She accepted them, pausing to sniff them before handing them to Sheera. “Why should I let you do that? What is to stop you from changing your mind again?”
“I deserve that.” Ellard took a deep breath and dredged for the right words to persuade Gweneth to his way of thinking. “I think of you all the time. You’re the first person I think of when I wake in the morn. You’re the last person I think of in the eve. I dream of you.” He paused. What else? “I can’t promise not to make mistakes in the future, but know I’ll try hard to always do the right thing.”
Gweneth’s dark brows rose. “I see. Anything else?”
“I will love you and our kitten. I will support you—”
“Will you allow me to continue working with the Indy crew?”
Ellard paused, aware of the silent dare in her words. They both knew Jannike struggled with her mates on this point, and more so since her pregnancy. Gweneth was already pregnant. He forced himself to nod and made a mental note to offer his services to Ry. Where Gweneth went, so did he. “You’re part of the crew. That doesn’t need to change.”
She nodded, her green eyes without expression. “Good.”
His gaze wandered her face, coming to an abrupt halt when he reached the spot of her facial tattoo. It had disappeared, and he could see her face was free of the paint she and the other female crew sometimes wore. “What happened to your tattoo?”
“The strangest thing. I shifted the other night.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I don’t know if I can do it again, and I didn’t try because I haven’t been feeling well. Mogens said I should wait until I felt ready. He also suggests that pregnant felines try not to shift too often—for the good of the baby.”
“Has the tattoo reappeared on your back?”
“No.”
“I see.”
An uncomfortable silence bloomed between them, and Ellard wanted to move. He fought the urge. Finally, when he could bear the hush no longer, he said, “I want you, Gweneth. You and our child. Will you give me another chance?”
“I’ll think about it,” Gweneth said. “Sheera, please show out Ellard. I wish to have a rest.” And she turned away, disappearing into her chamber.
Once the door closed behind Ellard, Gweneth strolled back out to her reception room to spend time with Sheera.
“Ellard is sorry. I can see he loves you.” Sheera dropped onto a gel-chair, her red jumper and black trews a contrast with the cream syn-leather of the chair. She flicked her wrist and a float table appeared along with two glasses of juice. “Why didn’t you tell him you forgive him?”
“He hasn’t groveled enough,” Gweneth said.
“Groveled?”
“He needs to prove his intent. His love. My father spent rotations making me feel worthless because my feline half made me different from the other people on Ornum. I’m not going to let anyone treat me as inferior. If Ellard wants me, he’ll fight for the honor. I want him to realize I don’t care about his exterior. That’s not important to me. It’s what inside that counts. I want Ellard to realize he doesn’t need to worry about other felines, other beings and what they think. He’s a good feline. Loyal. He has a big heart, but he needs to trust that I have the same traits, that I can be his best friend. Ellard needs to trust me.”
Chapter 17
One cycle later
Gweneth walked into the reception room with Leeam and Sheera to find Ellard waiting with Niran, Lynx and Shiloh to hold their meeting regarding Leeam and Sheera. It had been postponed one cycle after Niran had needed to take care of some business on Narenda.
“Good timing,” Shiloh said, and he walked over to give her a hug. “Congratulations,” he murmured. “I understand I’m going to be an uncle.”
“Maybe.”
“Be gentle with him. He’s a male and we can all be thick at times.”
A growl from behind them had Shiloh chuckling. After a quick squeeze, he pulled back and led her to a comfy chair.
Her gaze went directly to Ellard, and she found him watching her. Her breath caught at the emotion on his face, the open love and affection. She had to force herself to take a seat beside Leeam and Sheera.
Niran cleared his throat. “Leeam and Sheera have enjoyed their stay very much. They tell me you have made them feel at home and have fed them well.”
Leeam grinned. “Very well.”
“We would be honored if you would consider making this a permanent arrangement,” Niran said. “We would, of course, compensate you.”
