Midnight's Captive(84)

The SUV sped off with a peel of tires as it started to rain. Laura turned in the seat to look through the back window as Con and the ash-skinned creature circled each other while several other similar beings began to close around them.

“What are those things?” Laura asked.

They turned a corner so sharply, she careened into the door. With her parents’ house out of view, she turned and faced forward, her heart hammering in her chest.

“They’re called selmyr,” Charon said, his eyes looking dead ahead. “They’re ancient monsters who hunt and feed off other magical beings.”

Laura put her hand atop his. “My parents? I heard screams.”

His gaze dropped to her hand before he looked at her. His long dark hair was in disarray, and his eyes were filled with sorrow. “They came for your mother. They felt your magic in her, Laura.”

“Why didn’t you try to save her?”

“There was nothing to save,” Guy said from the front. “The selmyr move on the wind. If you feel them, it’s already too late.”

She braced a hand against her forehead. “I came to make them return my magic.”

“Her death did it,” Charon said. “The selmyr took your sister as well.”

Laura nodded numbly and lifted her head. She felt sorrow in losing her mother and sister, but it wasn’t the anguish she should feel toward her family. “And my father?”

“The selmyr doona bother anyone without magic. Your father will be fine unless he gets in the way,” Guy said.

Charon moved his arm so that he took her hand in one of his. She wanted to cry for the loss of her mother and sister, but couldn’t do it.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

Charon’s thumb moved in small circles on the back of her hand. “Lacy was found about forty miles away.”

“By who?” she asked.

Charon and Guy shared a look in the rearview mirror. Finally Charon said, “By one of Con’s men.”

“We guessed the selmyr might look for the closest magical being,” Guy added. “Which brought us here.”

Laura looked at Charon’s large hand against hers. “You saved me again. If you hadn’t of been there…” She trailed off, unable to finish.

“Nay.” He put a finger beneath her chin to lift her head. “Doona cry over your mother and sister. They got what they deserved after what they did to you. And your father … he deserves the same for standing by and allowing them to treat you that way.”

She tried to nod but was ensnared by his dark chocolate gaze. His hand slid sensuously along her throat to the back of her neck. His fingers were firm but soft as they sank into her hair.

Laura had never been able to deny the attraction she felt for Charon. With him as close as he was, and looking at her with such heat and longing, she couldn’t have pulled away had her life depended upon it.

Each beat of her heart caused her blood to heat and desire to pool within her. All too easily she remembered how it felt to be in his arms, how he had touched her, kissed her.

Loved her.

Charon’s head dipped to hers, his long eyelashes lowering as his eyes slid closed. Laura’s did the same a second before his lips touched hers.

And passion consumed them.

Her hands were on his chest, feeling every hard muscle beneath her palm as if it were the first time. She could feel his body straining to get closer to her. Laura unbuckled her seat belt as Guy took a turn in the road, throwing her on top of Charon.

Charon’s hands cupped both sides of her face as he searched her eyes. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Good,” he murmured before he claimed her mouth again.

Laura groaned softly when he slid down the seat so she was lying on top of him. His hands gripped her butt and squeezed as he deepened the kiss.

“Um … you might want to put your seat belt on,” Guy said.

She lifted her head and looked at Charon right as the SUV hit a huge hole, jostling Laura several inches into the air. In less than a heartbeat, Charon had her sitting up and her seat belt buckled before she knew what he was doing.

“Where are we?” Charon asked.

Guy chuckled. “Dreagan land. We’re just taking a bit of a shortcut.”

“Shortcut?” Laura repeated as sheep scattered away from the SUV.

“We needed reinforcements.”

Laura looked at Charon for clarification, and all she got as a response was a shrug.

Guy cleared his throat then and caught Laura’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I know you’ve seen a lot over the past few days, lass, but it looks like you’ll get to see a wee bit more.”

She frowned, gripping the handle above her as the SUV bounced them around over the rough terrain. Laura opened her mouth to ask what Guy was talking about when she looked through the windshield at a dark shape in the sky that was drawing closer.