"
Her face on fire, Nynia was horrified that someone had stumbled upon her and Speirr while they were making love in the woods.
"What say you, Aberth?" Dearg asked another handsome youth.
"Aye. She'd be good for a tup or two, especially since she's sheathed a strong sword, but you can marry her if you're like Speirr and common filth is to your taste. I'd rather not.
"
Their mean laughter rang in her ears.
Humiliated and embarrassed, Nynia had started away from them when she caught the sound of a horse approaching at a dead run.
Everyone in the village grew quiet at the sound. It was obvious the rider was in a dire hurry. His thick, deep voice could be heard urging the horse onward toward the village.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) The instant Speirr came flying out of the woods, people scattered out of his way.
Nynia couldn't move as she watched him.
He had his head bent low, and both he and the horse were covered in sweat. United in power, beauty, and form, the two of them were a fierce and frightening sight to behold.
They flew as if the demons of Annwn were hot on their heels.
She expected him to keep riding past her, toward his home.
He didn't.
Instead, Speirr reined his horse in sharply before her, the fierce beast rearing and pawing at the air.
He jumped from his saddle and swept her up into his arms.
Her heart pounded with joy, but she was scared of this. Scared of what his disheveled appearance here meant.
"Fiù?" she asked hesitantly, using the proper term forprince , knowing that with so many witnesses, she could never call him by his given name. "What is it you would have of me?"
His amber eyes were shiny and bright and filled with his heart as he stared at her. "I would have you, my love," he breathed. "Every day for the rest of my life. I've come to marry you, Nyn. If you'll have me."
Tears filled her eyes. "Your uncle?"
"He wishes us well and will meet you when he returns."
Her hands shook as she held him tight.
"You are mine, precious Nyn," he whispered. "I want no other in my life."
"Even though I smell like a fish?"
He laughed at that. "And I smell like a sweaty horse. We're a perfect pair, you and I."
Only he would say such a thing.
Tears rolled down her face as she held him close and wept from happiness.
Her Speirr had come back to her and she would never let him go. They were meant to be together.
Forever…
Sunshine woke up with a feeling of warm serenity deep in her heart. She felt the weight of Talon behind
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) her and smiled sleepily.
She didn't really remember her dream other than the fact that it had been about Talon.
And it had comforted her.
She checked her wristwatch and saw it was just after noon. She should be at work by now, hawking her artwork in the square.
Yet she had no desire to get out of this futon.
Rolling over, she snuggled into Talon's body.
She laid her head on his shoulder and traced the tattoo on his chest. He was so warm and inviting.
"It's good to have you home, love." He whispered those words to her in a language she'd only heard once before when they had been making love last night, and yet she understood him.
She lifted herself up and realized he was still sound asleep. "Talon?"
He didn't budge.
"Speirr?" she asked, wondering why that name came to her mind, but somehow it seemed only right that she should call him that.
His eyes fluttered open. He frowned at her. "Do you need something?"
Sunshine shook her head.
He closed his eyes, rolled over and returned to sleep.
Oh, this was just too friggin' weird.
Why did she know that name and why did he respond to it?
Had it been part of her dream?
She tried to recall it, and for her life she couldn't.
As he lay there with his back to her, she saw something in her mind's eye. It was like a vague childhood memory.
She saw Talon as an adolescent youth, stretched out over a large stone table. There were other monolithic stones around them, forming something that vaguely reminded her ofStonehenge .
Talon was lying on his stomach, his arms under his head, as a tall, dark-haired man leaned over him.
The
man's black robes billowed as he beat Talon with a frayed whip.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Talon was looking straight at her, his eyes shining with unshed tears while he kept his jaw firmly locked.
Meet me later. He mouthed the words to her and she nodded.
Sunshine pulled back, alarmed.
Her dream rushing back to her, she scrambled from the bed and grabbed Talon's cell phone, then called her mother. She stepped outside the cabin's door so that Talon couldn't overhear her conversation.