I frowned and continued to dry myself.

“And then to see ClanFintan’s equally jealous reaction—it was just so unexpected.”

“Why?” All ears, I waited for inside ClanFintan info.

Alanna had herself back under control, and she was able to hunt up an extra towel for the centaur. Victoria talked as she dried herself (Alanna poured more wine for all of us—God bless her, I forgave her momentary hysteria).

“ClanFintan has long been pursued by females, centaur and human. He has always reacted with the same polite indifference.”

She saw that she had my full attention.

“I am not saying he has been disinterested in females, he has just never let his heart become involved.” Her lovely smile lit up her face. “It is quite obvious his heart is now involved.”

“Much to his chagrin,” Alanna piped in, and they started giggling all over again. This time I joined them.

“I did not mean to offend you with my laughter. It was motivated by joy not ridicule. I saw earlier that he cared for you, and you him. I just now understand the extent of your relationship. You are in love.”

I heard Alanna sigh romantically. I would have puked if it hadn’t been so true.

“Yes.” I was sure that goofy grin was back on my face.

“I wish you joy. He is an exceptional centaur.”

I searched her eyes for dissembling or any hint of anything that wasn’t true and honest, and found no evidence that she was anything but forthright and sincere.

“Thank you, Vic.” We grinned at each other, well satisfied with our new friendship.

“I brought this for you, Mistress Victoria.” Alanna handed the centaur a brilliant blue, silky piece of material.

Victoria fingered it carefully, and looked at Alanna with a questioning gaze.

Alanna smiled at her. “I can show you how to secure it.”

“Let her,” I said. “She’s really good at wrapping that stuff around a body.”

“It is quite lovely.” She sounded wistful. I recognized the voice of a fellow clothes lover.

“Mistress, I must ask you to kneel so that I can reach around you.”

Before she complied, the Huntress gave Alanna a stern look. “Only if you stop calling me Mistress. I am Victoria to my friends.”

Alanna smiled and Victoria dropped gracefully to her knees. I watched, fascinated by the wrapping and weaving of what looked like nothing but a long, pretty scarf. After just a few twists and turns, Alanna had morphed it into a sexy top that left just enough of Victoria bared to draw second and third looks without getting her arrested. Victoria stood and trotted (literally) to the full-length mirror.

“It is beautiful!” She moved her body around so she could admire her entirely too sexy reflection. Then she grinned mischievously at me and said, “Be careful, Rhea, that I don’t tempt Alanna away from you. Once my Huntresses see this, they will implore me to find a way to coax her from you.”

I gulped and tried not to look worried.

“Victoria, it is an easy skill to learn. I will simply teach your Huntresses how to wrap the fabric.” Alanna’s sweet voice put my fears to rest.

And a great idea came to me—why not gift the Huntresses with lots of beautiful cloth when they leave? (Note to self: remember to set the present up with Alanna.)

“Here is yours, Rhea.” Alanna handed me a silky buttercup-colored nightshirt. It was cut with a deep V in the front, and cascaded in delicate folds to the floor. Almost see-through but not quite. I didn’t have to look in the mirror to know how erotically it outlined my breasts and hips. Alanna certainly knew what she was doing.

“It’s gorgeous. Thank you, my friend.” I gave her a quick hug before I started hunting through the large selection of combs and brushes for a thick-toothed comb that I thought would suit Victoria’s platinum masses. Finding one I thought would work well, I handed it to the Huntress. Then I grabbed my own and smiled at my two friends.

“If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll take my comb to my room and work it through my hair there.”

“Rhea, I can dress your hair for you.” Alanna sounded confused as she looked skeptically at the towel turban I still had wrapped around my hair.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Carolan will be coming to find you soon. You should make sure he has a good dinner, and dessert.” As I said the last word, I gave her a suggestive look that made her cheeks flush.

“And you have dessert of your own waiting in your chambers.” Victoria gave me a knowing look.

And I felt my own cheeks turn pink.

“Good night, you two,” I said as I escaped out the door. Their giggles made me want to break into a chorus of “Young Love.” But, well, I seriously can’t sing, so I just hummed internally while I walked down the hall.

The adorable guards snapped to as I approached.

“My Lady, Lord ClanFintan awaits within,” one of them informed me.

“Good.” I wanted to tweak his sword, but I realized it wouldn’t be appropriate. “Thanks for telling me.” He saluted and opened the door for me.

ClanFintan was reclining on a chaise that sat before a laden and delicious-smelling table. At my entrance his face broke into a welcoming smile.

I couldn’t help myself—like a goofy teenager I rushed into his arms, loving his eager kiss.

“So, you want to leer at your guards as they bathe?” His deep voice was playful, but I heard the serious undertone he tried to hide.

“Only if you want to look at naked Huntresses.” I nibbled at his bottom lip.

“There is only one naked female I wish to look at.” He kissed me slowly.

When I came up for air, I asked. “How many legs does she have?”

His laughter shook his chest as he hugged me against him. “Only two.”

