Pawliday Love

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

LIDEY

T he Coven

The stand in the tent was surrounded by my coven, and all the members were dressed in black robes with hoods concealing their faces. The ritual is near completion as my father finishes the words.

I have waited for this day, been told about it, and prepared for it since I was a small girl. Being inducted into the coven meant I could practice my craft out in the open, marry, and together, my husband and I would join in our power. This plagued me because I knew my mother and father had a few different men from the coven in the running.

"Praesidio, protegere ac tutari. Praesidio, protegere ac tutari.Praesidio, protegere ac tutari."

I opened my eyes and looked around.

My father smiled at me. "Step forward, daughter, and claim your place in the coven."

I took the final step from child to woman, at least in the eyes of the coven.

"Ditans guttura cum potentia, ditans guttura cum potentia," I said, standing before my father and mother.

My mother reached for my hands, taking them in hers.

She closed her eyes and spoke, her tone melodic and smooth. "Neltoca teoyohtica... Neltoca teoyohtica. Neltoca teoyohtica... Neltoca teoyohtica."

I inhale as I feel the power filter through my veins. Witches far more skilled than I am have told me you can feel the transformation, and I believe them now. The coven split, allowing me to walk out of the tent.

"Tonight, you will become one with nature, and the ritual will be complete," my mother said as she walked outside with me. "Your bed is ready by the ash tree."

"Alright," I said through my jumbled nerves.

The sky became darker as I approached the ash tree. The stars lit the sky up, spilling out over the open land. The moon's beams bounced off the spring beside the tree. I walked to the edge and dipped my toes into the water. The cool water felt enticing, so I lowered my black robe and stripped off my white gown one strap at a time.

As I walked into the water, my fingertips glided over the top, and the water felt like a balm on my sticky, hot skin. I went under, allowing my entire body to be submerged, and hovered under until my lungs felt like they would burst. I broke the water's surface and gasped, taking a deep breath.

"Hey there," Silas said.

"Ahh," I screamed and went back under the water.

A second later, I came up and heard him laughing.

"Sorry. Did I scare you?"

"No." I lied.

Silas sat down and watched me as I smoothed my wet hair back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. "This spot is sacred; it was blessed by my coven. You should not have been able to cross the line."

Silas grinned at me. "Let's just say I have ways around hexes. Besides, I told you I would come tonight."

"So you are a North witch," I said, staring at him.

He stared back, and I felt his fear.

"It's alright," I said and walked toward the shore, naked as the day I was born.

"How did you know?" he asked, rising to his feet.

His face was intense, and his mysterious eyes drank me in.

"After my coven placed the spell around the tree, creating the barrier, I added my little version. A test for you."

"A test?" he asked, and his eyes roamed over my body, and his breath increased.

I can feel his body heat radiating, reaching me like a silky veil of warmth.

"I've never seen such beauty," he whispered as I walked to him.

My heart raced in my chest, but not from nerves, from excitement.

"I feel as if I have known you my whole life," I said.

Silas nodded. "I can feel you too. It is said that your fated mate is a stranger who feels familiar."

I smiled. "Exactly."

Silas reached out and touched my breast with his fingertips.

"Exactly."

I stepped closer. "I always thought it would be a member of my coven."

He withdrew his hand, and his eyes filled with sadness.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my heart now racing from fear of scaring him off.

He shook his head. "Maybe we are wrong. I would not want to ever do anything to jeopardize your place with your coven."

"That is proven all on its own."

"What?"

"You feel so strongly about protecting me even though we just met."

He inhaled and then said as he blew out his breath. "I do."

"Because it is meant to be." I stepped toward him, our bodies inches apart, and raised his hand, placing it against my breast.

My nipples swelled against his touch, and a bolt of desire spiraled through my blood, causing my thighs to tighten as my body reacted to his touch.

"I feel it in your voice, how you look at me, and your touch. I feel it with every inch of my being."

"Lidey." he moaned as he wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck, pulling my mouth to his.

His lips moved over mine, hungry and demanding. His tongue slid over my mouth, asking for permission to enter, which I granted, parting my lips.

Our tongues thrashed together, creating a wild and lustful dance as his hand massaged my breast and the other slid around the small of my back, molding our bodies together. I feel an electric current run through me as his hands explore, his kisses increasing in fervor.

He pulls back and smiles. "I knew from the moment I saw you. A feeling I cannot explain came over me."

Through hooded lashes, I meet his gaze. "I feel it, too."

"Our souls are intertwined. As if somewhere in the stars, we danced together before our time on earth."

"And now we are reunited," I add, caught in his gaze as his mysterious eyes take me prisoner.

He traces his fingertips over my cheek, tucks my hair behind my ear, and places a kiss on my mouth.

"Forever," he murmurs.

Banished Love

SILAS

I rolled over, and my eyes immediately focused on Lidey, who lay beside me, naked under the blanket. I had been apprehensive of taking her womanhood, but she didn't hesitate, and when I didn't make any further advances on her body, she smiled at me and whispered in my ear.

"Take me. I'm yours." I had no control after that, and I did as she asked. Of course, I was gentle at first, but soon her body moved with mine, forcing me to keep pace. That first time our bodies connected did not last long, as I had never been with a woman, so I was unsure what to expect. The second time, though!

As we lay under the stars gazing up at the sky, talking about our childhoods, the life we wanted, being a witch, and our dreams, our bodies found one another again. Like magnets, pulled together by a more vital force than either of us knew of. Lidey took control and rode me with such assertiveness, driving my lust for her into a frenzy of wanting. I couldn't get enough. Even now, as I lie here watching her sleep, the blood in my veins is hot and rushes through my body. My manhood grew with each second I stared at her. My fingertips sweep the hair off her face as I roll to my side and scoot closer to her body.

