The rabbit stilled and shivered tucking into a ball.
Baako thrust his wet nose into my hands. Pushing his face away, I scratched him under the chin. “Go eat or harass Wasp or something. I want to spend time with my mate.”
He grumbled and lumbered off.
Then everything faded into insignificance. Breandan’s smile dazzled me. Blotted out the world leaving me floating in warm fuzzy stuff.
We crossed the distance staring at each other.
A dagger whistled past my face and embedded half way up a tree.
I gasped as Breandan lunged for me.
Gunarr burst into the clearing and dashed between us. He pulled the dagger from the bark and a few feathers drifted onto the ground at his feet.
He roared and slammed his head into the tree.
Gunarr stormed away with Daphne taunting him. Lochlann and Kian trailed after the vampire bickering over who should’ve monitored her feeding.
Fierce demeanour diminishing Breandan looked troubled. “I think we drove him mad.” His gaze dropped to the fidgety bundle in my arms. “Who is this?”
“I haven’t been able to decide.” I held out the floppy eared rabbit and rotated it to get a better look. “A dozen hopped around Conall’s dwelling waiting for me. I got confused when I tried naming them because they look the same. And the girls started doing bizarre things to the guys.” My eyes narrowed. “Making me think they’re secretly not girls at all.”
Bemused, Breandan reached for the rabbit.
I jerked, and his hands collided with my upper arm.
He froze.
I winced as horror streaked across his face and dimmed his glow.
Wrenching a smile from somewhere, he tightly crossed his arms, hands balled. “That was close.”
Setting the rabbit down I shooed it away. I’d find another to snuggle later.
I took Breandan’s hands. Refusing to unclench them, he avoided my eyes. I ducked my head until he gave up and let me see the pain he unsuccessfully hid. “Nothing bad happened and if it did I’d be there to help. Just as you’re always there to help when my fiendishly clever plans fail.”
I rubbed my fingers over his wrists then encircled them. My fingertips barely touched. I loved how dainty and feminine his larger masculine body made mine in comparison.
His tattooed skin was rough to touch, the faint hairs dusting his forearm crisp and shiny. Tiny freckles speckled the pale skin. I barely saw them under the faint glow that radiated around him like a sliver nimbus. It shone brighter when we touched.
Shooting him a shy look from under my lashes, I smiled as I walked backwards. “Come with me.”
Allowing me to tow him along, leggy stride loose and easy, Breandan’s gaze turned liquid sliding down my body. He raked his bottom lip with sharp teeth, leaving it damp and kissable. “Feeling playful?”
Making a soft noise, I turned and drew his arm across my chest. Wriggling until he got the hint and wrapped me in a snug embrace we marched down the pathway. My hands clasped his crossed arms, and my bottom pressed into his groin. His chest warmed my back and his chin rested on my shoulder, so our temples bumped.
He rained kisses on my face as we walked, and our legs synchronised to an exaggerated stomp.
Laughing when I snorted during his ticklish exploration of my nape, Breandan nipped my earlobe when I directed us towards the glade reserved for the fairy High Priestess. “That does not belong to you anymore.” His whispered words barely made headway.
All I was able to concentrate on was his breath puffing against my neck.
I shivered and my skin goose-pimpled. He kissed my throat. I hummed, tilting my head to invite another.
He obliged twice more.
At the feel of his tongue teasing the sensitive curve of my jaw my eyes glazed.
His words took root when my mind repeated them.
Chagrin made me stop our odd waddle and pull a face. “Are you telling me I’m homeless?” His chest vibrated against my back. I jerked my hips in a makeshift shove and balked. “You laugh at my homelessness?”
“Baako will let you sleep on his hump.”
“Of course he will. I’ll have to steal my food now. And my clothes.”
He tugged on my rounded collar. “Where did you get these?”
“A gift from my Familiar.”
Breandan hunted my shifty gaze. “Where did Baako find them?”
“I didn’t ask, and he didn’t say.”
“Wicked creature.”
“Thrifty. You forget I’m impoverished.” Sniffling, I covered my face with both hands. “Destitute.”
