Boyett-Compo, Charlotte - WesternWind 01 - Wynd River by Sinner (Ellora's Cave) Read Free Book Online

Aingeal stated, glancing toward the windows where darkness had gathered.
    “Lightning scares the juniper berries out of me.”
    Cynyr half-smiled at her comment. “I’ll see about getting you a room here,” he said as he finished the last
    of his eggs and stuffed a piece of bacon in his mouth.
    Aingeal paused in taking a bite of toast. “Why?”
    “You’ll be safer here than on the trail with me,” he replied. “You wouldn’t want to get speared by a bolt
    of lightning.”
    She put down the toast. “You aren’t going out in weather like this!”
    “Why not?” he asked. “Lightning wouldn’t dare strike me, wench.” He crammed the last of the bacon
    into his mouth. “And even if it did, it wouldn’t do that much damage.”
    Aingeal thought of the rumors she’d heard whispered about his kind and asked if it was true only a
    beheading could kill him.
    “That, drowning or being burned to cinders,” he replied casually. He leaned back in his chair with his
    coffee cup.
    “And lightning wouldn’t burn you?” she challenged.
    “It might, but I’m not afraid of it.”
    She looked out the window where a streak of white light had raced across the sky. “I don’t want to be
    left alone here,” she said quietly.
    “You think the Jakotai would venture this close into town?” he asked.
    “Some do,” she said. “Back in Dyersville there was a brave who hung around the jail. He—”
    “I saw him and I could smell the booze on him when I passed. He’s about as useless as a brave as I
    would be in a knitting contest.”
    Aingeal chewed on her bottom lip, glancing once more to the onslaught battering the tin roof overhead.
    She reached out to lay her hand on his forearm. “Please let me go with you. If I stay here, Otaktay will
    find me. I know he will.”
    Cynyr held her gaze for a moment, seeing the fear clouding her gray eyes. She was terrified of the man
    tracking her and that terror could lead him straight to her.
    “We’ll have to get you some foul weather gear if you’re going with me,” he acknowledged, liking the feel
    of her hand on his arm. He could feel the heat of it through his silk shirt and it sent spirals of warmth
    pooling through his groin.
    Her eyes lit up. “You’ll take me with you? You won’t leave me here?”
    “And I’ll have to get you your own horse,” he said. “You’re too much of a distraction sitting in front of
    me.”
    She grinned. “Can’t keep your hands off me, eh, Cyn?”
    “Do you want me to?” he asked in a soft, menacing voice.
    Aingeal felt a tremor of desire spiraling through her lower body and slowly shook her head. “Never,” she
    said. “Not ever.”
    “That’s good because now that we’ve mated, I have no intention of ever letting you get away from me,”
    he said. “You are mine and mine you will stay.”
    Something delicious undulated through Aingeal at his words. She savored both the tone and the words
    themselves, for the way he had said them and the look in his eyes made her feel wanted and treasured.
    Cynyr looked around and caught the waitress’s eye and motioned her over. She came so quickly, she
    nearly stumbled in her haste to reach him.
    “Aye, mo tiarna ?” she said with a gulp.
    “Who owns the best livery in town, Katy?” he asked, fishing in his pocket for the money with which to
    pay for the meal.
    “My nephew Danny,” she said. “You want him to fetch your horse to the stables?”
    “No, we’ll be riding out,” he said, and ignored the sigh of relief the older woman heaved. “I need a
    mount for my lady and a poncho for her. Can you see to it for us?”
    Katy bobbed her head. “Aye, mo tiarna ,” she agreed, and when he looked away from her, rushed off
    to do his bidding.
    “What does that mean?” Aingeal asked. “ Mo tiarna ?”
    “My lord,” he answered.
    “ Mo tiarna ,” she repeated. “I like that. Can I have a Gaelach title of some kind?”
    “Bean mo chroi,”he said softly.
    “Which