Earth's Blood (Earth Reclaimed) by Ann Gimpel Page B

the lid. The tenor of Gwydion’s chanting changed. While she didn’t recognize the incantation, Aislinn figured he was sealing the casket. Rune walked casually over to the coffin and lifted his leg. A stream of urine sprayed against the polished metal.
    Gwydion brayed laughter. “Aye, and that will surely keep her contained if my magic should fail.”
    “You’re welcome.” Rune sashayed to Aislinn’s side.
    She turned her gaze to Fionn. He looked like the old world god he was, all hard muscled flesh, blue eyes glinting dangerously. “Well?” she asked Gwydion. “Are we ready to do the same thing again?”
    “Eager one, aren’t ye?”
    “Not particularly. I want to get this over with so I can get some sleep.” While she’d gotten used to killing, Aislinn had never reached the point where she actually enjoyed the process. Only the results.
    “Nay, ye’re just wanting that one back in your arms. Can’t say as I blame you, lass.”
    “Well…” She shot him a crooked smile. “Now that you mention it—”
    “Would the two of you stop fucking nattering and help me?” Fionn sounded beleaguered. He jumped over another jolt of magic.
    “Oh, I doona know.” Gwydion smiled broadly. “Mayhap, we’ll just leave you here while the lass and I—”
    With a growl worthy of the wolf, Fionn loped away from his opponent and planted himself squarely in front of Gwydion. “Would ye now?” His gaze shot blue darts at the other mage.
    “Fionn!” Aislinn screamed.
    The creature launched itself at Fionn’s unprotected back. Rune hurled himself against the male hybrid, sank his teeth into its neck, and the two of them crashed to the floor. The hybrid put his hands around the wolf’s neck, trying to choke him.
    Not waiting for the two Celtic gods, who seemed engaged in a testosterone-laden standoff, Aislinn sent killing magic spinning toward the hybrid. To hell with trying to corral the damned thing. It was going to kill her wolf if she didn’t do something. Running wide open, she hit what was left of Marta’s father with all she had. He didn’t so much as blink. She pulled the knife she always carried in a sheath strapped around her waist and rushed the creature, stabbing his hands. That got his attention. The chokehold on Rune loosened. Aislinn drew fire from the earth and funneled it so the hybrid’s flesh began to smoke and then burn.
    A putrid smell filled the room, but the damned thing’s hands fell away from the wolf.
    “Rune. Get up.”
    He just lay there. Aislinn dragged him a few feet from the hybrid, who seemed focused on his melting flesh. “Do something,” she shrieked at Fionn and Gwydion. “I’ve got my hands full.” She’d just sent her magic into Rune to find out what was wrong so she could Heal him, when she felt Fionn and Gwydion’s magic build.
    “Take care of yon wolf, lass. We will finish this,” Fionn cried.
    Their magic flowed around her. She sat next to Rune, infusing Healing magic to repair the wounded places in his neck. The injury wasn’t too serious. Some lacerated tissues and torn blood vessels. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the time wargs had attacked him and torn out his throat. That was when she’d discovered she could Heal with magic.
    Yeah, it was the first time in a long time I cared enough about someone that I wanted them to live.
    She withdrew her magic about the same time she heard the second casket lid clank shut. The wolf stirred beneath her hands, and then lurched to his feet. “Ssssh, it’s all right, Rune. You can lie back down.”
    He sank to a shaky sit, panting.
    Aislinn rolled to her hands and knees and then got up. She was so tired, she was surprised she didn’t collapse next to her wolf. Her head spun crazily, and she shifted from foot to foot, trying to find a balance point.
    Arms closed around her from behind. “ Mo croi. ” Fionn’s voice was soft. “Ye were supposed to stay below.”
    “Aye, and had I done that,” she returned, aping Tara’s