Chapter 21
ELOWEN
I jerk away, my cheeks flaming and look up to see Sister Agatha staring at me with horror written all over her thin face. Her eyes narrow as she sees where my hand is–still wrapped around Theron’s thick shaft.
He’s already tucking it away but it’s too late–Sister Agatha has seen everything.
“Sister,” I begin, sitting up. “Please, if you’d just let me explain. The witch–”
“Enough!” Her nostrils flare. “Out. Get out–now!”
“But…but…” I stand on shaky legs and Theron stands as well, staying protectively close to me.
“I said get out! And you’re never to come back to the temple!” she snaps. “I never want to see you here again, you little slut!”
“But…but the temple is my home!”
“Not anymore it’s not and it never will be again.” She strides towards me. “Now will you leave on your own or must I have you beaten from this place?”
Theron steps between us, a low rumbling growl rising in his throat.
“You’re not laying a hand on her,” he says, and his voice is so deep it sounds inhuman.
Sister Agatha takes a step back, surprise and fear crossing her narrow face.
“You…you wouldn’t dare to harm me!”
“I don’t hurt women,” Theron tells her. “But I don’t let them be hurt either. Elowen is under my protection–you’re not touching her.”
She looks furious, her nostrils flaring and her eyes bulging with anger.
“Then get out of here–both of you! And you’d better never set foot on the holy ground of the temple again!” She points at me. “May the Goddess herself curse you for your wicked ways!”
This stuns me more than anything else and I feel a stab of shame as sharp as a blade in my heart.
I’ve spent my life worshiping the Goddess of Nature.
Will she really curse me for what I did with Theron?
But I had to do it–I was in so much pain and need from the witch’s spell!
I felt like I was going mad before he came and gave me his seed.
“Come on, sweetheart.” Theron wraps one muscular arm around me and starts leading me away. “It’s time to go.”
“But…but…” I don’t want to go–I don’t want to leave the temple! It’s my home–the only home I’ve ever known!
I try to hang back, but the big Drake Shifter won’t let me. He picks me up, swinging me into his arms as though I weigh nothing, and carries me away from the garden and the temple grounds.
I look over his shoulder, watching the temple disappear through a blur of tears as he carries me away.
My heart feels like it's breaking, and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I will never get back unless I can somehow find a way to work the Time Weaving spell.