Ruin=, page 13
“You need a hot bath to continue the healing process. The tub is filled. I just need to heat the water.”
He stopped her when she tried to move away, keeping her between his legs as he looked into her deep blue eyes. “Tell me what happened at the Grove.”
“The witch was Malene,” Asa said after a moment’s hesitation.
Rory shook his head in confusion. “The Lady of the Varroki?”
“Aye. She didn’t know me. Didn’t seem to even know her name.”
“How was she with the Vikings?”
Asa shrugged. “Hopefully, we’ll find out. Eventually.”
“She’s alive?” he asked in shock.
Asa ran her hands up and down his forearms. “Our fight was brief but violent. I got the upper hand, but her power is different than mine. And stronger. So much stronger. She was winning when Armir arrived. He diverted her attention and knocked her out.”
“He found the woman he loves again, but will she remember him?” Rory shook his head, trying to imagine what that would feel like. “Are they in Blackglade?”
“Armir wanted time alone with her. I believe he intends to help her find her memories.”
“And get answers to what happened to her.” Rory blew out a breath. “I wish him well. What do we do if he doesna succeed? Do you think she’ll return for you?”
“Armir won’t stop until he has Malene back.”
“What if he’s unable to do that? What if she’s gone?”
A pained look flitted over Asa’s face. “He won’t give up on her. Not after what I saw.” She became lost in thought for a moment. “At least we don’t have to worry about Hosvir.”
“On that front, the threat to you and Liss is over.”
“Because of you.”
He slid his hand around her hip to drag her closer. “If I hadna done it, one of you would have.”
“Take the glory. You deserve it. I saw the fight.”
His brows shot up. “Did you?”
“I came out of the Grove to see you and Hosvir locked in combat. I tried to get to you, but Jarin held me back. He said you needed to defeat Hosvir on your own.”
“He was right.”
Her lips twisted. “I understand. Are you ready for your bath now?”
“Only if you join me,” he said with a smile.
Her lips curved into a grin as she motioned to the tub. “It is large enough.”
“What are we waiting for then?”
Asa chuckled and walked to the water to heat it. Rory watched as she moved about the circular room. That was when he noticed movement near the window and saw Frida perched on a bird stand, watching him with large, yellow eyes. The owl spread her wings and ruffled her feathers before settling down once more.
“She’s healed nicely,” Asa said.
Rory grinned at the bird. “Nice to have you back, Frida.”
“She likes you.”
His gaze slid to Asa as she walked toward him, naked. He groaned, his cock hardening as he drank in her curves, eager to sink into her wet heat again. She smiled knowingly and took his hand. His legs were a little wobbly as she led him to the large tub. She waited until he had lowered himself into the water before climbing in behind him and pulling him back against her.
He closed his eyes and relaxed fully. She lifted a hand from the water and slid her wet fingers through his hair, gently scraping her nails along his scalp, causing chills to race over his skin.
“I love you,” she whispered near his ear.
Rory smiled and shifted them until she was on top of him. He gazed into her beautiful eyes as her golden hair floated in the water around them. “I’ll always find you, Asa. Our souls are joined. No’ even death can keep us apart.”
“In this life and the next.”
“Aye, lass,” he said as he lifted his head to her mouth. “In this life and the next.”
Epilogue
Three days later…
“What do we do now that our enemies are vanquished?” Rory asked as he stood behind Asa, wrapped around her as they watched the sunrise.
Her hands were on his arms. “What do you want to do?”
He shrugged. “You were on your way to Liss when I found you. Do you want to see her?”
“Eventually, aye.”
“Do you have something else in mind now?”
She turned to face him. She hadn’t had time to talk to him last evening because as soon as she had walked into their chamber in the tower, he had stripped her and made love to her all night. They’d spent most of their time in bed loving each other. It was as close to resting as she could get from him. Not that she was complaining. His body was recovering nicely.
“The Varroki have given us permission to live in Blackglade.”
He considered that for a long moment. “You wouldna need to hide who you are or your abilities. I know that’s important.”
“What about your family?”
“What about them?”
She gave him a knowing look. “They should know you’re alive.”
“Why? I’m no’ sure it would please my father.”
“This isn’t about him. It’s about you.”
Rory’s nostrils flared as he looked away and sighed loudly. “I would like to see my sisters. We got along well, but if I do, they’ll likely tell Da and my brothers I’m no’ dead.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“I doona want to return to the castle.”
“You don’t have to. But it is your family. If you do speak to them, it will be for you. Not because of what they want. You need to have contact with those you wish. As for anyone else, you’ll be able to say whatever you need to say. To give yourself a future that doesn’t make you frown every time you think about your family—especially your father.”
