Celtic Love Knots Volume 7 Read online

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  Whiskey Creek Press

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Copyright ©2007 by WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  CELTIC LOVE KNOTS VOLUME 7:

  SOLSTICE DREAMS & CONNLA AND

  THE FAIRY PRINCESS

  by

  Bianca D'Arc & Barri Bryan

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Published by

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  Whiskey Creek Press

  PO Box 51052

  Casper, WY 82605-1052

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Copyright © 2007 by Bianca D'Arc & Billie and Herb Houston

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-59374-997-2

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston

  Editor: Katherine Smith

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  From author Bianca D'Arc:

  May all your Solstices be bright!

  SOLSTICE DREAMS

  by

  Bianca D'Arc

  Chapter 1

  Sir Eustace was an elven knight with a bit of an identity crisis. Since his first days in the earthly realm he'd done all the things elven knights were expected to do—dallied with damsels, aided with the switching of a few changeling children, even tempted a few foolish mortals into a faerie ring and trapped them there while he toyed with them. But he always let them go. His heart just wasn't in it.

  No, Sir Eustace had become a rather reclusive knight, traveling farther and farther north in his quest for new ground and new experiences. He had heard tales of a jolly old elf who lived way up north and he thought it a good quest to go see if this ancient sage of his kind could give him a few pointers.

  Eustace really had it all, but he appreciated none of it. He was tall, lithe of body, leanly muscled and as fair as all the fair folk from the high court of the sidhe. He'd been born to a good family and found favor with more than his share of both fey and mortal maids who nearly swooned at his feet whenever he chose to appear to them.

  But secretly his heart lusted for darker pleasures. He would spy on the lower court elves, the Dark Ones, with something like envy whenever he chanced upon a group of them cavorting in a glade. Once he had even been caught spying on a dark elven princess and her consort, but the dark elf in question said not a word, just let him watch as another of her kind took her from behind. She held Eustace's gaze throughout and he could tell she drew pleasure from knowing he watched. It was rumored the Dark Ones enjoyed much earthier pleasures than his high court brethren and after that experience, Eustace knew it to be true.

  It was his most secret memory. Also the most tempting.

  Since that night, a dark lover had invaded his dreams. Though Eustace had never been with one of the forbidden lower court sidhe, now, on a nightly basis, a dark elven lover came to him in dreams. Her beautiful face was somewhat vague and not quite that of the dark elven princess he had spied on, but similar. Her body was softly feminine, magnificent and lush, her hair black as a raven's wing and twice as silky as it spilled over her shoulders and brushed Eustace's chest while he pounded into her tight body. It was only a dream, but it felt more real than anything he had ever experienced, and Eustace found himself waiting for each evening when he could slip away into sleep and the arms of his dream lover.

  The Dark Ones lived where they would, spread out over the lands and inhabiting the most unlikely places. Wherever Eustace went, he found himself drawn to their forbidden power. For the magic of the dark elves was forbidden to those of the high court. No, his kind looked down upon their baser brothers with their black hair and rumored perversions. They were considered not only of a lower class, but of inferior magic and lesser intelligence.

  Because their power was of the earth and the dark places, it was mysterious and tantalizing to Eustace. His own magic was of the light and the sun, but it was the moon the Dark Ones worshiped and the Dark Queen they served.

  Eustace wasn't quite convinced they were inferior either. On the contrary, they seemed a whole lot less stuck up and morose than his own people—than he himself, for that matter. Still, the illicit pleasures he had glimpsed in the princess’ eyes tempted him like nothing else.

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  Melea was a powerful elven mage, born in the lower court of the sidhe, and dissatisfied with the frivolity of her kin. Like many of her kind, she took off on her own for centuries on end, returning to the company of her people only rarely. She simply did not get along with most of her kin. They thought her too serious and too intense, but they let her do as she pleased since her magical power was so immense. She was, in fact, one of the most gifted of the dark elven mages, able to perform feats of magic not seen in generations.

  But she was unhappy. So unlike a dark elf should be. There was practically no mischief in her soul and the little she had was rarely let out to play. And so she found herself living in the far reaches of the north, near where the jolly, old elf was reputed to live as well. Melea had heard of him, of course, but had never been able to find the entrance to his magical realm though she had tried many, many times. She had sought for decades, in vain, to find the old elf, but refused to give up.

  She wanted to compare notes with the ancient one, for the sage who inhabited the North Pole was thought to be the only elf alive with a magic greater than her own. She wanted to learn from him, but first she had to find him.

  Still, she enjoyed her time in the far north, away from most other beings, with only a few sturdy gnomes for company. They liked taking care of her animal friends in the stable she kept for their shelter. The animals were free to come and go as they pleased, and it comforted her that they enjoyed staying under her magical roof more often than not. The gnomes enjoyed having the animals to care for as well, and a thriving community of the sturdy little people was flourishing even in this cold, cold place.