“I’m glad.” We smiled at each other until my stomach growled. Well, actually it roared.

He chuckled. “Eat.”

I swiveled and took up my perch on the chaise next to him. Everything looked so delicious that I decided I would have to try a little bit of every single thing. As I grazed my way across the table, ClanFintan asked me questions about the smallpox patients. He was sorry to hear of the number of dead and newly ill, but we agreed that neither of us was really surprised. After a while my appetite started to slow down, and I could ask my own questions.

“Are the warriors still arriving?”

“Yes.” He sounded pleased. “I believe we may be able to begin moving on Laragon earlier than I had originally anticipated. Do you think Nuada can be convinced to attack the Muses in less time?”

I thought of the expression on the creature’s face as I had taunted him.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

He squeezed my shoulders and said nothing.

Suddenly, the weight of my exhaustion was back. My head felt heavy and all I wanted to do was comb out my hair and sleep. I kissed his cheek and got up, unwinding the towel from my almost dried hair. Situating myself cross-legged on our mattress (I noticed our bed had been made, but it was still on the floor), I started to comb my way through my stubborn hair.

“Let me.” ClanFintan knelt behind me and took the comb from my tired fingers. “Lean back and close your eyes.”

“Mmm.” I felt my body become leaden under his touch. “You have the most wonderful hands.”

I leaned back until I was curled up on my side against a bunch of propped-up pillows. The sensuous feeling of his hands working the comb through my hair made me want to stay awake and enjoy it, and maybe even try and coax him into shape-shifting again tonight, but the stress of the day won, and I felt myself falling into a deep, exhausted sleep.

Tom Selleck and I were at a wonderful Mexican seafood restaurant somewhere in northern Italy. The margaritas were made with real lime juice and gold tequila, and the white cheese dip was totally calorie free. Tom was just in the middle of explaining to me why he was only attracted to voluptuous women over thirty, when the scene dissolved and I was lifted up through the ceiling and shot out into the clear Partholonian night.

Tonight I didn’t feel like spending any time sightseeing or trying to avoid what I knew I had to face.

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get this over with,” I said aloud to the air. I felt my spirit body heave forward, as if I had been thrown out of a slingshot. Familiar landscape blurred beneath me as I rocketed toward the increasingly less distant mountains…

And came to an abrupt halt over the inside courtyard. The scene wasn’t much changed from the previous night. Women were huddled in unnatural silence around smoky campfires, blankets shrouding most of their features. I felt anger begin to build inside me.

“Take me to him,” I whispered through clenched teeth.

My body moved forward toward the part of the castle that I had visited the night before. Through the windows of the uppermost rooms I could see lights blazing and I knew who I would find on the other side of the roof beneath me.

Prepare yourself, Beloved. The words whispered through my mind.

“I’m ready,” I said resolutely, and the bottom dropped from beneath me. I sank through the roof and into Nuada’s chamber.

It took a moment for me to refocus in the bright, overly lit room. The bed was empty, but before I could feel relieved, a movement from across the room caught my attention. My body turned and I felt a shudder of revulsion as I realized what I was witnessing. Nuada was holding a naked young girl in his arms in a sick parody of a lover’s embrace. She was tilted backward, as if they had just danced and he was finishing a romantic dip, but her head was thrown back to the side unnaturally. Nuada’s mouth was pressed firmly against her neck, and as I drifted closer I could see his jaws working in a grinding motion as he bit through her skin. Blood welled out of his mouth and began running in a dark stream down her body and to the floor. As he lapped and sucked at the wound, his wings began to rustle, growing taut and erect, spreading up and over him like a giant predatory bird. The girl began to twitch and moan in pain, and the movements of her body allowed me to get a better look at Nuada. He, too, was naked, and it was obvious that his wings weren’t the only things growing and becoming erect.

“Eeww, that is seriously disgusting.” I spat the words.

At the sound of my voice, Nuada’s head shot up and he hissed, “Are you here, female?”

My body drifted forward and, once again, I experienced the shivery feeling that told me I was becoming semivisible.

“I’m right here.” The ghostly sound of my spirit voice echoed off the walls.

Nuada flung the girl to the ground.

“Get out!”

The pale girl scrambled weakly on her hands and knees, and fled out the door. Nuada wiped his bloody mouth with the back of his hand and crouched on his haunches, studying me.

“So, you come to me again.” He sounded self-satisfied.

He made my stomach feel tight and sick.

Draw him to you, Beloved. The words drifted through my mind.

“I came to you because you are not strong enough to come to me.” I cupped one of my breasts suggestively.

His wings twitched and his eyes narrowed.

“It is such a shame that all you can handle are weak, pitiful little girls.” I cupped my other breast and pouted at him.

He licked his lips; his eyes never left my breasts. I let my hands move from caressing my breasts down my body, my fingertips drawing shapes and patterns over my naked ribs, waist and stomach. His eyes stayed locked with the seductive play of my hands, and I could hear his breathing deepen.

