Autumn Moon by Jan DeLima Page B

for another two if Elen doesn’t wake up soon.”
    He frowned with renewed concern. “You said she’s woken in intervals.” Necessity had forced Dylan to return to Rhuddin Hall, but Sophie had kept him updated on his sister’s condition.
    â€œYes, but I don’t think she’s aware. I had to walk her to the restroom, and then she fell asleep again immediately afterward. Cormack promised to call if he needed help.”
    â€œThis is a dark business that Pendaran has brought into our midst.” And Dylan didn’t know how to fight this battle.
    â€œHe’s a coward,” she sneered, “to attack her in spirit where none of us can help.”
    â€œPendaran doesn’t understand honor,” Dylan corrected. “But he’s not a coward. He looks for the most efficient way to achieve his goals and uses it. He will come for Elen again, and we must prepare for all tactics. Even if he is weakened, I don’t trust his reach. This fight could very well take place on grounds that we can’t see.”
    â€œI wished you’d convinced her to stay here, but I’m glad she has someone with her at least. Not that Ms. Hafwen isn’t someone,” she amended, “but you know what I mean.”
    Yes, he did know—which was the reason he’d assigned Cormack as her guard. “What do you think of him?” Sophie had been in his company for two days now, and he wanted her opinion. “I almost intervened when that relationship first began, but Elen was so . . .” He sighed with frustration,hating the fear the villagers, and even the guards, had of her, and finished, “friendless.”
    â€œHe’s nothing like his sisters,” she said with some reservation. “I think he loves her. And Elen deserves to be loved. And whatever their relationship is, or becomes, it’s between them. He’s been by her side this whole time, leaving only when I helped her out of that dress.”
    â€œI’m not surprised, but I’m glad to hear it.” It made his decision to place him there more agreeable. Not that any others had wanted the post, but he hadn’t had the heart to tell Elen that. Dylan’s patience on that matter had grown thin a long time ago. His sister’s tender heart was the reason he began accepting others of their kind into his territory, and their fear of her was quickly turning into disrespect. It would be addressed soon.
    â€œI’m waking her to eat when I return,” Sophie said with the mixture of authority and caregiving instincts that had drawn him to her in the beginning. “I’ve had Enid prepare some meals to bring over, with blueberry tarts.” A rueful sigh fell from her mouth. “Maybe those will smooth Ms. Hafwen’s tweaked feathers. I’m not sure how she guessed I told you, but the winged tyrant has been ordering me around for two days. I remade her tea three times yesterday because, according to her, it was too bitter.”
    Dylan chuckled. “Bring her some of Enid’s special mead with the tarts, and she’ll be your best friend before she finishes the first thimbleful. Honey, especially fermented honey, is like catnip to felines for pixies.”
    â€œMead, huh?” Sophie laughed. “I’m not sure I want to see a drugged Ms. Hafwen, but I will bring a bottle just in case.”
    Trust was a new and precious development between him and his wife. He had little doubt that Elen and her pixie hadput the fear of Fae-wrath into her, but Sophie chose to confide in him anyway. Concern, he was sure, helped his wife’s decision. For her sake, he’d treated every situation as if he hadn’t known about Ms. Hafwen’s presence and had kept her secret between them.
    But he was pleased. No, he amended, he was happy, the happiest he’d been in a long time—and he’d be damned if he’d let Pendaran and his followers threaten