head.
“Euan and Krisi are having a bairn. From what Euan tells us it will be a boy.”
Henry smiled as he let his mind drift to those around him. He found Euan and felt the darkness that threatened him. Henry pushed into Euans consciousness and strengthened his will. Henry felt Euan’s thanks flow through the connection and his happiness.
Henry let his mind drift to Euan’s brother, Evan and found his mind a jumble of confusion. Henry tried to reassure him, but Evan shut him out. Henry shook his head and vowed to watch over the young man. Serina joined him and he lost all thought for the others when he smelled her awakening nearing. He frowned and growled at Owen who was on her arm.
“Da! I have missed you!” Serina threw herself into her father’s waiting arms innocent to the turmoil that rolled within him.
Henry kissed her hair and held her close as he let his thoughts settle. He met Owens gaze and entered the young man’s mind. He found nothing that would indicate his daughter had been compromised, but he saw the raw need and the desire that he did not like.
Ye must send me away to protect her virtue.
Henry was surprised by the vehemence in Owen’s thoughts as they were pushed into his mind.
He studied Owen for another moment before he nodded slightly. He did not wish to hurt his child in this way, but he knew it was for the best.
“Owen it is good to see ye have kept my daughter safe in my absence.” Henry reached out and clasped Owen’s forearm.
Serina spoke up. “It has been rather a trying time. Ye ken the situation with Euan?”
“Aye. I approve of your methods. I know it was not easy for any of you.”
“Nay, ‘twas not.” Owen grumbled sullenly.
Henry laughed loudly and clapped Owen on the shoulder. “Owen my lad it would seem you have a lot to learn about many things. I am afraid I have a situation that will prove to educate you greatly.”
Serina stopped in her tracks. “Ye mean to send him away?”
Henry smiled down into her beloved face and wanted to deny her nothing , but he knew it would be for the best.
“Aye lass. He will go and become a better man for it. It will not be for long and when he returns he will be able to care for ye better.”
Serina started to protest, but Henry silenced her with a shake of his head.
“It is decided.”
A great hunt was to take place that evening in honor of Henry’s safe return. All of the men and women who could shift met in the Baily in their tiger form. Euan was excited to hunt. He hadn’t done so since before they arrived at Stewart Castle. He was so eager to be on his way that he missed the tears in Krisi’s eyes as she watched him bound through the heavy gates. She kept her mind shielded so he would not feel her sorrow at watching him go and knowing she would never be able to follow.
Karic’s warm arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“Why are you so sad Krisi?”
“My heart breaks every time I have to watch him leave me behind.”
Karic looked at her and smiled. “Do you want to go with him? To shift with him?”
Krisi raised damp eyes to him. “Yes I want that.”
“Have patience. Trust in your love for him.”
“Is that all you can tell me?”
“I am sorry my dear, but it is.”
20
Euan found little comfort in Serina’s presence in the days that followed the hunt . She was sullen because of the hunt and because Owen was to leave her for a while. Her melancholy seemed to lessen her power, but he found he didn’t need her strength any longer.
Euan lay in Krisi’s bed and stared out at the darkness beyond the window. The night was cool, but much warmer than it had been only a few days ago. The stars twinkled merrily in the inky blackness of the sky, but he felt no torment in this night.
Krisi sighed in her sleep and Euan tightened his arms around her fragile frame. He breathed in the scent of his mate and the subtle sweet
“Euan and Krisi are having a bairn. From what Euan tells us it will be a boy.”
Henry smiled as he let his mind drift to those around him. He found Euan and felt the darkness that threatened him. Henry pushed into Euans consciousness and strengthened his will. Henry felt Euan’s thanks flow through the connection and his happiness.
Henry let his mind drift to Euan’s brother, Evan and found his mind a jumble of confusion. Henry tried to reassure him, but Evan shut him out. Henry shook his head and vowed to watch over the young man. Serina joined him and he lost all thought for the others when he smelled her awakening nearing. He frowned and growled at Owen who was on her arm.
“Da! I have missed you!” Serina threw herself into her father’s waiting arms innocent to the turmoil that rolled within him.
Henry kissed her hair and held her close as he let his thoughts settle. He met Owens gaze and entered the young man’s mind. He found nothing that would indicate his daughter had been compromised, but he saw the raw need and the desire that he did not like.
Ye must send me away to protect her virtue.
Henry was surprised by the vehemence in Owen’s thoughts as they were pushed into his mind.
He studied Owen for another moment before he nodded slightly. He did not wish to hurt his child in this way, but he knew it was for the best.
“Owen it is good to see ye have kept my daughter safe in my absence.” Henry reached out and clasped Owen’s forearm.
Serina spoke up. “It has been rather a trying time. Ye ken the situation with Euan?”
“Aye. I approve of your methods. I know it was not easy for any of you.”
“Nay, ‘twas not.” Owen grumbled sullenly.
Henry laughed loudly and clapped Owen on the shoulder. “Owen my lad it would seem you have a lot to learn about many things. I am afraid I have a situation that will prove to educate you greatly.”
Serina stopped in her tracks. “Ye mean to send him away?”
Henry smiled down into her beloved face and wanted to deny her nothing , but he knew it would be for the best.
“Aye lass. He will go and become a better man for it. It will not be for long and when he returns he will be able to care for ye better.”
Serina started to protest, but Henry silenced her with a shake of his head.
“It is decided.”
A great hunt was to take place that evening in honor of Henry’s safe return. All of the men and women who could shift met in the Baily in their tiger form. Euan was excited to hunt. He hadn’t done so since before they arrived at Stewart Castle. He was so eager to be on his way that he missed the tears in Krisi’s eyes as she watched him bound through the heavy gates. She kept her mind shielded so he would not feel her sorrow at watching him go and knowing she would never be able to follow.
Karic’s warm arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“Why are you so sad Krisi?”
“My heart breaks every time I have to watch him leave me behind.”
Karic looked at her and smiled. “Do you want to go with him? To shift with him?”
Krisi raised damp eyes to him. “Yes I want that.”
“Have patience. Trust in your love for him.”
“Is that all you can tell me?”
“I am sorry my dear, but it is.”
20
Euan found little comfort in Serina’s presence in the days that followed the hunt . She was sullen because of the hunt and because Owen was to leave her for a while. Her melancholy seemed to lessen her power, but he found he didn’t need her strength any longer.
Euan lay in Krisi’s bed and stared out at the darkness beyond the window. The night was cool, but much warmer than it had been only a few days ago. The stars twinkled merrily in the inky blackness of the sky, but he felt no torment in this night.
Krisi sighed in her sleep and Euan tightened his arms around her fragile frame. He breathed in the scent of his mate and the subtle sweet
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