Daylight was dying in the air when Marsha arrived at the cabin. It was still a little early in the day for a full moon ceremony, but she just couldn’t handle the trip both ways in the dark. It would be hard enough driving back, but her need to come here tonight—to ground herself and find peace and balance—had overwhelmed even the fear she harbored of being on the road at night.
It was Alex’s fault. Try as she might to forget about the scene with him earlier this evening, she had not been able to let go of the nasty, painful emotions he had stirred up. Grief and loneliness had roiled around inside her all evening, pushing her ever closer to the edge of a seemingly bottomless well of despair. Even after all this time, even after all her vows of indifference, he still could get to her. She was still tied to him with emotional threads she had woven herself—with spells and prayers and incantations. Threads she couldn’t seem to sever no matter how badly she might want to.
Never again, she swore, taking a couple of slow, deep breaths. Never again would she make herself so vulnerable. Never again would she allow herself to become so dependent on anyone that the fear of losing them would lead her to make the kinds of mistake she had made with Alex.
Never again would she use magic to hold someone—she’d seen firsthand the damage it could do.
As she stepped out of the van she was practically knocked over by swells of music—lovely and otherworldly—pouring from the cabin. She wandered around to the back, following the sounds; seduced, not just by the beauty of the music, but by the purity of the tenor voice, singing words in a language she did not recognize, but which moved her almost to tears, nonetheless.
As she rounded the corner, she saw Sam sitting on the back step, eyes closed, lost in the music—like Merlin enchanted by Nimue. Reluctant to break the spell, she waited, watching him, as the music eddied and swirled about them both, rising at last to a sweeping crescendo, before ending, almost too abruptly.
Sam opened his eyes and stared at her for a long time without speaking. She was startled into immobility by the intensity of his gaze. After a moment, he relaxed back against the doorframe with a sigh, and veiled his eyes again as if he were shutting out the sight of her.
“Hey,” he said, breaking the silence at last. His voice sounded harsh, as if it had not been used in days.
“Hi. That music...what is it?”
“Nessun Dorma,” he answered, not opening his eyes. “Puccini, of course. It’s from Turandot.”
“Oh. It’s very beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.” His mouth quirked upwards in a wry smile. “And believe it or not, I usually find it very calming.”
“But not tonight?” she asked curiously.
“No. Not tonight.”
She was suddenly aware of the rigidity in his posture, the tension that shimmered in the air around him. He didn’t want her here, she felt certain of it. Disappointment pressed on her heart with a crushing weight.
“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I know I’m probably interrupting your evening, coming here like this and…I’ll be out of here as quickly as I can. I’ll try to stay out of your way and—”
“Marsha,” he interrupted her, his eyes open again, the ghost of a smile flitting across his face. “You’re not going to be in my way tonight. I promise.” He got to his feet, and stood, irresolute. “So, a Mabon ceremony, huh? Out there in the glade?” His glance strayed to the ring of trees at the back of the property. “Sounds like fun.”
“Yes. Well, no, not fun exactly. It’s a spiritual ceremony, and...” Her voice trailed off as another thought struck her. Oh, dear heaven, he wasn’t going to ask to watch, was he? She’d feel guilty turning him down, but at the same time, there was no way she could let him stay.
“Oh. I suppose you’ll want some privacy?”
“Yes,” she breathed gratefully.
He nodded and pulled open the door. “Okay, well, let me know if you ah, need anything.” He flashed her a wry smile as he disappeared into the cabin.
“I will. Thanks,” she whispered to the empty air. She stared at the closed door for a long moment, before heading back to the van for the supplies she’d brought with her.
Welcome to Oberon
Omnibus One: Books 1 - 3
Three connected tales of love, murder, mystery...all set in a mystical small town where anything might happen.
Contains the first three books of the Oberon series:
Scent of the Roses
A Sight to Dream Of
Sound of a Voice That is Still.
Second Chances, Friends to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Hurt-Comfort, Age Gap, Betrayal, Suspense.
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