all its big city crap."
Carina looked up
into Eilagh's blue eyes as she thought about her offer. Why hadn't she thought
of that?
"Um, that
would be great. But I don't know what I'll do. I couldn't go back to university
after … I tried, but I couldn't do it. I had to pull out. I've got no degree,
no real work experience. In the last ten months I've used up all my
savings." She stopped to sigh and shudder in a deep breath. "My whole
life is a mess, and I don't know how to fix any of it."
"You will
lean on us, and we'll help you, every step of the way. That's how."
Becky's voice was strong with determination. How on earth Carina thought
keeping the attack from her friends was a good idea she'd never know.
****
Sitting high on
the back of his favorite horse, Phelan looked over the land in front of him.
The cattle were grazing on grass as they wandered around. He and his brothers
had to round up six of them for slaughter, just as they did twice a week, every
week. Their herd was massive. No one had ever done a head count because they
had such a large area to roam it had always been too difficult. That and as
long as they kept breeding well so they had enough to eat, it didn't matter how
many there were. He heard his brother Denver's horse approaching. He waited for
Denver to reach him before he rode down to where the cattle were grazing to
round up those they needed.
It didn't take
long for the six fully grown animals to be rounded up into the yards ready for
slaughter. Phelan was glad he didn't have to do that part. He could never kill
a defenseless animal, even if it was to feed his family and friends. Denver
normally got the task, but even he didn't enjoy it. His youngest brother, Hart,
was so damn softhearted he couldn't even bring himself to round up the animals.
He took care of the crops and was bloody good at it.
Phelan led both
his and Denver's horses back to the stables and brushed them down before
settling them in with a bag of feed each. Once done, he headed back to the
slaughter house—hoping Denver was finished. Before he got there he heard
Dimitri, their clan leader's, voice rumble through his head.
All warriors to the orchard. The Great Wind has returned,
and Max is out there alone.
Denver came
running out of the slaughterhouse and just about cleaned Phelan up. With a
bright flash of light they both shifted to their dragon forms and flew to the
orchard. Hart joined them in the sky, and they all landed together with eight
other warriors. They flashed back to human when they saw Max in human form,
slumped over what appeared to be a female. Looking around, Phelan saw she was
one of five unconscious females scattered around near them.
"What did
they do to you, brother?" Dimitri's concerned voice rang out as they all
ran to the newcomers.
Phelan felt
drawn to one of the women. She was so tiny. She'd only come up to his chest,
he'd guess, by the look of her. Her black curly hair was glossy and beautiful
as it shone in the sunlight. Her facial features were delicate and fine. Her
skin was a gorgeous light shade of brown, like a pale colored caramel. He knelt
beside her at the same time as both his brothers did. Phelan reached for her,
stroking his fingertips lightly down her cheek. The second he made contact he
gasped as his eyes flew wide.
What is it, Phelan? What did she do to you? Denver's concerned voice floated through his mind.
She’s ours. Our Desired. Touch her and you will see for yourselves.
They both looked
at him in shock before reaching out to touch her for themselves. Phelan watched
as each of his brothers closed their eyes and shuddered as they felt the
connection with their Desired.
We need to get her to the clinic, make sure she's not
injured in any way.
Hart's gentle
voice came back at him.
They gently peeled
her large bag from her shoulders before Denver, who as the eldest had first
right, picked her up. Just as he stood, Drake spoke loudly, "Let's take
this inside and get these
Carina looked up
into Eilagh's blue eyes as she thought about her offer. Why hadn't she thought
of that?
"Um, that
would be great. But I don't know what I'll do. I couldn't go back to university
after … I tried, but I couldn't do it. I had to pull out. I've got no degree,
no real work experience. In the last ten months I've used up all my
savings." She stopped to sigh and shudder in a deep breath. "My whole
life is a mess, and I don't know how to fix any of it."
"You will
lean on us, and we'll help you, every step of the way. That's how."
Becky's voice was strong with determination. How on earth Carina thought
keeping the attack from her friends was a good idea she'd never know.
****
Sitting high on
the back of his favorite horse, Phelan looked over the land in front of him.
The cattle were grazing on grass as they wandered around. He and his brothers
had to round up six of them for slaughter, just as they did twice a week, every
week. Their herd was massive. No one had ever done a head count because they
had such a large area to roam it had always been too difficult. That and as
long as they kept breeding well so they had enough to eat, it didn't matter how
many there were. He heard his brother Denver's horse approaching. He waited for
Denver to reach him before he rode down to where the cattle were grazing to
round up those they needed.
It didn't take
long for the six fully grown animals to be rounded up into the yards ready for
slaughter. Phelan was glad he didn't have to do that part. He could never kill
a defenseless animal, even if it was to feed his family and friends. Denver
normally got the task, but even he didn't enjoy it. His youngest brother, Hart,
was so damn softhearted he couldn't even bring himself to round up the animals.
He took care of the crops and was bloody good at it.
Phelan led both
his and Denver's horses back to the stables and brushed them down before
settling them in with a bag of feed each. Once done, he headed back to the
slaughter house—hoping Denver was finished. Before he got there he heard
Dimitri, their clan leader's, voice rumble through his head.
All warriors to the orchard. The Great Wind has returned,
and Max is out there alone.
Denver came
running out of the slaughterhouse and just about cleaned Phelan up. With a
bright flash of light they both shifted to their dragon forms and flew to the
orchard. Hart joined them in the sky, and they all landed together with eight
other warriors. They flashed back to human when they saw Max in human form,
slumped over what appeared to be a female. Looking around, Phelan saw she was
one of five unconscious females scattered around near them.
"What did
they do to you, brother?" Dimitri's concerned voice rang out as they all
ran to the newcomers.
Phelan felt
drawn to one of the women. She was so tiny. She'd only come up to his chest,
he'd guess, by the look of her. Her black curly hair was glossy and beautiful
as it shone in the sunlight. Her facial features were delicate and fine. Her
skin was a gorgeous light shade of brown, like a pale colored caramel. He knelt
beside her at the same time as both his brothers did. Phelan reached for her,
stroking his fingertips lightly down her cheek. The second he made contact he
gasped as his eyes flew wide.
What is it, Phelan? What did she do to you? Denver's concerned voice floated through his mind.
She’s ours. Our Desired. Touch her and you will see for yourselves.
They both looked
at him in shock before reaching out to touch her for themselves. Phelan watched
as each of his brothers closed their eyes and shuddered as they felt the
connection with their Desired.
We need to get her to the clinic, make sure she's not
injured in any way.
Hart's gentle
voice came back at him.
They gently peeled
her large bag from her shoulders before Denver, who as the eldest had first
right, picked her up. Just as he stood, Drake spoke loudly, "Let's take
this inside and get these
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