  Each night though, Melea would seek her solitary bed, visited by dreams of a hazy face and a lover who satisfied all her hidden needs. This golden lover touched her on an emotional level no fey or mortal ever had, and ignited a fire in her loins that would not be denied.

  It felt so real! Melea looked forward to the time each night when she could douse her candles and lay her head down on the silken pillow, visited without fail by the strong, golden warrior who was her perfect match.

  Chapter 2

  On the eve of the Winter Solstice, near the end of December as mortals reckoned time in this earthly realm, Melea fel
t a magical tug on her wards that let her know a stranger approached. A stranger with substantial magic of his own, she could tell, but in danger from the tricky weather this far north. A blizzard was bearing down outside and the stranger could very well freeze to death were he not to find shelter.

  Sighing at the effort this unwelcome intrusion would bring to her peaceful home, Melea waved her fingers to light the sentry fires. Candles burned in the windows and a beacon shone from the roof of her modest, magical home. If the stranger so wished, he would find welcome here, though Melea would have preferred her solitude.

  Likely it was some foolish mortal hunter, lost in the dark. Or perhaps one of the sidhe, out to complicate her life. Either would be a nuisance, but Melea was not so unfeeling as to allow another being to freeze to death on her doorstep.

  Before long, she heard a knock on the great wooden door and stirred herself to stand. Pulling a long, midnight blue robe closer around herself, she went to the door and opened it, shocked at what she found waiting outside on her doorstep.

  A tall, golden-headed, high court elf stood defiantly before her, nearly frozen to the bone, shivering beneath layers of ice-covered fur and hide. His eyes blazed blue but they were the only thing on the man that was not shivering uncontrollably. The eyes though, spoke volumes about this elf's warrior nature and his dislike of being beholden to anyone, especially one of his kind's mortal enemies. High court and dark elves simply did not mix.

  "What in the realms is a high court fool like yourself doing out in weather like this? Or are you people really as stupid as you're reputed to be?"

  "It's not my kind who are thought dumb, Dark One.” Sir Eustace's chattering teeth ruined the tone of indignation, but Melea got the gist.

  Tugging the nearly frozen elf by the arm, she pulled him inside and shut the door behind him with a thought. Immediately she shot a look at the fire that caused it to blaze higher, warming the room and the nearly frozen high court warrior, melting the ice that coated him into little puddles on her rug.

  "You're nearly frozen through. Have you a horse outside in as bad shape?"

  The elven knight shook his head. “I put him in your barn. Used all my magic keeping him alive these last few leagues. He should be all right ‘til morning. A few gnomes came out to care for him when we entered the stable and I left him in their capable hands."

  "Sensible of you. My gnome friends will make sure he's all right.” Melea shook her head and made a tsking sound as she helped the warrior unwrap the furs and leathers he'd worn around himself. With a wave of her hand she conjured a tub full of warm water in front of the fire.

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  Eustace's eyes grew round at the beautiful dark elf's negligent use of such extravagant magic. He had little magic of any value except that with plants and trees. The high court looked down upon such common magics as next to worthless so he was never encouraged to develop his skills. Still, he often used his native talents when traveling in the woods and fields on his solitary journeys. Farmers were always glad to see him because crops flourished when he was nearby. He could also heal sicknesses in plants and it always made him feel good to help a sick tree, though his high court brethren would laugh at him.

  Still, such casual use of complicated conjuring was something he had never seen, even among the more talented of his own kind. This stunning dark elf was something special, and not just because of her haunting beauty.

  Eustace took a second look at his hostess and savior, noting the long black hair, the feminine features, the curvaceous figure beneath a long, dark blue robe that proclaimed her all female and very fit. She was no soft mage, but rather had the cunning look of a warrior mage. This Dark One would be a strong adversary, but she had kind, mysterious eyes that showed a steady character. She would probably be quick to temper like all dark elves, but measured in her responses in the way of a wise warrior. Her face was haunting, her form familiar somehow and Eustace felt his body quicken as the forbidden lower court sidhe woman looked him over with similar fascination.

  "Who are you?"

  "My name is Melea. And you must be the famous Eustace I've heard tell of these past years and more."

  "I am Eustace, but who has been talking about me? I'm nobody important."

  Melea shot him a mischievous look as he peeled away the last layers of shirt and dropped them to the floor. “On the contrary. When a high court knight spies on a princess of my kind, we notice. Most of your folk won't even acknowledge our existence, much less be bothered to watch us while we frolic in a glade. Word of you has gotten around. Most of the dark elves think you're somewhat deranged but basically harmless."

  "Deranged!” Eustace parroted in outrage only to be stopped a moment later by Melea's soft hand on his chest. The touch was warm, powerful, and ... exciting. It stopped Eustace short. It was also familiar.

