Lucky's Charm by Kassanna Page B

to his woman? She wouldn’t cry. Landis wiped at her eyes and touched the spiked sphere at her hip. She might bash in his head a few times, though.
    “She is a beautiful woman, but she isn’t safe with me any longer. I am going after Dicklaus, the Troll King, and I may not survive that fight. My lady means too much to me to leave her in Tuatha De Danann alone.”
    Hitting him on the head was too good: what he deserved was to be gutted. Anger bubbled up within her. She was nobody’s other woman. She wrapped her fingers around the handle of the mace and pulled it free of the holster. Landis reared back and lifted the mace with both hands. Killing him would be the appropriate justice for being a lying, cheating, all-around bastard. She swung. The orb wobbled awkwardly on its chain and the links whistled as the metal ball cut through the air.
    Lucky ducked and scrambled off Dubh, falling to the ground in a heap before leaping to his feet. His brows connected to form a straight line as his eyes narrowed. Strands of hair fell forward covering his forehead. If the situation weren’t so serious it would be comical. She jumped down and changed hands.
    “Now, luv. Mo Shearc , I’m not sure what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, but put the mace down.” His voice had a lyrical quality to it and briefly she felt compelled to do as he asked.
    She shook it off. “Why didn’t you say you had someone before we made love!” she yelled as she marched toward him.
    In the background, Dubh chuffed, and if she wasn’t mistaken, it sounded like he was laughing.
    “We made love?” Lucky cocked his head.
    “What the hell would you call it?” Landis stopped, her chest heaving. She was literally seeing red. The grass, the mountains, everything was the color of blood.
    “ Searc . That’s what I would call it, but it sounds better the way you say it.” The quality of his tone deepened. “Put the mace down, luv.”
    Her grip loosened. She needed to follow his directions; it was important she do so. Her steps faltered and it was hard to hold on to her thoughts. She was mad. “I’m so angry with you.” She swallowed. Why was she upset again? The other woman, yeah that was it.
    “Why, Landis?” His eyes softened.
    “You—you have somebody else? No wonder Tolley was always mad. He knows what’s really going on.”
    “I think we have lost a bit in our communication.” He smiled and deep dimples etched his cheeks. “The only woman I have ever wanted in eight hundred years is you, Mo Shearc . I am concerned for you .”
    “Oh.” Giddy, she eased the mace into its holster. “You’re old enough to be my daddy several times over.” Landis couldn’t think of anything else to say. She felt silly and was sure the big, cheesy grin on her face reflected that.
    “I got your da all right.” He stalked up to her. “I’ll not send you away if you truly want to stay. But when we get to Droicheal, you must do everything I tell you. I’d rather send you back through the veil and know that you’re safe than keep you here where any means of beast could get a hold of you.
    She caressed his cheek. “Going back doesn’t mean I’ll be safe there. There are monsters where I come from. Sometimes you really can’t tell what they are, though.”
    The idea that she no longer thought of Florida as home flashed across her mind. She didn’t care at all.
    ~ * ~
    Lucky couldn’t stop smiling. Landis wanted to stay. He was making headway with her and hadn’t realized it. His thoughts turned dark. He couldn’t go after Tolley with her in tow, and he would need help. She still had a lot to learn about his world. He would have to call in a few of his men and a close friend or two. There was no way he would catch up with Dicklaus. There just wasn’t enough time.
    Once they got to the troll kingdom, they could rent a room from one of the Bauchans who ran boarding houses. He still had two gems from the lot they tried to sell to Dicklaus,