“You forget I have a dwelling.”
Intrigued, I peeked through my fingers. “Can I see it?”
“Later.” Eyes warmed by affection, Breandan couldn’t help himself from claiming my lips. “I want to teach you to swim.”
He led me like a lamb to slaughter until his words penetrated the pleasant haze he’d lulled me into with kisses.
I dug in my heels yanking him to a stop.
“Rae–”
“It’s so not happening.”
He curled a finger under my chin and brushed his lips back and forth across mine. “You stubborn thing you. What happens when you fall in deep water?”
I rubbed our noses together. Stole a kiss then grinned impishly. “I drown because I was stupid enough to fall in?”
Exasperated, he made as if to bite the tip of my nose, and I swatted him away. “Your mate would feel better knowing you can paddle.”
“I repeat, it’s not happening.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“Afraid. Na-uh.” Crossing my arms loosely, I cocked a hip. “I’m wary of large bodies of water to the point of aversion.”
He sighed but gathered me in his arms, smoothing his hands down my back. I arched into him. “You will learn, but not today. You do not want to discuss the Loa, or learn to swim, and I am not ready to take you to our home.” He angled his head to regard me. “Pray tell, what you want to do?”
Lacing our fingers, I pulled him into a walk and changed our direction yet again. I headed off the path into the denser trees. “Ever played truth or dare?”
“No.”
I grinned over my shoulder.
“What must I do?”
“We take it in turns to answer a question with the truth or remain silent and play a dare as forfeit.”
He looked perplexed when we stopped at what I thought was a pair of exceptionally pretty oaks. Twin trunks grew together, entwining halfway up then separating to sprout wide branches laden with red, brown and orange leaves. A dense mantle layered the ground and crunched underfoot.
I kicked my way through them happily letting Breandan think.
“We are no longer bound my magics to speak the truth, but I would not lie to you.” He paused. “Ask whatever you wish. I will tell you.”
I jumped onto his back and noisily kissed his cheek. “I know that. I want us to have fun. Spend time that’s not focused on responsibility.” He stiffened, and I dropped to the ground. My first try at being a good life mate was falling flat. “Is that okay?”
Breandan spun, his face serious. “Who goes first?”
My brows lifted at his intensity. “Well, we could mark and flip a stone, but I think leaving decisions to fate sucks. I like winning the right to go first.”
He flashed a grin. “Sounds good. It is fair to compete. Healthy.”
“Totally say-so.” I patted the trunk I’d discreetly been examining and leaned against it. “A race.”
His eyes shot up. When they fell, they twinkled. “Highest bough and back?”
“Uh-huh. Both feet must touch the ground to claim victory.” I pushed away from the tree. “And I say we scorch a mark at our highest peak of ascent in case it’s too close to judge.”
“Alright.” Breandan rolled his shoulders. “I see you have chosen a start point.”
I shrugged demurely, feeling smug. “I think
you’ll find I have mad skill.”
He stroked the bridge of my nose. The fond look he bestowed me bordered condescending. “Shall I call Gunarr to mediate?”
“Nope. That’d cancel out the point of us being alone.” I eyed him. He looked majorly keyed up. “Don’t get too competitive. Fun time, remember?”
He grunted and pointed impatiently for me to join him behind an invisible line.
Suspicious I’d roused a beast I rushed to stand beside him. My pulse quickened with anticipation.
We stared at each other.
“On three?” he asked, enthusiasm deepening his voice.
Blushing with a rush of excitement, I nodded. “Three!” I bolted.
Breandan leapt a heartbeat later.
Bounding forward, I grabbed a low branch, kicked off the trunk to give me a boost and swung my leg up and over as my arm steadied me. Ha, too bloody easy. Straddling the first bough, I didn’t wait to see how Breandan fared. I climbed until the branches thinned and creaked under my weight. I’ve won this hands down. With a swipe of my finger, I burned a line in the tree at eye level then grinned as I sprinted along the branch and dove off.
I somersaulted and landed crouched sending leaves exploding upwards. My spread wings rustled as they settled on my back, and my tail relaxed from its rigid extension after keeping me balanced. “Hoo!” Jumping up with my hands outstretched, my chest heaved as I looked up searching for my mate. Seeing nothing, I scanned down then stumbled.
