Ferus : Book 6 of the Heku Series by T.M. Nielsen Page A

night.”
    “He’s tasted your blood now.”
    Emily frowned, “He’s a baby, now hand him
over.”
    Chevalier sighed and
handed the baby over to her. Dain stood up in her lap again and
leaned his head against her neck. He watched Chevalier closely.
Emily dropped him onto his back and pulled up his lips so she could
see.
    “I guess it shouldn’t
surprise me that his canines came in first,” she said, and handed a
toy to the baby.
    Chevalier grinned slightly, “I suppose
not.”
    “He looks like a vampire.”
    “Well…”
    Emily glanced at Chevalier, “I need to go
check on the horses, want to go?”
    “Sure, let’s leave him with Anna and we’ll
go.”
    Emily nodded and handed
Dain off to Anna. She could tell that Chevalier said something to
the heku, but couldn’t hear what. One of the servants came in with
a heavy parka, and Emily threw it on before walking hand in hand
with Chevalier out to barn. She grinned when she saw Silas and
Kralen up on the new horses.
    “That’s the smoothest ride!” Silas said,
riding up to them.
    “That’s what they’re famous for.”
    “Too bad they aren’t a little faster, I’d
keep one.”
    “I’ll keep 2 of them, the rest are going to
Thukil.”
    Silas grinned, “I bet that would please the
Encala, to know their gift went to Thukil.”
    “They’ll live,” Emily
said, and crawled through the wooden posts into the
corral.
    “If Silas and I are going to be spending a
lot of time on the island, can we claim one?” Kralen asked, riding
up to them.
    Emily shrugged, “Sure, have at it.”
    “Was kind of hoping you’d
all come back though,” Chevalier said. Silas and Kralen looked at
him briefly, and then raced back toward the west beach.
    Emily sighed and leaned against the fence,
“I like it here better.”
    “I know you do, but I
don’t like to be away from you, and we need our Commanders
back.”
    “So send Silas and Kralen
back. I’m ok here.”
    Chevalier grinned, “You sure?”
    “Well… mostly, yesterday was a fluke.”
    “I gave you an office.”
    “I have an office.”
    “No, in the palace.”
    Emily frowned, “Why would I need an office
in the palace?”
    Chevalier shrugged, “It’s full of computer
stuff and is heku proof.”
    “Heku proof?”
    “Yes, a heku can’t break in.”
    “Oh?” Emily asked, laughing slightly.
    “Allen ordered all of the computer gear and
set it up for you.”
    “You’re worse than the Valle and Encala,”
she said, watching Silas and Kralen race across the pasture.
    “What? How?”
    “Giving me things in hopes I’ll do what you
want.”
    “I’m allowed to give you
gifts, though.”
    “I heard they parked guard training
facilities in my pool.”
    Chevalier grinned, “Yes, we did.”
    “Is it done?”
    “The pool?”
    “Yes”
    “I’ll come back for a
week. I was going to anyway.”
    “You were?”
    “Storm said they are
turning someone this weekend… sounds to me like a hint that I need
to leave.”
    “Oh, damn, yes… I don’t
have to be here for that though, Walen’s overseeing it,” Chevalier
told her.
    Silas and Kralen put their horses into their
stalls and walked over, “Nice smooth horses, kind of fun to
ride.”
    “Well, let’s all go check
out the ceremonial room,” Chevalier said, and put a hand out for
Emily.
    She looked at him, “Why?”
    “We have a turning this
weekend. We have to make sure everything’s in order.”
    Silas glanced briefly at Kralen.
    “You three can check it out without me,”
Emily told them, still not moving.
    “Oh come on, it’s a room.”
    “No”
    “Afraid?” Silas asked, grinning.
    “I’m not afraid of a room.”
    “Then come on.”
    “No”
    “Hey, leave her alone… she can’t help it if
she’s afraid of it,” Kralen said, heading inside.
    Emily glared at the back
of his head, but didn’t move.
    “Trust me,” Chevalier
said, and held his hand out.
    “Why do you want me to go? I’m sure the
three of you can check it