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enough to know the man on the dock was real. She had the worst possible
luck.
It couldn t be Cameron Flynn.
Arleigh lowered her head and studied him through a veil of hair. Nell
had been right. He was a fine one. Long strands of ebony hair curled against
his neck and down his shoulders. The dark stubble of a beard shadowed his
face, hardening the handsome features and giving him a dangerous, gritty
countenance. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in elegant clothes that
emphasized the tight, muscled grooves of his body and, though he looked to
be a nobleman, perhaps one of the King s cavaliers, his body seemed more
54 Amber Carlton
suited to killing an enemy in hand-to-hand combat. He looked strong,
violent, and unpredictable.
No, it can t be him. You re tired, anxious, imagining things. It can t be
Flynn because&
Her breath caught for a moment. Her resolve wavered. The doubt
flickered through her again then her hopes disintegrated as his eyes locked
on hers.
I am doomed. An ocean away, and I can t escape what I am. Bloody
hell. What forces are controlling my life? Who is so bloody angry with me
that I can t get one shred of luck?
The man s eyes were sapphire blue with glints of silver, a melding of
brittle metallic with the luminous beauty of a rare jewel. Cameron Flynn s
eyes. Beautiful, but that spark of malice, that hint of something that spoke of
brutality and pain, lingered there still. His eyes had burned in her memory
because she had once fought hard to win the soul that lay within.
Nell had continued to leer at the stranger, but Arleigh averted her eyes,
looking at him from beneath her lashes. She studied each inch of his body.
She had to be wrong. It couldn t be Cameron Flynn, because Flynn was
centuries dead and buried in the green hills of Ireland.
The man had finally approached them. Nell had hissed at Arleigh and
knocked her away. Arleigh fell to the ground, a lifeless bundle of rags. The
man who couldn t possibly be Flynn continued forward. She cringed and
yearned for the strength she had possessed in the past, anything to keep him
at bay. He motioned toward Nell, and another man took her by the arm and
led her away. Nell gave Arleigh a little wave over her shoulder, bidding her
good riddance and better luck. For one moment, Arleigh thought she was
safe, but a shadow crossed her body and a chill swept through her. A hard
grip enveloped her arm and hauled her to her feet, her hair flying across her
face. The man brushed it away with a lover s touch and leaned very close.
The heavenly scent of clean skin washed over her.
I ve been lifetimes waiting for you, he murmured.
Cameron? she whispered.
Aye, lass, in the flesh. Isn t this is a wondrous new world? A suitable
place for our meeting, don t you think? New beginnings for both of us. The
stars have aligned, the gods are smiling, or whatever it takes. I have very
Trinity Magic 55
little interest in the cosmic realm. I m more interested in earthly delights. In
you.
How can a dead man live? Arleigh gasped.
I have a better question, Flynn whispered. How is it possible a faery
of immeasurable power becomes a dirty heap of rags, stinking of
humanity?
His hands had moved around her back, and he yanked her toward him.
His hard body pressed against her, and his fingers dug cruelly into her skin
through the tattered dress. His mouth came down on hers in a brutal kiss that
seemed endless. She struggled against him but could do nothing. His mouth
plundered hers, forcing her to respond even as her mind sought any
explanation for how Cameron Flynn could possibly be alive. He forced her
mouth open, and his breath flowed into her. She moaned under his mouth
and finally found the strength to push at his chest.
Laughing, he loosened his grip but still held her against his body.
I ve waited centuries for your kiss, lover, he said.
She wiped her trembling hand across her mouth. Centuries weren t
long enough.
Did you feel anything? he asked.
My hatred of you.
Cameron Flynn pulled her closer. Once again he kissed her, a deep
leisurely kiss that tugged at something within the frail body she inhabited.
Her heart began to beat faster, and her arms rose and circled his neck against
her will. His hands became lost in her hair. She melted against him and
nestled into his body. She was powerless to stop it. When he pulled his face
from her, impossibly, he winked at her. She took a step back, and her eyes
widened.
You re Ganconor! What have you done? she demanded. How is this
possible?
Power s for the taking, lover.
Stop calling me that!
But you were my lover once. You will be again.
Ne er will I be your lover, she said.
He caught her arm and yanked her toward him. Stow your pride, lass.
Do you think you have any control over what is about to happen? It s
obvious from your arrival on this particular ship, your ragtag appearance,
56 Amber Carlton
and your rather, he paused and sniffed at her, a look of displeasure on his
face, gamey aroma that you haven t chosen to be here. You re here as
punishment. Still killing innocent men?
I didn t kill anyone, Arleigh snapped. It can t be helped if men die
and I am blamed for it.
Poor, poor you, he murmured. You are cursed in this life, aren t you,
lassie?
Arleigh snatched her arm away. Stay out of my life, Cameron. I don t
know what you ve done. I don t know how you stole a ganconor essence,
but I want you to leave me alone.
Flynn cocked his head.
They re asking a high price for your indenture papers, lass, but I know
for a fact you re worth the price.
Arleigh s heart had lurched, and for a brief moment, her body swayed.
Oh, he wouldn t; he couldn t. Why had she thought for one solitary instant
she had any power or control at all? This man could steal her life and soul as
easily as he crushed an insect beneath his boot, and he had every reason to
seek revenge against her. If he had managed to cheat death and live beyond
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