“No,” Lynx said. “All we require is for them to participate in life around here.”
Shiloh nodded. “If Leeam and Sheera would agree to help in the same way all our friends do. That is all we require.”
“You mean to physically labor rather than conjure?” Niran asked for clarification.
“That is correct,” Lynx said. “None of us expect Leeam or Sheera to give us gifts or provide items for us. Shiloh and I prefer to do things ourselves rather than have people wait on us. Our friends are the same. We have all worked to better our lives. Conjuring items is all very well, but there is no satisfaction in things that come easy.”
“Very well,” Niran said, although Gweneth gained the impression something about this situation made him unhappy. “If you ever change your minds, please let me know.”
“Leeam and I would like to reward Gweneth and Ellard for saving us,” Sheera burst out.
“No,” Ellard said. “We don’t need anything. Gweneth, tell them. A reward isn’t necessary.”
Gweneth frowned. “Actually, there is one thing you could do for me. Ellard lost his Stores arm and because of the way it was attached, he can’t have another, even if he could afford it. Is there any way you could provide him with an arm?”
“No. It’s fine,” Ellard said.
“It’s not fine,” Gweneth snapped. “Not when you’re using your arm as an excuse to avoid happiness.”
“I don’t think—”
“That is a great idea,” Lynx said. “Niran, is this something you could do?”
“An arm would require a steady amount of energy expenditure,” Niran said. “We could do this for you. The arm would be viable as long as Sheera and Leeam stay nearby.”
“And if they weren’t nearby?” Shiloh asked.
“The arm would remain as long as Ellard requires it, but in reality, it would be better if Leeam and Sheera were in the same vicinity.”
Gweneth’s heart thudded so loud it deafened all other sound. She watched Shiloh and Lynx exchange a glance, a nod of acknowledgment.
“We’ve changed our mind,” Lynx said. “Our fee is an arm for Ellard.”
“No, I—” Ellard broke off as an arm formed and filled out his empty tunic sleeve. He stared at the pale, almost ghostly fingers and wriggled them. Then, he lifted his head and stared straight at her, his smile of wonder making her eyes well up.
“Hand me a drink,” Lynx ordered.
Ellard stood and strode to a large float table. A large pot of tay sat beside a tray of empty goblets. He picked up the pot with his left hand out of habit.
“No, the other one,” Shiloh said, hands crossed over his massive chest.
Ellard sent her another quick glance, this one with a trace of panic. Some of her irritation with him softened, and she circled Lynx and Shiloh to join Ellard.
“Put the pot down, Ellard. Try your new hand.”
He stared at his ghostly fingers, wriggled them again. “What…” He paused to clear his throat. “What if I can’t do it? What if I drop it?”
Gweneth reached out and squeezed those ghostly fingers. They were cool to the touch. “If you drop it, we’ll pick it up and try again.” When he met her gaze again, she gave a small nod.
He turned his attention to the taypot, flexed the fingers of the ghostly hand. She stood close enough to feel his rigid muscles and smell his apprehension. Weird, but she knew it was fear. Her feline stretched beneath he
r skin, making her smile. She would shift again. She knew it with every particle of her being, and that made her happy.
“Ellard, you can do this.”
A rusty sound, almost a laugh came from deep in his throat. He reached for the pot, curled pale fingers around the handle and lifted it. A grunt of satisfaction came from him and with growing confidence, he poured tay into goblets. He set down the pot and picked up two goblets, one in each hand. A big grin wreathed his face as he handed the goblets to Lynx and Shiloh.
Gweneth’s heart went pitter-patter as Ellard returned to pick up more goblets. He handed them to Niran, to Leeam and Sheera. The last two, he carried to her then he stood beside her, sipping the delicate green liquid, his wide grin still intact.
“Will the hand shift with him to feline?” Shiloh asked.
“Yes,” Niran said. “It will do everything his other hand does.”
