Chapter Six
It had taken every bit of centuries-old willpower to keep from touching Sophie when he opened her car door, but Michael had managed it.
Even now, two nights later, he could still smell the fresh, herbal cologne she wore, and more importantly, the actual scent that was her essence seemed to linger in the air about him.
He couldn’t remember any woman having such a tenacious hold on him—not the married one who’d almost gotten him killed so long ago nor the beauty who had healed him afterwards.
The irony in this situation was that Sophie didn’t even care.
She was totally oblivious to his usual charm, and the few times he’d tried to mind-touch, her emotional shields were firmly up. That was unusual in itself.
Michael parked his sports car in the caleche parking lot near the lake and got out.
The Sisterhood Circle was meeting tonight, the first full moon after Beltane, and he would be joining them to counter-balance the feminine energy of their magic.
He took his white Druid’s robe out of the trunk and wondered what Sophie would say if she knew what he really was.
By the Goddess, he would love to initiate her into their rites, especially that of Hieros Gamos—the Sacred Marriage that “married” ancient Celtic kings to their lands through a sexual ritual with a priestess of the Goddess.
In times past, onlookers would then choose partners and couple as well, adding their sexual and spiritual energy to that of the Rite to guarantee bountiful harvests.
Michael had a distinct feeling that sex with Sophie would be a spiritual high as well as a physical one.
He couldn’t deny that he would love every moment of touching her, stroking his hands over her, slowly undressing her and savoring the feel of her full breasts in his hands.
But more than pure lust, he knew that the power of his magic would connect them if he actually completed the act.
It would be Hieros Gamos in its own way.
With a start, he realized Brianna Frazier was standing beside him. Almost guiltily, he wondered how long she had been standing there. Brianna was their Seer, and his aura must have been flaming red with his lustful thoughts.
“I’m almost ready,” he said as he slipped the robe over his head.
“I can see that,” she said with an amused smile.
Even in the semi-darkness of dusk, it must have been easy for her to spot the hard bulge that strained against his jeans. “Sorry—”
She placed a hand lightly on his arm. “Don’t be. Male sexual energy can be a potent force for us tonight.”
He looked at her. She was slender, almost fragile, with long pale hair and porcelain skin. Her face was beautiful in a classic way, gentle and composed. She looked more like a madonna—especially since the witches usually wore pale blue robes—than someone who would find sex amusing.
Tonight, though, she was wearing verdant green, the color of growth and prosperity. It was Sara’s robe and it seemed strange to see Brianna in it. “You’re officiating?”
She nodded. “The others chose me since Sara is miss—not here.”
“I’m glad. You are the most neutral and fair-minded of all of them.” He squinted toward the clump of trees near the lake where the other witches were preparing. “Is Morgan here?”
“Yes. She has a strange energy radiating from her tonight.”
Michael’s senses went on alert. “Light or dark?”
Brianna frowned. “You know we practice white magic only.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Michael said softly. “There’s something about Morgan I don’t trust.”
“She’s young and she’s new. Perhaps she’s just not totally comfortable yet?”
“I don’t think that’s it. She disliked Sara, remember?”
“That’s because you and Sara were such good friends. I think Morgan has a crush on you.”
“I certainly didn’t encourage that.”
Brianna replaced her frown with an impish smile. “You are a warlock—women are supposed to be enchanted by you.”
Too bad Sophie didn’t know about that theory. It certainly would make things easier. He sighed. The seduction of Dr. Sophie Cameron was going to take a very long time, and right now was when he needed her help in finding the Sword.
“You know about the dragon sightings, don’t you?” he asked.
Brianna looked puzzled. “Sure. It’s been all over the news. It’s appeared at some vet clinic twice.”
“That’s been no accident. That veterinarian is going to help me find Excalibur.”
Her eyes widened. “The second relic?”
“Yes.” Michael was glad he didn’t have to explain. Brianna was Sara’s best friend and understood what they had undertaken.
“What does that have to do with Morgan?” she asked now.
“I don’t know, but she showed up at Sophie’s—at the vet clinic—and now she’s working there.”
“Coincidence?”
“You know there are no coincidences.”
“Sometimes Fate works in ways we don’t understand. Maybe she’s there to help in some way.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, let it play out. Destiny is what it will be.” She gestured toward the trees. “The others are waiting.”