Breandan stood leaning against his tree tapping his foot. “So slow, Rae-love.”
I gawked at him. “There’s no way in hell you climbed up then down before me.”
Pushing off from the tree, he ambled over to me and leaned until our noses touched. “My scorch mark is there. A climb will verify the win.”
“How?” I asked, breathless and super turned on because he beat me, hard, at my own game.
“I have, how did you say it? Mad skill.” Winking, he jerked forward and slanted his mouth over mine in a mind-bending kiss. He broke away panting. “Truth or dare?”
Dazed, I blinked, and licked my lips. My fingers, toes and tail curled. “Dare.” Breandan would never give me a dangerous or embarrassing task.
A crafty smirk stretched his arresting visage. “Honey-cakes.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lochlann
“Where,” Gunarr grumbled. “Where is it?”
“Where is what?” Crouching alongside him, I searched the darkness with keen sight, but saw nor sensed a threat.
Daphne crept up behind me, hiccupping softly.
Kian followed.
Drawing the sheathed dagger from his thigh, Gunarr tucked the blade into his palm preparing to throw. He scanned the canopy with slitted eyes.
A hoot from the east broke the tense silence.
We jumped then shot each other embarrassed looks tinged with amusement.
“That.” Gunarr hissed, his tongue flickering at the threshold of his green lips. “You must hear it. It flies closer.”
“Sounds like an owl,” Daphne shouted in my ear destroying any chance of a sneak counter attack if there had been an enemy. She squinted at the sky. “Can’t see it.”
I rubbed the side of my head wondering if the screech caused permanent damage. Kian disguised his laughter with a grunted cough.
Another hoot echoed through the trees. The distinct sound of wings beating behind us surprised me. “To the west.” It was strange the bird moved so swiftly, unseen, but it was nothing that warranted concern.
Gunarr spun, and the blade left his hand in a deadly streak. There was a hollow thud when it found a mark. He sprinted after it. Circling the base of a tree, Gunarr growled, and swiftly climbed to where his dagger embedded half way up.
Head thrown back, arms wheeling, Daphne tottered blindly after him.
Tossing fistfuls of dried seeds and nuts into my mouth, I followed at my leisure watching her hips sway. My head cocked when she tugged at the hem of the tunic she’d borrowed from Lily.
Not for the first time, I wondered why she wasn’t wearing leggings under it. Wondered, but felt ridiculously happy her legs remained bare. I found her knobby knees endearing.
“Hmmm.” Kian walked a step behind me, his gaze fixed on Daphne. He sipped from his flask and licked his lips. “Tasty.”
“Indeed.” I slapped the flask from his hand. “Tasty and mine.”
Kian’s eyes slid towards Daphne who bent over studying something in the undergrowth then curiously at me.
Admittedly, my jaw went slack watching the vampire digging a patch of moss with a twig, her behind swaying. I snapped my mouth closed, and glared at Kian. “I asked you to watch over her as you would my consort. Understand?”
“Ye–No.” Kian inhaled sharply then tagged on a hasty, “My lord. No, I do not understand. You cannot-”
“I cannot what?” My voice was low, dangerous. It inspired the reaction I craved.
Head bowing, Kian averted his gaze. “The vampire is unmated. I like her.”
“What you like is irrelevant in this matter.”
“The Tribe will not accept her. Not as High Lady. She’d be shunned, a pariah. You want isolation for her? You are a good male, but I never thought you cruel.” He held my gaze. “I offer her more.” Kian nodded deep in respect then left me to my thoughts, striding to see what trouble Daphne prodded.
Gunarr pulled the blade free from the tree. A handful of feathers drifted down.
“Impossible,” he muttered. The disbelief colouring his tone reflected in a baffled expression. “No fowl is that smart.” His knees clutched the slender trunk he straddled. Abdominals taut, he locked himself into place. Rubbing his temple with the razor-sharp blade, he reclined to cast his gaze about. “This black-feathered creature I hunt is not natural.”