Ellard beamed at Niran. No other word for it, and he instantly appeared years younger. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. It’s a small thing in exchange for what you’ve done for us. Ellard’s arm will remain for as long as he requires it, but I will see to it that there is enough power to keep it in position.”
Lynx smiled at Niran and slung his arm around Shiloh’s shoulders, pulling his mate close. “Thank you for this amazing gift.”
“If you have any problems, please contact us. We can have someone here in an instant,” Niran said. “Leeam, Sheera, I believe you will enjoy living here.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Leeam said.
Sheera hugged Niran. “We have loved our stay here. I can’t believe it will be our home.”
“Make me proud, child.” Niran blew a kiss and shimmered from sight.
“Wait,” Leeam called and Niran shimmered back into the room.
Leeam grinned at Sheera. “Uncle, we would like you here when we present our gift to our benefactors.”
Niran inclined his head.
“We have a gift already,” Lynx said. “We don’t require anything else.”
Leeam conjured a small wooden box. “This is for Ellard and Gweneth, a special thank you. It is tradition and Ransom received the same gift from Uncle Niran.”
He opened the box and plucked out a ring. He gave it to Sheera, and he pulled out a second ring, which he kept.
Sheera approached her, happiness blazing on her pale features. “This is a special ring. It will shift with a feline and become invisible to all but an Incorporeal if you will it. This is a thank you for saving us and for being our friends. Let me put it on your right hand.”
Gweneth gave a faint nod and held out her hand. Secs later, a golden band with inset green stones sparkled on her fingers. She glanced at Ellard and saw a matching but more masculine version of the ring glinting on his ghostly hand.
“Thank you,” Gweneth whispered. “I didn’t…we didn’t expect a gift.”
“I know.” Sheera beamed and bounced up and down on her toes. “That’s what makes it so perfect.”
Ellard cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” Niran said. “Ransom’s workmanship is superior and combined with our magic the rings can never be lost or stolen.” With a final wave, he vanished.
“You have an arm and a ring,” Lynx said and grinned. “How does it feel?”
“A bit cold, but it works. It’s amazing,” Ellard said. “Gweneth, thank you for thinking of this.”
“Maybe now you might believe in the future.” She thought her snippy tone might drive him away.
“I deserve that. Can we talk? Walk with me in the gardens?” He offered his ghostly arm and she bit her lip, trying not to smile.
She took his arm, the coolness making it feel more real, and they walked in silence from the room and out into the corridor. Meanwhile she could still hear Lynx and Shiloh talking.
“Why couldn’t they have their discussion here?” Shiloh demanded. “We’ll miss everything.”
“Shush, they need to work things out for themselves. We can’t interfere,” Lynx said.
“I’m going to be an uncle.”
“We’re going to be an uncle,” Lynx said. “As well as fathers. It’s good all our children will play together.”
“It is a good thing all our children will have each other to play with,” Ellard said.
“Yes.” It was still hard to believe she would be having a baby. “I will get big and ungainly.”
“Beautiful,” he countered as he led her from the castle out into the heat of the solar star.
A breeze tugged at her hair. Over to their right a bird of some sort chortled from the depth of the trees. She couldn’t see it but its happy sound had her smiling.
“Are you still feeling unwell?”
“Just in the morn,” she said. “Mogens said it is normal.”
“I hope you don’t mind I told Shiloh about our child. I was excited.”
“I don’t mind, but I’d better tell Ry and the crew soon.”
The sound of weapons came from the far end of the grounds.
“Would you like to do it now?”
“Yes.”
They headed in that direction.
“How is the arm?”
“It works just like my other one. There’s no pain and it doesn’t feel heavy like the Stores.”
“You never told me that.”
“No, I was glad to have a functioning arm. This is so much better. It feels a bit cold, but that is a small price to pay for such a gift. And to be able to shift again without thinking, and to move freely.”