“But maybe anything except a helpless little girl would be…” I paused. My hands traveled down to caress my inner thigh, while the other cupped my pubis, much as I had seen him do to the violated girl the night before “…too much for you.”

His breath turned into a hiss as he shot to his feet and lunged forward, reaching clawed and bloody fingers into the air below me.

Tonight I didn’t need the Goddess to prompt me, and my mocking laughter echoed around him as he paced back and forth beneath me.

“If I knew where to find you, I would show you my strength,” he hissed.

“You want to know where to find me?” He stopped pacing and stared up at me. “I am a Goddess Incarnate. My home is the Temple of the Muse. Ask any of your weak captives, they can tell you how to find my temple.”

His face split into a leering grin. “I will come for you myself, and instead of your laughter this room will be filled with your screams.”

My taunting laugh caused his pacing to resume.

“Finding me is not the difficult part, Nuada. Possessing me is. My sister Goddesses and I are well protected by an army of centaur warriors.” My hands began caressing my breasts again. “I am almost sorry that you cannot possibly defeat them. It would have been amusing to dally with you.”

His chalky-colored face was suddenly mottled with a flush of rage and he screamed, “Amusing!” He took several long, running strides. His muscles gathered and he leaped up, taloned hands reaching into the air. I felt a sharp pain as the tips of his claws brushed through the bottoms of my transparent feet…

Suddenly I was out of there like a fat boy playing dodgeball.

“Damnit! Ow!” I sat straight up, grabbing for my feet.

“What is it, love? What has happened?”

The fire had burned low, and he must have extinguished the candles and lamps before he fell asleep, so the light in the room was dim, but I could see three strips of welts across the bottom of my left foot. They stung, like someone had just beat me with something hard and sharp. As I watched, the welts swelled, looking even more angry and red.

“He hurt me,” I said as I tried to rub the sting off my foot.

“Show me.”

I changed positions so that I was propped up on my elbows. I watched him inspect my sore foot. He looked grim as he stood and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” He gave me a reassuring look before opening the door. I could see one of my guards salute him. “Go to the Healer. Tell him I need some soothing balm, like what he would apply for a burn or an insect bite.” He closed the door and poured us two cups of wine.

“Thanks.” I smiled at him.

“How did this happen?”

“Nuada leaped at me. His claws raked through my feet just as Epona was getting me out of there.”

I saw ClanFintan’s jaw clench. “Was tonight’s visit enough? Do you think he will mobilize the Fomorians to attack the Muse?”

“I think so. Of course, I won’t know for sure until I actually see them leave Guardian Castle. But he was sure pissed off.”

ClanFintan gave me a puzzled look.

“It means mad,” I clarified. “Really, really mad.”

He walked over to the edge of our bed and bent so he could touch my face, smoothing the hair back out of my eyes. “He will pay for hurting you.” His voice was flat and dangerous. I was glad he was on my side.

Two knocks sounded and ClanFintan strode quickly to the door.

“The balm, my Lord.” I could hear the voice of the guard. “Carolan asks if you require his assistance.”

“Tell him no, not at this time.”

Before ClanFintan returned to his position at the end of our mattress, he lit an oil lamp and carried it to a niche in the wall behind us. Then, once more, he took my foot in his hand, studying the lines of welts.

“It’s really not that bad. It just stings.” Actually, it stung like I’d stepped on a nest of yellow jackets, but I didn’t want to be a whiner.

He looked up from my foot, his expression was serious. “Rhea, do you not know that wounds to the spirit can be far more dangerous than wounds to the body?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I really don’t know much about this kind of stuff.”

“Listen to your inner voice. I think you know more than you realize. Now lie back and concentrate on ridding your spirit of any dark influence.”

I did as he ordered. My damn foot did hurt more than a few welts would normally cause. As his gentle fingers began rubbing the balm onto my foot, I couldn’t help but suck my breath in at the sharp pain.

“Repeat after me—concentrate on your spirit—concentrate on being well and whole.” His deep, hypnotic voice began a chant that I repeated, “Cuimhnich, tha mi gle mhath…Cuimhnich, tha mi gle mhath…Cuimhnich, tha mi gle mhath…”

On and on the chant went as he rubbed the cool paste into my foot. I closed my eyes and let the sound of his voice wash over me as I concentrated on being well. And I realized he had been right. Part of me had felt dirty and damaged by my encounters with Nuada. By touching myself for his benefit, teasing and taunting, it was like I had allowed some of his darkness to seep into my spirit. As soon as I realized it, I began to let the darkness go. That creature wasn’t going to control my feelings or ruin my spirit.

And the stinging stopped. I opened my eyes to ClanFintan’s relieved smile.

“Look,” he said, and he helped me to sit up so I could fold back my leg and look at the bottom of my foot…which was now smooth and free of any welts or pain.

“What was it we were saying?” I asked, still amazed that my foot was welt free.

“Remember, I am well,” he answered.

“That’s all? I thought it was some kind of magic spell.”

He laughed and pulled me against him, kissing me soundly.

“The words are from the Old Language, but the only magic they hold is already within you.”