The ache of love and loss in the Mage's voice twisted something inside him.

Skye leaned forward. "Do you think this could stop the Ferals from accidentally shifting?"

Ezekiel lifted an interested eyebrow, a chuckle escaping his throat. "Accidentally shifting? This sounds like a story I need to hear."

Paenther stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room watching Skye as Ezekiel taught her the chants and dance to raise the power she was born to raise. They'd been working on it for hours, but he found, surprisingly, he didn't mind. He felt her joy and her mounting excitement as midnight neared and he felt his own mounting with hers.

If this worked, she wouldn't suffer Birik's punishment. Instead, she would come into her true purpose for the first time. And possibly help him in the process.

A dozen times he'd prayed to the goddess that this would work, that Skye would be free of Birik's punishment.

"Dancing sky-clad, without clothes, is traditional," the old Mage told her, "though ritual gowns work as well if you have one. Beneath the moon is best, but my Barbara drew just as much joy dancing in tents and caves and..." He cleared his throat. "The bedroom."

Skye met Paenther's gaze, a small, secret smile lifting her lips, filling him with a sharp stab of pleasure.

"Keep practicing that dance, lass, while I get us some water." Ezekiel's manner had thawed and warmed hour by hour until Paenther suspected his hermit lifestyle was not by choice but just an attempt to stay beneath Inir's radar. The man clearly enjoyed having the company.

Or he just enjoyed having Skye around. A low growl escaped his throat as the man drew near.

His jealousy must have shown because Ezekiel stopped and met his gaze, his eyes clear and honest. "I would never hurt her, Feral. She's as pure a nature spirit as I've ever met. An exceedingly rare creature." He shook his head. "Birik pulled dark power through her night after night for all those years, and yet it never tainted her. There's not the faintest shadow on her soul. She's a miracle."

"You can't have her."

To his amazement, the Mage smiled. "Does she know you're in love with her?"

"I'm not in love with her."

"No?" An annoying glint of disbelief entered his eyes. "My mistake, then." With a nod, he moved past him into the kitchen to get the water.

Paenther growled low. He wasn't in love with her. Of course he wasn't. And it wouldn't matter if he were. She was Mage, for goddess sake. He could never take her as his mate. A Mage would never be welcome in Feral House.

So, where would she go when this was over? She'd already said she had no way to find her family.

Dammit, this is where she should go. Here, with Ezekiel. Hidden from the Mage, who would only use her powers against her again.

He should be encouraging the old Mage, not warning him off.

He wasn't in love with her.

But, goddess help him, he'd rather carve out his own heart than see her in the arms of another.

Chapter Eighteen

"It's time." Skye grabbed his hand.

Paenther looked down at her, at the nervous excitement sparkling in her eyes, the sadness all but gone. She'd never looked more beautiful.

Skye looked over her shoulder at Ezekiel. "Are you coming?"

"No, lass, I'll wait here."

Her face fell just a fraction. "I'd like you to come."

He shook his head. "It would bring back memories that are too painful, if you understand my meaning. The last enchantress I watched dance beneath the moon, was my Barbara. Besides, your Feral is a bit on the jealous side. I'll be waiting for you right here."

Skye released Paenther's hand and went to Ezekiel, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you."

Paenther bit down on his jealousy as the Mage smiled.

"You're welcome, Skye."

Eyes dancing with excitement, she turned back to him and grabbed his hand. It was all Paenther could do not to pull her into his arms and claim her right then and there, but he let her tug him toward the back door. He followed her down the steps to the sand, the sea breeze wrapping around him like a cool, damp mist.

She looked up at him, a smile hovering at her mouth. "This is going to work. I can feel it." She pulled off her shoes, then shed the rest of her clothes as the moon broke through the clouds and illuminated the perfection of her skin.

Paenther tried to resist her for three full seconds and lost. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, sliding his hand down her bare back to her finely rounded rear as he slid his tongue inside her mouth to taste hints of dinner mixed with the clean, fresh taste of her.