Michael nodded and followed her, drawing up his hood as he stepped into the middle of the circle the witches had formed.
Each of them held a small blue glass globe with a candle.
They raised these now, as the rounded sphere of the moon began to show on the lake’s horizon, and began their soft chanting.
It was his part of the ritual to call the elements, and normally, he called in proper rotation beginning with the east, but tonight he faced west first. “Llyr, god of water, be with us.” He turned north.
“Pridd, god of earth, be welcome.” Facing east, he continued, “Awyr, god of air, come swiftly.” Then, he pivoted south. “Tanio, god of fire, join us.”
He held his breath, waiting to see if the Pendragon would appear.
Tanio was the god he answered to, but nothing red streaked across the sky.
Instead, the water ruffled, white-capping as the wind began to blow.
Leaves rustled, and then, suddenly, the blue globe that Brianna held left her hands and crashed to the ground.
The candle’s flame spiraled upward and there was a collective gasp from the group as it took the shape of a small dragon, its fiery tail flicking back and forth as it hovered in front of Michael before it then flickered to earth. Michael looked down.
The scorch mark the flame left was in the form of a sword.
****
The Pendragon roused himself, his yawn vibrating off the walls of the small cave. He had been dreaming of his lair with its hoard of bright, shining jewels when he heard the call to Tanio.
Blast the warlock for waking him! Smoke flared from his nostrils before he controlled his anger.
It was bad enough that he had to deal with humans again—foolish creatures who thought they could injure him with tiny pellets from a long object that one of them aimed at him.
He contemplated. The metal object the human had used belched a puff of smoke itself when it made that cracking sound.
Perhaps he would have to swoop down and take it from the next insipid mortal who thought to harm him.
It might be an interesting piece to add to his hoard, although its dull burnished color could not compete with silver and gold.
Golden light shone at the entrance to his present cave a moment before the fire-god strode in. As always, orange fire circled his loins while red flames cloaked his bare shoulders. His blazing blue hair flared out behind him. He crossed his massive arms and glared at the dragon.
“You have not found Excalibur.”
The dragon clicked his tail, spines half-rising in irritation, but he kept his voice even. “The warlock and his mortal have no idea where it is.”
“Brighid sent you to help them.”
He leveled his cobalt stare on the god. “I am here to protect the human.”
Tanio laughed suddenly. “And how you hate to do that.”
Pendragon ruffled his scales, the sound clanging in the small space. “It was a human who so foolishly threw away the Sword in the first place.”
Sobering, Tanio nodded. “Bedwyr meant to return it to the Lady, but Manannan intercepted it, thinking it was his own sword, Answerer.”
“Ah, yes, a sea-god who should have stayed in the oceans,” Pendragon replied with a snort. “How could he mistake the Sword of fire for his?”
Tanio shrugged, sending off sparks that floated in the air. “Llyr banished him from the Lake for that bit of foolishness. Unfortunately, it also caught Balor’s attention.”
“Balor has been hunting it since then?” Pendragon asked.
“It would seem so. Luckily, Talesin found the Sword and, in time, it passed on to the Lion-Heart and found its way to Sarras to reunite with the other relics.” Tanio frowned, the flames of his cloak leaping around him.
“This time, humans might not be so lucky. Balor has become extremely powerful in the mortal world while you slept. Excalibur in his hands would mean total chaos and destruction.”
The dragon nodded thoughtfully. “And if he has Sigurd to help him—”
“What?” Tanio’s head came up sharply, blue spikes from his hair flaring wildly. “The white dragon lies buried deep in the northern ice. Only my fire can melt his prison.”
“He has been called forth,” Pendragon answered. “I have smelt him.”
“But how—”
“Perhaps the demon, Lucifer, freed him,” the red dragon replied. “He had a talent with fire, if I recall.”
Flames blazed around Tanio. “That damn renegade. He never would abide by our rules. If Sigurd is loose, our problem has just been magnified many times over.”
Pendragon snarled, revealing sharp, elongated fangs. “You leave Sigurd to me. I owe him for what he did to Arthur.”
“Just remember, finding Excalibur is what counts.”
“Of course,” he replied. “Dragons have long memories.”
Tanio nodded and abruptly disappeared, leaving a small, smoldering pile of ash in his wake.
Pendragon smiled, his rough tongue caressing his pointed teeth. This fight is personal now. Sigurd will die. I vow it.
****