I move my fingers down her face, over her collarbone, until my palm is flush with her breast. I massage her voluptuous and firm breast, causing her to moan. My body responds, and my manhood moves against her leg, searching and eager for her to meet the craving. Lidey's eyes flutter open, and a smile spreads across her face.

"Hello, Silas," she whispered.

"Good morning."

"I was not sure you would be here when I woke," she admitted and burrowed against me.

She gasps and looks under the blanket, and then up at me.

"You light a fire inside me which I have never felt. Strong and hot. I cannot think of anything but you." I whisper and cradle her body against mine.

"I understand. I feel the need to be near you, too. It is strong."

"We are one now, you and I. I will marry you by this tree." I kiss her mouth and move against her.

As the moon rose above the earth that night, I stood by the ash tree waiting for Lidey. She promised to come to me, ready to give herself entirely in marriage.

"The lady is coming, correct?" the old priest asked as he stood beside me waiting. He was from the town over, and when I asked him to perform the ceremony, I promised to pay him handsomely.

"She will come," Even though I now have doubts.

My eyes scan the area, focusing on the dark of night. I inhale and turn toward the priest.

"Perhaps.."I stopped talking and closed my eyes.

Lidey's essence filled me, and I smiled. I turned back around and opened my eyes.

Lidey walked toward me in a white gown, the moon beam hit her and she appeared to be an angel, her dark hair flowing greeting behind her.

"You are radiant," I said as I reached for her hand.

"Silas." she breathed as I pulled her close to my body.

Her lips hit mine, igniting a flame that spread through my body like an inferno.

"I cannot wait to spend eternity with you," I whisper.

Lidey looked into my eyes and said. "We will complete the ritual on the next full moon."

"The binding spell?" She asked, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

"Yes," I whispered and ran my fingers through her hair.

I turned to the priest.

"You can begin."

LIDEY

I held his hand as we walked from the ash tree. Our marriage ceremony is complete. I was his wife. None of it seemed real; only it was.

He stopped just outside the grove of trees that opened at my parents' home.

"My home is not larger, but it will do for a time," he said, turning to me.

"I do not care about any of that." I said and placed my forehead to his. "All I care about is you, is us."

He inhaled, and as he let his breath out, I felt relief travel over me.

"I can feel you all around me," I whispered.

"I never knew it would feel like this." He said, opening his eyes to look into mine.

"Lidey!" My father shouted as he ran toward me.

I stepped back from Silas as panic enveloped me.

"Father." I gasped.

"By God it's true then." he said, staring at me as my mother ran up behind him, panting and looking at me and Silas in shock.

"How?" she asked. "Where did you even meet him?"

"By the ash tree." I explained, "Days ago."

"Days?" she gasped again, the color draining from her face and her hand went to her neck.

My father grabbed my arm and yanked me away from Silas.

"Leave me be!" I shouted. "I am his wife."

"What?" My father bellowed and looked at Silas.

"How dare you come into my lands, infiltrate my coven, and take advantage of my daughter."

"Take advantage!" I hissed, pulling my arm free from his grasp.

"I am the one who went freely. I told him to take my body." I said with pride.

My father's hand raked my cheek, sending my head snapping to the side.

"Do not touch her," Silas screamed, stepping between me and my father.

He turned and held my cheek in his hand. "Baby are you alright?" He whispered and his words made all the pain melt.

"I am now," I said.

"This is absurd." my father seethed. "Step aside and allow my daughter to pass. She is coming home."

"My place is with my husband."

"Lidey." my mother whimpered.

"I am sorry, but he is my mate. I know he is. I feel him running through me."

"We will cleanse you of him. You are to wed a man of my choosing, and a witch from the north is not that man."

"How do you know where I originate from?" Silas challenged.

"I have heard of you, Silas the wanderer." my father hissed. His eyes roamed over Silas as if he were a poisonous insect.

"Come now, Lidey," he said, ushering me away.

I turned my head and looked at Silas, who stepped forward, grabbing my arm.

"She is my wife. She stays with me." Silas said.

A warm pride seeped through me as he stood his ground to fight for me.

"It can be undone. The priest you used could not have been sanctioned by our coven."

"Father, please. Listen to us. We are one now. We were one before we even wed. I felt him in me long before…"

My father's hand landed against my cheek again; this time, the sting was far more painful than the last, and I felt my eye pop.

"Don't you dare lay another finger on her," Silas screamed and pulled me toward his body, shielding me from my parents.

"I will kill you myself," Silas warned.

"You are the one who needs to worry about death." my father sneered. "As we speak, my coven is coming together to conjure up a hex that will ride my daughter of you and cast you into a purgatory only death can release you from."

Silas's grip around me tightened, and I felt his body tremble. I looked at his face as his jaw tightened.

"I will counteract any hex you and your coven place over me."

"You are not stronger than a coven, not on your own." my mother chimed in, and my eyes darted over to her.

"Mother, how could you?" I asked.

"Just come home, Lidey and none of this has to happen," she replied.

I looked up at Silas and whispered, "Let me go."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, placing my cheek to his, his skin was warm against my own and his scent intoxicating. I closed my eyes and whispered so only he could hear.

"I will meet you on the night of the full moon. We will perform the ending spell, so anything they do to you will be done to me."

Silas's body straightened, and his pulse quickened, I could feel his blood race. He kissed my neck and murmured. "I love you."

I pulled back and looked at my father.

"Alright. I will come home. I do not want you to hurt him. The only way I will come home is if you stop the coven from doing him harm."

"The only harm that will come to him is if he attempts to come for you." my father said.

I glanced at Silas and nodded. "I love you."

I stepped away but our eyes remained locked, long after I walked with my parents, I kept my head turned focusing on my husband.