She pulled away. "I can feel it coming."

Watching her begin to turn, her excitement a palpable force around her, he felt his chest tighten until it pained him. She chanted the words Ezekiel had taught her, dancing as he'd watched her practice for hours.

But little by little, her excitement died, her moves losing their grace and turning frantic.

"Skye, what's wrong?"

"It's not working."

"I'm going to kill him," Paenther vowed between clenched teeth.

"No, it's not him." She looked at him, her eyes turning bleak. "The Shaman bound my magic," she whispered, and arched with pain as the first of the cuts tore across her bare chest.

Paenther lunged forward and slammed his thumb beneath her ear, knocking her unconscious, then swung her into his arms, fighting not to roar his fury to the heavens.

"Bring her in," Ezekiel said, sticking his head out the back door.

Paenther struggled for control and forced himself to look down at her, not sure he could watch her suffer again. To his bone-deep relief, only three harsh cuts marred her skin. Knocking her unconscious had disabled the curse. This time.

Goddess, but he wanted her safe. He turned toward the Mage, jealousy fighting with his deep need to protect her. It wasn't like he could ever keep her himself. Even if he wanted to. She'd be better off here where Birik and Inir would never find her.

"What happened?" Ezekiel asked, holding the door as Paenther swung inside with Skye in his arms.

"The Shaman bound her magic so she couldn't enchant anyone in Feral House. Birik planted punishments in her cantric so she'd bleed if she didn't perform the ritual."

Ezekiel growled. "Damn them both, especially that distrustful Therian. All he had to do was look at her to see she was pure."

"Can you unbind her magic?"

The old Mage stared at her, then shook his head. "I might have been able to at one time, but I...no. I don't have that kind of power anymore."

Standing in the middle of the kitchen, Paenther turned to the old Mage. "Can she stay here with you? Will you keep her safe?"

"For how long?"

Paenther felt the words like gravel in his mouth. "For as long as you'll allow. Forever."

Ezekiel looked at him curiously. "She's your only real chance, warrior. Once that damned Shaman unbinds her magic, she should be able to help you reconnect with your animal. Without her, I fear your days are numbered."

"I'll be okay. There's nothing for her back there. I'm not sure I can keep her safe."

"You protect her at your own expense, yet you don't love her?"

"I just...don't want her to get hurt. She's too damned fragile."

The Mage laughed. "She may look as delicate as a dandelion puff, but she's strong, warrior. You know it as well as I. I don't think you'd care for her the way you do if you didn't recognize a strength in her that was a match for your own."

Ezekiel met his gaze with a piercing intensity, the wisdom of the ages in his eyes. "Know this, Feral. You are stronger together than either of you will ever be apart."

It was well past midnight when they arrived at the beach house in south Nags Head owned by the Shaman. The house was dark but not uninviting, with a colorful windsock blowing cheerily from the upper deck in the moonlight. The house was two stories atop the requisite stilts, weathered gray wood siding, each story with its own wraparound deck.

Skye looked up at the house, exhausted and bitterly disappointed the ritual had failed. She'd thought she'd finally found a purpose for her gift, but nothing in her life seemed destined to go right.

Paenther parked the car in the space beneath the house. Part of her wanted to curl up and go to sleep, but she was afraid Birik would only send her another nightmare.

What she needed more than sleep was freedom. She needed to feel the wind.

As Paenther opened her door, she looked up into his rugged face. "I'm going to stay outside for a while if that's okay."

He held out his hand for her and helped her out of the car. "If you can get me back into my animal, I need a run. We can go down to the beach."

She smiled. "I'll get you into your animal, then we'll both take a run."

"You are a nature spirit, aren't you?"

"I spend almost all day every day in the woods. I'm happier outside."

They went into the house, a casual, comfortable mix of rustic woods and bright upholstery. Three bedrooms took up the first floor. A high ceiling soared over the living areas on the floor above.

