Page 64 of Swords and Curses

"All they have to do is wait for her to come to them. She won't leave it until her power is less than theirs."

"Exactly, but they want it to be on their terms, so they will find a way to prod her, make her angry enough, so she comes right to them."

"I'd like to give her a good prod withGaeaf Storom," Rosa said under her breath. The long, deadly pin in her hair thrummed in response.

Balthasar kissed her neck, his stubble sending goosebumps down her chest.

"I agree. Wedoneed a subject change," she agreed to his unspoken request. Balthasar's hands slid under the back of her jumper to stroke her warm skin. Her hips ground against his, and her fingers fumbled with his belt buckle.

"Rosa, I need you!" Eldon's voice echoed up the staircase.

She snarled in frustration, and Balthasar laughed.

"You'd best go see what the emergency is," he said, but his hands contradicted his words as they brushed against the soft lace of her bra.

"Come back later!" Rosa shouted, her voice cracking. There was silence below followed by cursing and a door slamming. "See? It wasn't so urgent after all."

Balthasar's smug smile widened and pulled off her jumper before leaning down to kiss the rounded tops of her exposed breasts.

Papers and journals were pushed off the old chaise lounge as Balthasar sat down and pulled Rosa into his lap. Her fingers threaded through his dark hair as she kissed and rocked gently against him. Their magic tried to flare up between them, but she locked it down.

"No magic, nothing else but us," she breathed against his lips. She didn't want other forces controlling her or interfering with her desire.

Balthasar took her face in his hands. "You alone have always been more than enough for me. You are the part that has always been missing. Even when you were human, I've never felt more whole."

"God, you kill me with your words sometimes," Rosa whispered, her heart glowing inside of her. "I don't know what great karmic act I did to deserve you."

"You didn't have to do anything, other than simply be my Rosa." The tender moment was shattered as she struggled to get his skin pressed against hers, to feel him move inside of her, and try to keep the love she was feeling from unmaking her entirely.

Downstairs,Eldon paced the halls, grumbling under his breath until he went into the library. He shut down every link to Rosa. He was tense enough without knowing what she was up to with Balthasar.

"No better than bloody rabbits," he growled, plucking a book from the shelves.

"Who is?"

He turned and looked up, spotting Nimue sitting on the wrought iron mezzanine above him, a pile of books beside her.

"Rosa and Bal, who else?" he said gazing at the long white foot that hung over the railing. "What are you reading?"

Nimue shut the book in her lap. "Everything. I'm trying to find out what has happened since I was in the lake. Rosa also gave me books about…about me."

Eldon groaned in exasperation. "For the love of all that is holy, don't read that bloated trash." He climbed the stairs and sat down beside her.

Around them was Thomas Malory, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Anieran. He was surprised that Eli had copies, knowing what he did of actual events.

"I have to read about it somewhere. You won't talk to me about it. I can respect that, but I'm still curious. I can see that I was never represented favorably."

"I wouldn't say that. The feminists love you. Your raw sexual energy and the way you fought the sleazy patriarchal Merlin."

"Sounds like the truth so far," she laughed delightfully, and the sound fizzed in his ears. He hadn't realized he was staring at her until she tilted her head at him. "What?"

"Sorry, I was thinking of…of other things…books. Ones that you might like to read."

"Do you know how many Gwaed Gam are going to be here soon?" she asked, her fingers fiddling with the pages of the book in her lap.

"Eli might know. Vincenzo would have left enough to protect his interests in Italy but brought the rest. Why?"

"I'm the only Seelie in a house full of Gwaed Gam that was brought here tofightthe Seelie."

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