a city shrouded in legend and steeped in the blood of her victims. While I had never been there, I had heard the walls fortifying the city were red and bones comprised the front gate. Rhys had refused to speak of Cathis, only made me swear to never look for him there.
“I will consider your offer.” If it meant appeasing his pride, I would allow him to hold me as he taught my body to move in time with his. Gods’ web, did he inspire only dangerous thoughts?
“See that you do.” He sounded distracted. His neck craned. “We’ve stopped.”
“Beltania isn’t too much farther. It’s early to make camp, but if they venture nearer, they run the risk of their entire party being spotted—of me being identified.” Torrance wouldn’t risk that.
Squinting at the sky, he said, “We have several hours until dark. Let’s hope it takes Torrance that long to reach your clan home and secure their favor.” He murmured, “One tent and six males to guard us.” His voice lowered still. “But where are the others?” His grin turned cruel. “Ah. So I see. We’re splitting into three camps. Lleu and Bram will remain here it looks like, closest to the main road. If that camp is spotted, they’ll have no qualms hosting guests. It appears Pascale, you and I will be going farther afield. Twice that number of guards kept mounted. Hmm. This might work for the best.” He inclined his head. “It’s unexpected, but I suppose that most blessings are.”
“We might have more helping hands—paws—tonight than we bargained for,” I warned him.
“Canis?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Huh.” His gaze raked me from head to toe. “I thought you’d lost your messenger.”
“As had I.” A second round of death shouldn’t have hurt Brynmor, but I hadn’t been certain. “It would appear a soul requires only a willing vessel and determination to remain in this world.”
“You didn’t know?” His voice held reproach. “Old Father didn’t tutor you in such matters?”
Heat crept up my neck. “His mind is not what it once was, but he taught me well. You aren’t a male of my clan. Perhaps you can’t understand the scope of our faith and our duty to the gods.”
Stalking me across the distance between us, Vaughn bent to my ear. “I’m disappointed, little mouse. You’re scurrying away long before the danger arrives.” He nipped my ear, and my knees went liquid. “You won’t push me away, Mana. Mother mourned her lover’s passing every day of Rhys’s life. She keeps a shrine in her bedroom Old Father himself helped erect so that she might practice Kowatsi’s faith, honor his life thread and beg his forgiveness for the son who cut his life short.” His breath was warm on my throat. “Rhys practices your faith. He saved himself for a soul mate he scarce believed he deserved. So yes, I understand the scope of your faith very well.”
“You confuse me.” I leaned my forehead on his chest. “Every time I think I understand you, you say something that proves me wrong, that you’re more than the arrogant male I once feared.”
“You have no reason to fear me.” His cheek pressed atop my head. “You never did.”
I withdrew and took a hard step from him before we attracted the attention of our guards.
Clearing my throat, I trudged on. “We have a long walk to talk strategy.”
“No.” His voice was husky. “It’s best you don’t know my plans. All you have to do is listen to me. The only thing I’ll ask of you is that you run to safety. I’d rather you didn’t see what I—”
“I know what you’re capable of,” I admitted. “I watched you instruct Rhys as a youth.”
While I feared for my cousin during those mock duels, I had been mesmerized by the grace and beauty that characterized the Mimetidae. Of course, such a swordsman would enjoy dancing.
How well his body moved. All lean muscle, tight and fit, his serious eyes and tousled hair.
“I remember.” His cheeks went ruddy. “It was
“I will consider your offer.” If it meant appeasing his pride, I would allow him to hold me as he taught my body to move in time with his. Gods’ web, did he inspire only dangerous thoughts?
“See that you do.” He sounded distracted. His neck craned. “We’ve stopped.”
“Beltania isn’t too much farther. It’s early to make camp, but if they venture nearer, they run the risk of their entire party being spotted—of me being identified.” Torrance wouldn’t risk that.
Squinting at the sky, he said, “We have several hours until dark. Let’s hope it takes Torrance that long to reach your clan home and secure their favor.” He murmured, “One tent and six males to guard us.” His voice lowered still. “But where are the others?” His grin turned cruel. “Ah. So I see. We’re splitting into three camps. Lleu and Bram will remain here it looks like, closest to the main road. If that camp is spotted, they’ll have no qualms hosting guests. It appears Pascale, you and I will be going farther afield. Twice that number of guards kept mounted. Hmm. This might work for the best.” He inclined his head. “It’s unexpected, but I suppose that most blessings are.”
“We might have more helping hands—paws—tonight than we bargained for,” I warned him.
“Canis?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Huh.” His gaze raked me from head to toe. “I thought you’d lost your messenger.”
“As had I.” A second round of death shouldn’t have hurt Brynmor, but I hadn’t been certain. “It would appear a soul requires only a willing vessel and determination to remain in this world.”
“You didn’t know?” His voice held reproach. “Old Father didn’t tutor you in such matters?”
Heat crept up my neck. “His mind is not what it once was, but he taught me well. You aren’t a male of my clan. Perhaps you can’t understand the scope of our faith and our duty to the gods.”
Stalking me across the distance between us, Vaughn bent to my ear. “I’m disappointed, little mouse. You’re scurrying away long before the danger arrives.” He nipped my ear, and my knees went liquid. “You won’t push me away, Mana. Mother mourned her lover’s passing every day of Rhys’s life. She keeps a shrine in her bedroom Old Father himself helped erect so that she might practice Kowatsi’s faith, honor his life thread and beg his forgiveness for the son who cut his life short.” His breath was warm on my throat. “Rhys practices your faith. He saved himself for a soul mate he scarce believed he deserved. So yes, I understand the scope of your faith very well.”
“You confuse me.” I leaned my forehead on his chest. “Every time I think I understand you, you say something that proves me wrong, that you’re more than the arrogant male I once feared.”
“You have no reason to fear me.” His cheek pressed atop my head. “You never did.”
I withdrew and took a hard step from him before we attracted the attention of our guards.
Clearing my throat, I trudged on. “We have a long walk to talk strategy.”
“No.” His voice was husky. “It’s best you don’t know my plans. All you have to do is listen to me. The only thing I’ll ask of you is that you run to safety. I’d rather you didn’t see what I—”
“I know what you’re capable of,” I admitted. “I watched you instruct Rhys as a youth.”
While I feared for my cousin during those mock duels, I had been mesmerized by the grace and beauty that characterized the Mimetidae. Of course, such a swordsman would enjoy dancing.
How well his body moved. All lean muscle, tight and fit, his serious eyes and tousled hair.
“I remember.” His cheeks went ruddy. “It was
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