Temptation sprang upon Gweneth—the idea of running with Ellard in feline form. If she could shift again…
“Ellard, could we try shifting now? Instead of going straight to see Ry and the others.”
“I’m a bit nervous,” he confessed.
“I don’t even know if I can shift again. At least you know you can.”
He halted and turned to face her. “There is a private area over to the right there, just past those trees. Why don’t we disrobe there and attempt our shifts where no one else can see?”
“Yes.”
Secs later, she found herself in a clearing surrounded by trees. A fountain splashed into a shallow pond, the musical sound competing with the still invisible chortling bird.
“Do you remember how you did it?”
Gweneth frowned. “Sort of. Changing back seemed easier. I pictured my human self and concentrated on how my limbs felt.”
“Perfect. You’d better take off your tunic. It’s too pretty to rip during the shift.”
Gweneth had worn her favorite set of underwear for the meeting too, because she’d wanted to feel good about herself. Confident. He’d noticed. Job done. “Good idea. Turn around.”
“I’ve seen you before. You’re beautiful.”
His pretty green eyes glowed with truth and memories.
“Turn around.” She gestured with her hand—a circle of sorts—and caught the flash of disappointment that dampened his expression. “You distract me.”
“Oh.” He sounded much happier. Male smugness, and she couldn’t find it in her to puncture his ego. She loved this shifter, even if he took his time to get with her program. While she didn’t doubt his depth of feelings for her, he needed to learn to love himself. “Take off your tunic. I want to see your arm.”
“You’ll have to turn around for that.” There went that smugness again. She found herself grinning.
“I’m still wearing my bra.” She turned to face him and met his male appreciation.
“Still a pretty view.”
“Thank you. Can I touch?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
She stroked her hand over the cap of his shoulder and down the stump. Warm flesh beneath her fingertips. His normal flesh merged with the ghostly arm. Almost transparent yet perfect with no visible joint. The skin of his Incorporeal arm felt much cooler and more solid than she’d expected, given its gh
ostly appearance. “Amazing. I can’t see where it links. Scratch the back of your head. Touch the tip of your nose.”
He followed her directions, mirth shining in his eyes. “Anything else?”
“Yes, I’m going to try to shift. Will my bones hurt in the same way?”
“Yes. You get used to it.”
“You could have lied.”
“You don’t like lies. You’ve told me so.”
Gweneth sighed. “True. At least I know you’re listening to me.”
“I’ve listened to everything you’ve told me. I’m trying to be the man you need.”
“Ellard, you are the man I need. You just need to believe it yourself.”
He stared at her for an extended sec then nodded. “Picture your feline in your mind and focus on the idea of running with me in feline form.”
Without taking her gaze from him, Gweneth unclipped her bra and let it fall to the ground. She caught his open admiration as she shut her eyes, and it took a while to gather her thoughts. Slowly, she painted the picture of a sleek black feline in her mind. She willed herself to shift but nothing happened.
“Take it easy. It’s hardest the first few times.”
Ellard’s soft words and encouragement flowed over her and the tension in her shoulders faded. Her skin started to tingle, her bones throbbed. Her mind wanted her to stop but the feline part of her rejoiced in this opportunity. Her skin prickled with greater intensity and her breath caught at the jagged pain that leapt over her body. She cried out, panic pushing her pulse rate to a gallop.
“Good job, kitten. Just a little more,” came Ellard’s calming voice.
The last part of the shift happened with a rush. Fur rippled over her torso, her bones lengthened, reshaped. Sharp teeth sprang into prominence, and she fell forward onto all fours. The pain ceased, the rush of senses taking her by surprise. Color popped and everything appeared sharper. Her sight. Her hearing.
Beside her, Ellard shifted with what appeared little effort, his ghostly arm morphing smoothly as Niran had promised. He stalked over to her and rubbed his head against hers. His shifted form dwarfed hers, yet she felt not a scrap of fear, especially when he purred. Then, he threw back his head and roared, a sound of victory and celebration.
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