Once they'd taken a look around, they deposited their overnight bags in the largest of the bedrooms. Skye eyed the bed with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Anticipation because she'd be sharing it with Paenther. But beds ultimately meant sleep. And the risk of nightmares.

Paenther stripped out of his clothes, tossing them on the bed. He turned to her, his large, hard body unmistakably aroused.

A small smile tugged at her mouth. "I thought we were going for a run."

"We are." But he padded toward her like the dark, dangerous predator he was.

She glanced down meaningfully. "Now or later?"

A wicked glint shone in his eyes. "Now." But his hands gripped her shoulders and he hauled her into his arms, pulling her against his hard, ready body, and kissed her until her head spun and her legs felt too weak to stand.

His hand covered her breast. His lips left her mouth to trail across her cheek and down to her neck, where he nuzzled and kissed and nipped until her body was hot and heavy with need.

"We can run later," she murmured.

"No." But his fingers went to the belt at her waist and unhooked it. He slid his hand into the too-large waistband, beneath the elastic of the panties. Reaching behind her, he pressed her hips forward with one hand while the fingers of the other burrowed between her legs and slid deep inside her.

Skye clung to his arms, one hand catching at his armband as her knees threatened to give way beneath her.

"Paenther."

His mouth nibbled at the base of her throat. "I want a run."

"You're sending me seriously mixed messages here."

"You make me lose all thought." His mouth turned frantic as the kisses and the nips traveled up her throat to her jaw. "I want you, but I want to take my time."

Her pulse was racing, her body on fire. "Just come inside me, just come...inside. Take our time...later."

With fast, frantic movements, he unzipped her jeans and shoved them and her panties down to her thighs, then he turned her around.

"Bend over, Beauty." His voice was husky with need as he pushed her down, one hand in her hair as the other gripped her hip. Pulling her close, he took her from behind. His thickness spread her, filling her, as he rocked against her, slamming his groin to her rear. She gasped with the raw pleasure of this basic act, crying out as she came, loving the sound of his pleasure as he followed her over that sensual precipice. When he was through, he pulled out of her, pulled her around, and kissed gently, thoroughly.

Finally, he pulled back and looked down into her face, his dark eyes warm with an emotion that tugged at things deep inside her chest. His hand brushed back her hair, then he pulled up her clothes and fastened her belt. Taking her hands, he pressed them to his chest. "Help me shift, little witch, then let's go for that run."

As she touched him, the animal within him rose and leaped at her in greeting. Paenther pulled on the power and at the same time she called on the animal inside him to help.

In a flash of sparkling light, the man became a jungle cat, a sleek black panther. Like before, she reveled in his beauty, his emerald eyes, his black pelt.

She knelt and stroked his head and neck. "You're magnificent."

As are you. He licked her face, startling a laugh out of her.

I like the sound of that.

"Of what?"

Your laughter. You don't laugh often enough.

She peered into those emerald eyes, seeing the man she loved. "I haven't had a lot of things to laugh about. But being with you makes me happy."

I'm glad. Let's run.

She took off her shoes and socks, then rose and let them out of the house. Together, they ran down to the beach, the cool breeze in her face, the big jungle cat at her side. His presence thrilled her.

When they reached the dune, the panther took off. I'll be right back. I need to run.

Skye waded through the soft sand, but when she reached the hard-packed beach, she began to run, too, feeling her spirit briefly soar. The moon shone on the water, making it sparkle and dance with moonlight. A dolphin breached the surf a distance out, calling to her.

She sent love and well-being out to the beautiful creature. A moment later he soared into the air, spinning, before diving back under the surface of the ocean. Two more dolphins leaped, and she stopped at the water's edge and watched them dance for her.

They were so free. So at one with their world, as she would never be with hers. The panther raced back down the beach toward her and came to stand at her hip. Her hand went to his neck, pressing him close.