He loosened his arms and she immediately missed feeling him against her. She was beginning to crave the comfort of his broad chest. When she turned away, a slap landed on her bottom. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a glare, but he grinned that crooked smile that made him seem somehow boyish.
Stepping inside, she couldn’t hide her silly grin. But she wiped it off her face the moment she glanced at her friends.
Miren shook her head, but the corners of her mouth twitched. Aoife and Radha rolled their eyes. Darcy wore a bullish scowl.
“What?” Bryn asked, her tone belligerent.
“It’s so not fair,” Darcy said, and then smiled sheepishly. “I’d love to want someone so much I couldn’t keep my hands off him.”
Aoife sighed. “It’s romantic. A witch and a troll. Like a fairytale.”
“Beauty and Beast,” Miren said, her tone dreamy.
“He’s no beast,” Bryn muttered. But he was—deep inside where his green-eyed monster lurked. And didn’t they all need a beast on their side?
Ethan found Renner in the driveway. Several of the men were reparking cars and trucks to minimize the space they took up. Something to do while they waited for danger to arrive.
Renner had a cell phone against his ear, and the hard look in his eyes had Ethan stiffening.
“Thanks for the warning,” Renner said and ended his call. “That was Hamdir. His cousin up north works at the council’s airstrip. They’ve chartered a flight. No plan was filed, but Merrick was one of the passengers, along with three of the council members.”
Ethan nodded. It was no coincidence. “Did he say how many enforcer-types were with him?”
“Eight. But there’s no telling how many they’re calling in from this region. Guess the fight’s coming to us.”
“Better inventory our weapons. Set up a perimeter. They’ll be rushing to use the last of the blue moon before its power wanes completely. We have to be ready tonight.”
Renner nodded. “What are you going to tell the women?”
Ethan grimaced. “The truth. They have a say in this—whether to fight or surrender.”
“And Bryn?”
Ethan recalled the worry haunting her eyes and hated that he was going to have to bring her more bad news. “I’m not letting her go, Renner. She’s mine. We’re bound. And since her bond with Merrick was broken completely last night, he won’t want her back. If he captures her, he’ll kill her. The council will demand her death as well—as an example to all witches.” He curled his fists tightly.
Renner’s expression grew grim. “Would it be smarter to run?”
Ethan shook his head. “I’ll ask, but I doubt the women will be willing. They’ve worked hard to build a life here. They’re not going to give it up without a fight.”
Ethan left Renner as he gathered the men to tell them what they’d learned. He headed back to the kitchen but found the women in the parlor, peeking behind the curtains at the men outside.
“So you heard?” he asked as he entered the room.
Radha dropped the curtain. Her pale face was nearly translucent. As was Aoife’s.
Bryn walked to his side and laid her hand on his arm. “Are we being selfish, asking you to stand and fight?”
Ethan cupped his free hand over hers. “If we run, we’ll be hunted for all our days.”
“Do you think we stand a chance?”
Her eyes glistened with tears, and he felt a pang in his chest. He’d do anything to keep her safe, even give his life. But her fate had been sealed with the resounding echo the night before. They had no choice except enter the battle. “I don’t know. It depends on the council members. They’ll sanction a battle, but they can set the rules. We have to hope they’ll allow champions to fight.”
“Our champion would be you?” Her voice wavered.
He cupped her cheek. “I have the most to gain or lose. And Merrick will demand it.”
“But he’s a hellhound. How can you win?”
“Baby, I’m a troll. Have a little faith.” He gave her a crooked smile. “But I could use some magic.”
“Merrick will have Liliana at his side. She’ll have funneled every bit of energy she can to aid him.”
“And I have five witches with so much more at stake than just personal gain. Don’t you think your Goddess will have our backs?”
Bryn’s smile began slowly and then stretched across her face. She sniffed and tilted her head, a silent plea for a caress, which he gave her. He slid his hand along her cheek and threaded his fingers in her hair. He bent and kissed her soft mouth.
“Sex magic works well too,” Darcy said, her tone wry.
When he shot her a glance, it was to see her eyes alight with mischief. So maybe Darcy wasn’t completely anti-troll.
She shrugged. “We can do some spellwork, prepare the herbs and the crystals. When night falls, we’ll gather at the oak.”
An open plain. A place for the Others to move freely. Protecting a structure like a house was confining for demons. Ethan nodded. “Why don’t you let the men know? They’ll prepare the field.” He glanced down at Bryn.
Her gaze slid sideways. “You’ll have to finish preparing the steaks on your own,” she said to her sisters.
“I think we can manage,” Radha said. “Go do what you need to do. We’ll batten down the glassware if the house shakes.”
Bryn’s blush was a deep pink. “She’s exaggerating.”
He snorted. “Is she?”
Laughter followed them as they left the room hands clasped. At the stairway, Ethan swept her up into his strong arms.
“You should be saving your strength.”
Ethan ignored her. She was as light as a feather. He didn’t break his stride. His breathing remained even. At her door, he shouldered it open, then walked to the bed and dumped her on top of the mattress, where she bounced, giggling.
Not bothering to remove clothing because he was already too eager, he roughly shoved up her skirt, gratified she’d foregone underwear. Likely to conserve her panties since he didn’t have patience with lacy bits that only got in his way.
Her hands were busy too, opening his belt, unbuttoning his pants. When she reached inside to free his cock, he shook his head, trying to clear it of the blinding heat that stole his self-control. “Easy there,” he ground out when she tightened her grip on his shaft.
But she was pulling now, hard. Opening her legs and bringing him closer, placing his head right at her entrance. Moist heat, lots of it, greeted him. But he was hard and thick, and she really should wait until he’d played with her pussy, prepared her with his fingers, gently stretched her and made her so aroused there’d be no pain.
When she lifted her hips and forced him inside, he was lost. Just the cap was surrounded by her slick sex, but her eyes, sleepy lids falling to darken her stormy blue to navy, drew him. He thrust inward, gritting his teeth at the snug fit. “You should have let me do this right.”
“You are, I promise. So right.”
Not able to withdraw, he ripped apart her shirt and clamped a hand on a naked breast. As he thrust, he played with her nipple, twisting, tugging. Her body tensed beneath him, and he felt the clench of her muscles all around him every time he gave her a tweak. Liquid heat seeped around him, easing his harsh entry.
He took her mouth, grunting when she bit his tongue. He pumped faster, plunging harder inside her and leaned to the other side to tease her other breast. He pulled the tip and let it snap back again and again, and then pinched it hard, only satisfied when she growled and groaned and her nails striped his back.
Her hips were curving, tilting to let him thrust deeper. She bucked and writhed, each movement increasing the friction as the wildness rode them both.