    The
tremor in her voice revealed the fear her bravado masked. Scared yet
courageous. Trembling, but fighting still. She’d lost someone, then. It would
explain her daft behavior. “None but you, lass. Who is it that you seek?”
    For
a moment he thought she’d bury her face in her hands to cry. Instead, she
squared her shoulders and contemplated him a moment. Thankful he was for it,
too. He couldn’t abide a crying female and with a mouth that lush, he’d end up
kissing every tear away. Kiss? Quinlan shook that idiot idea off fast.
    The
low hum from a carnyx carried on the breeze like a
warning call. Leave here, it whispered. A swift departure was in order. The
ceremony had begun.
    He’d
no call to keep her in conversation. Particularly, with attempts at darker arts
under way. Few knew of the true old ways and perhaps even those knew not what
power could be conjured in them. But the participants believed, and Quinlan had
firsthand knowledge of what desperate acts mankind was capable of when clinging
to beliefs.
    He’d
no call to force her to leave, but would, if she didna of her own accord. He’d
discovered what he’d come for. His king would not be pleased, but at least he’d
be satisfied.
    The
music lifted, louder, sweeping through the air, its magick carrying close. Some
sort of energy prickled over his arms. She must have felt it, too, because her
eyes widened, her gaze darted about from her arms to the trees to the fire.
    “ Gabh !” she called, her palm outstretched.
    Quinlan
scowled. What was she attempting? Speaking the old tongue, treating the word as
only an Ovate would. Like a command. He’d witnessed Breanne attempting the
enchantment more times than he could recall, years ago. When nothing