  "Now that I've seen you, I think you're probably just curious.” Melea leaned forward, her gaze holding his as she reached up to brush her lips across his. A frisson of magic passed between their lips, multiplying and leaping between them in joy. “Now that I've seen you, I think I'm curious."

  Melea chuckled slightly before leaning up once more, deepening the kiss. Eustace was shocked, but instantly aroused. This ... this is what he'd been seeking. This kiss. This dark elf. He leaned into the kiss and returned it, taking charge of it by moving his cold hands up to grasp the silky warm robe Melea wore, fisting it between his fingers.

  Melea pulled back, smiling up at Eustace. “You high court boys don't ever play on the dark side, do you?"

  Eustace let go of Melea's robe. She was only teasing him.

  "I'll admit I've been fascinated with your kind for some time."

  "Is that why you watched my kin?” Melea's eyes flashed seductive fire at him.

  "In part,” he admitted, “but more because I was looking for one dark elf in particular. One who has haunted my dreams for years now.” Boldly, he reached down and stroked back Melea's long, dark hair. “I think I may just have found her."

  Melea laughed and her luminous, dark eyes lit up, but she stepped back. “You need to get in the tub. You're still cold and you need to warm up."

  Eustace stripped off his pants while holding Melea's gaze. His cock was hard and long, and the beautiful dark elf's appreciative gaze made it tighten even more.

  "Join me?” Eustace jerked his head toward the steaming tub but Melea backed away.

  "Perhaps later. I have some preparations to make while you get warm.” Her smile softened the rejection. “Get in and have a nice long soak. When you're warm, then we'll see about other things."

  Chapter 3

  Eustace was relaxing in the tub when Melea reappeared with a tray. On it were two golden goblets and a decanter. Melea sat before the fire and offered one of the goblets to her guest, her eyes lingering on the muscular chest that rippled so invitingly as Eustace moved beneath the water.

  "Are you warmer now?"

  "Much. Thank you, Melea, for taking me in. I know our courts have been at odds for centuries, but you've shown me nothing but kindness. I thank you for it."

  Melea waved a dismissive hand while she sipped the mulled wine. “I don't get into politics. I leave that to the queens. They spawn enough intrigues for the entire elven population and I learned long ago to stay out of it."

  Eustace nodded. “A wise course."

  "Why did you come this far north?” Melea's black eyes watched him carefully over the rim of her goblet.

  "I'd heard rumors of an ancient one up here. A sage who knows the key to happiness and joy. I wanted to find him—possibly learn from him."

  Melea laughed bitterly. “I came here decades ago on much the same quest but the entrance to his home is hidden from me."

  "But you've got so much magic—"

  "Not enough, apparently. Or perhaps not the right kind.” She shrugged.

  "If you can't find him, then I never will. I only have plant magic.” Eustace's disgusted tone made Melea lau
gh.

  "But that's a glorious kind of magic! Somewhat rare too. We lower court types value it highly. Don't tell me your people disdain it still. Are they really that stupid?"

  Eustace shrugged his massive shoulders. “Apparently so. Though my folk are generally quite intelligent. They just have different values than others."

  "You're being kind. They scoff at your magic and you still are kind about them. There are depths to you, Sir Eustace, I hadn't expected.” Melea drained her goblet and stood. “But come, I have some clothing for you and a place to sleep."

  She held out a towel, holding it wide while Eustace stepped out of the tub, gloriously naked. Melea didn't relinquish the towel, but rather, used it to dry every last inch of Eustace's hard body. She lingered last over the hard length between his thighs, looking up slyly at Eustace as she curled her hand daringly around the thick, hard cock with only a damp towel between their flesh.

  "Do you want to bed me, Sir Eustace? Even though it is forbidden?"

  The jumping of his already hard cock answered for him, but to be perfectly clear, Eustace leaned forward and slowly pulled Melea with one hand cupping the back of her neck, into his kiss. They stood there for long moments while the towel drifted to the floor but Melea's hand retained possession of Eustace's hard rod. She rubbed it, applying just the right pressure as she moved slowly, seductively up and down. She knew just how to touch him to make him squirm with pleasure.

  "Shall we take this to the bedroom?” Melea retained enough composure to step away and ask, but Eustace didn't let her go far. He kept hold of her arm, stroking up and down as his light eyes lingered on Melea's dark gaze and luscious curves.

  "Lead the way.” His voice was barely more than a growl and a fire lit in Melea's dark eyes, leaping between them as she moved to the door.

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  The bedroom was lush, hung with silks and furs in a myriad of improbable colors. It was hard to tell who led whom to the huge bed along the center of one wall, but when they reached it, Eustace sat down on the edge and quickly did away with Melea's robe, happy to find that was all she wore.