He shook his head, his shoulders drooping. “You’re right. I will face them one day, but no’ now.”
“One day, then,” she agreed.
“As for where we live, it doesna matter. You’re my home, Asa. Wherever you are, I’ll be.”
She bit her lip, unable to contain her excitement anymore. “In that case, there is a place. Helena and Jarin told me about it.”
“Go on,” Rory urged her with a chuckle. “Tell me.”
“It’s in the forest outside Blackglade’s walls. It would take less than an hour to get here by horse.”
Rory grinned and ran his hands over her back. “Close enough to have a community while still keeping ourselves apart.”
“Precisely. Many have already expressed interest in my tattoos.”
“No’ until after I’ve had mine.”
She locked her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. “You’ll always be first.”
“Och, woman. I love you so much it hurts,” he said against her mouth.
He lifted her slowly. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he deepened the kiss. He then walked them to the bed and lowered her. In the next breath, he was inside her, and nothing else mattered but the pleasure and their love.
Thank you for reading RUIN! I hope you loved Rory and Asa’s story as much as I loved writing it. Next in the Kindred: The Fated series is REIGN.
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She abandoned the man she loves… in order to save him.
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EVERKIN, Kindred, Book 0.5
New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant “skillfully melds history and legend” (RT Book Reviews) in a brand new series – The Kindred.
She abandoned the man she loves… in order to save him.
The natural-born witch broke her lover’s heart when she ran away, seven years ago. And to stay out of the clutches of the dangerous, evil Coven, Edra’s been running ever since.
She never planned on running into Radnar once again.
But chance threw them together, and now her knight has her in his arms. Her soul mate is not about to let her run from him again.
And the Coven knows it.
His love is the one thing they can use to break Edra, and finally force her to join them for good.
But what if this witch stops running? And starts fighting instead?
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by NYT & USA Today bestselling author DONNA GRANT
CONTEMPORARY PARANORMAL
DRAGON KINGS SERIES (Spin-off series from DARK KINGS)
Book 1: Dragon Revealed (novella)
Book 2: Dragon Mine
Book 3: Dragon Unbound (novella)
Book 4: Dragon Eternal
Book 5: Dragon Lover
Book 6: Dragon Arisen
SKYE DRUIDS SERIES
Book 1: Iron Ember
Book 2: Shoulder the Skye
Book 3: Heart of Glass
DARK UNIVERSE HEAs SERIES
Bundled Collections of HEA Novellas
Book 1: A Dragon’s Tale: Whisky and Wishes: A Holiday Novella, Heart of Gold: A Valentine’s Novella, & Of Fire and Flame
Book 2: Holiday Heat: Dark Alpha’s Silent Night, My Fiery Valentine, Shards of Hope, A Warrior for Christmas
REAPER SERIES
Book 1: Dark Alpha’s Claim
Book 2: Dark Alpha’s Embrace
Book 3: Dark Alpha’s Demand
Books 1-3 Bundle: Tall Dark Deadly Alpha
Book 4: Dark Alpha’s Lover
Book 5: Dark Alpha’s Night
Book 6: Dark Alpha’s Hunger
Book 7: Dark Alpha’s Awakening
Book 8: Dark Alpha’s Redemption
Book 9: Dark Alpha’s Temptation
Book 10: Dark Alpha’s Caress
Book 11: Dark Alpha’s Obsession
Book 12: Dark Alpha’s Need
Book 13: Dark Alpha’s Silent Night
Book 14: Dark Alpha’s Passion
Book 15: Dark Alpha’s Command
Book 16: Dark Alpha’s Fury
DARK KINGS SERIES
Book 0.1: Dark Craving
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Book 0.3: Dawn’s Desire
Books 0.1-0.4 Bundle: Dark Heat
Book 1: Darkest Flame
Book 2: Fire Rising
Book 3: Burning Desire
Book 4: Hot Blooded
Book 5: Night’s Blaze
Book 6: Soul Scorched
Book 6.5: Dragon King (novella)
Book 7: Passion Ignites
Book 8: Smoldering Hunger
Book 9: Smoke and Fire
Book 9.5: Dragon Fever (novella)
Book 10: Firestorm
Book 11: Blaze
Book 11.5: Dragon Burn (novella)