“You missed,” Daphne observed. “No big deal.”
“I,” he barked, “am a Knight on the cusp of becoming a Warrior. I do not miss.” Extending his arm to thrust the dagger in her direction, he glared, daring her to repeat the insult. “Never.”
Brows lifting, Daphne tucked her chin to her chest. “Somebody needs a nap. Oh, look. It’s a … um….” Her voice turned hesitant. “What is that?”
Quickening his step, Kian tugged her back. “You attempt to stab an unknown creature with a stick because?”
“The Northern City is my home.” She shrugged. “Never seen such tall trees and cute animals before. The Wyld is, well, wild. Makes me curious.”
Darting around him, giggling, she stuck her branch deep into the hole.
Hissing angrily, a black and white stripped head popped out of the ground. The creature attached itself to Daphne’s leg, threw back its head then snapped it down to sink its teeth in.
“Noooo.” Daphne’s screech rang so high I feared my ears bled. Her leg shook violently, but the beastie clung on with fierce tenacity. She crawled up Kian’s front, dragging at his clothes and hair. “Get it off.”
“Beg Pardon.” Kian struggled to contain her awkwardly thrashing limbs and preserve her modesty. “Your tunic is riding…. What are you–?” He spluttered then paled when her heel narrowly missed his crotch. It slammed into his inner thigh and buckled his leg. Realising another kick may unman him, Kian promptly tried to peel her off. “You called them cute. You said–” A stray elbow busted his lip. “Argh!”
“Kill it,” Daphne shrieked. She yanked on his pointed ear and screamed until his eyes watered. “Before it eats me.”
“Down, female. Unhand me.” He yelped. “Claws! Remove your claws from my–. Now, Daphne, retract your fangs….”
The sound of bracken crackling drew my attention.
I smiled as an antlered stag strode past followed by two stippled deer. Twittering nightingales flitted into the tree canopy. A wave of heat spread through the air, and the flowers unfurled. There was no sunlight, but the woods brightened, the pulsing glow from the trees effervescent. A squirrel darted across the branches a
bove my head whilst a wildcat prowled the undergrowth. It sneezed when its whiskers brushed a cluster of orange fungi, startling the vole it hunted into scurrying away.
This revival of life in the Wyld I treasured acted as solace to my angst-ridden soul. My exhilaration withered with the realisation the flora would only bloom so beautifully in autumn if….
“Lochlann,” Rae trilled, appearing from nowhere at my side. “Imagine bumping into you.”
Tucked in one crook of Rae’s arm was a snow-white rabbit and in the other a hedgehog.
Long ears flopping around its paws, the rabbit fixed its claret eyes on me. Its nose twitched, the sight so sweet my back teeth ached.
I petted the rabbit’s head, wondering why Rae sought me.
She’s smiling at me.
After our disastrous conversation where she’d extracted an oath I leave her alone, she also made me promise I’d keep my mind open to the possibility of Daphne being my life mate. It’s a sad day when your past almost-betrothed is compelled to give you courtship advice.
“Why do you trouble me? What do you want now? My firstborn? The blood running through my veins?” My hopes rose with an upturn of the lips. “Or have you come to discuss the Loa?”
Eyes wide with false innocence, her head cocked. Fireflies drifted around her head in fuzzy lights. Their bioluminescence ranged from green and yellow to white. “I sense tension betwixt us.” She grinned. “See what I did there? I said betwixt. I’m trying to communicate with you better.”
Hopes dashed, my burgeoning smile melted to a glower. “Rae?”
“Why would I want anything?” Is she batting her eyelashes? “The pleasure of your mighty company is–”
“Rae.” My gruff snap escaped half hearted since my attention was grasped by the hubbub between my Knight and vampire, and the nervous breakdown Gunarr suffered above them.
Kian fought valiantly to detach the furred ball from Daphne’s ankle without wounding her further. She wasn’t making it easy, snarling, and biting at anything that flinched with her fangs.
Repeatedly stabbing his dagger into the tree bark then slashing at nothing above his head, Gunarr kept muttering, “Never miss. I–Never–Miss.”