Book 11.6: Constantine: A History, Part 1
Book 12: Heat (short story)
Book 12.5: Constantine: A History, Part 2 (short story)
Book 13: Torched
Book 13.1: Constantine: A History, Part 3 (short story)
Book 13.5: Dragon Night (novella)
Book 14: Dragonfire
Book 14.5: Dragon Claimed (novella)
Book 15: Ignite
Book 16: Fever
Book 16.5: Dragon Lost (novella)
Book 17: Flame
Book 18: Inferno
Book 19: Whisky and Wishes, A Dark Kings Special Holiday Novella
Book 20: Heart of Gold, A Dark Kings Special Valentine’s Novella
Book 21: Of Fire and Flame
Book 22: A Dragon’s Tale (Bundle of Books 19, 20, & 21)
The Dragon King Coloring Book
Dragon King Special Edition Character Coloring Book: Rhi
Book 23: My Fiery Valentine
Book 24: Ignite the Magic (Prequel)
DARK WARRIORS SERIES
Book 1: Midnight’s Master
Book 2: Midnight’s Lover
Book 3: Midnight’s Seduction
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Book 6: Midnight’s Captive
Book 7: Midnight’s Temptation
Book 8: Midnight’s Promise
Book 8.5: Midnight’s Surrender (novella)
Book 9: A Warrior for Christmas
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Book 1: Wild Fever
Book 2: Wild Dream
Book 3: Wild Need
Book 4: Wild Flame
Book 5: Wild Rapture
Chiasson Series Bundle
LARUE SERIES
Book 1: Moon Kissed
Book 2: Moon Thrall
Book 3: Moon Struck
Book 4: Moon Bound
LaRue Series Bundle
WICKED TREASURES
Book 1: Seized by Passion
Book 2: Enticed by Ecstasy
Book 3: Captured by Desire
Books 1-3: Wicked Treasures Box Set
HISTORICAL PARANORMAL
THE KINDRED SERIES
Book 0.5: Everkin (short story)
Book 1: Eversong
Book 2: Everwylde
Book 3: Everbound
Book 4: Evernight
Book 5: Everspell
KINDRED: THE FATED SERIES
(Spin-off series from THE KINDRED)
Book 1: Rage
Book 2: Ruin
Book 3: Reign
DARK SWORD SERIES
Book 1: Dangerous Highlander
Book 2: Forbidden Highlander
Book 3: Wicked Highlander
Book 4: Untamed Highlander
Book 5: Shadow Highlander
Book 6: Darkest Highlander
ROGUES OF SCOTLAND SERIES
Book 1: The Craving
Book 2: The Hunger
Book 3: The Tempted
Book 4: The Seduced
Books 1-4: Rogues of Scotland Box Set
THE SHIELDS SERIES
Book 1: A Dark Guardian
Book 2: A Kind of Magic
Book 3: A Dark Seduction
Book 4: A Forbidden Temptation
Book 5: A Warrior’s Heart
Mystic Trinity (a series connecting novel)
DRUIDS GLEN SERIES
Book 1: Highland Mist
Book 2: Highland Nights
Book 3: Highland Dawn
Book 4: Highland Fires
Book 5: Highland Magic
Mystic Trinity (a series connecting novel)
SISTERS OF MAGIC TRILOGY
Book 1: Shadow Magic
Book 2: Echoes of Magic
Book 3: Dangerous Magic
Books 1-3: Sisters of Magic Box Set
THE ROYAL CHRONICLES NOVELLA SERIES
Book 1: Prince of Desire
Book 2: Prince of Seduction
Book 3: Prince of Love
Book 4: Prince of Passion
Books 1-4: The Royal Chronicles Box Set
Mystic Trinity (a series connecting novel)
DARK BEGINNINGS: A FIRST IN SERIES BOXSET
Chiasson Series, Book 1: Wild Fever
LaRue Series, Book 1: Moon Kissed
The Royal Chronicles Series, Book 1: Prince of Desire
MILITARY ROMANCE / ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
SONS OF TEXAS SERIES
Book 1: The Hero
Book 2: The Protector
Book 3: The Legend
Book 4: The Defender
Book 5: The Guardian
COWBOY / CONTEMPORARY
HEART OF TEXAS SERIES
Book 1: The Christmas Cowboy Hero
Book 2: Cowboy, Cross My Heart
Book 3: My Favorite Cowboy
Book 4: A Cowboy Like You
Book 5: Looking for a Cowboy
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That Cowboy of Mine
Home for a Cowboy Christmas
Mutual Desire
Forever Mine
Savage Moon
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant® has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories.
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She’s written more than one hundred novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dragon Kings® series that features a thrilling combination of Druids, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives in Texas with her dog and a cat.
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