The three-story structure was not as large as some sa'necari manors, but it had sixteen bedrooms in the main part and an equal number in the servants wing. Lycans did not build their homes for defense. They counted on stopping invaders before they reached the houses and generally, they were alerted by the packs of true wolves, the wild cousins that freely ran their valleys, which were defensible areas in and of themselves.
Kynyr dismounted in the yard of the manor. Lanky Georgie Rogan came out of the barns and took the reins of his horse. The head groom's gaunt, weathered face held a full measure of sympathy and concern.
"I'm sorry about your father, Kynyr."
"Thanks, Georgie. He gave a nod and kept walking. His insides were tied as tight as knots in a rope.
Kynyr let himself into the manor, hoping to avoid as many people as he could. He should have known he could not avoid Kissie, who popped out of the kitchen drying her hands on her apron.
She was a nibari, one of the genetically altered humans created by the vampires and sa'necari as cattle, bred for thousands of years for complete docility; they were the soul of complianceunless directed otherwise by their masters. The Redhands preferred to call them servants, but in reality, they were slaves.
Kissie's ample bosom, revealed by the hang of the drawstring neck of her blouse, heaved and she flicked back a strand of blonde hair. Oh, Master Kynyr, I'm so sorry."
All he could do was nod, his lips tightening.
When he started past the door to the Great Hall, his spiritbrother, Finn MacIver stepped out of it. What happened last night?"
Kynyr stopped, his head lowered. War in Longbranch. They killed Duggan. One of your cousins got sliced. If you want details, go talk to Todd. I can't handle it right now."
He managed to reach the second floor without encountering anyone else, only to have the one person he had the least desire to see appear in front of him.
Malthus emerged from a room and stopped in the hallway. I'm sorry about your family."
Kynyr's lips twisted back in a snarl and he spit in Malthus face before he could stop himself. You killed my father."
Then he started walking again, giving Malthus no opportunity to respond to the accusation. Kynyr had no proof that would stand up in court, only Baroucha's dying words: Malthus knows. He'll kill you. He'll kill you all.'
"Not if I can help it, Baroucha, he muttered under his breath.
He nodded at condolences and shrugged away from attempts at comfort. There was only one person he wanted to talk to and he knew where to find herthe only member of the ruling Redhand family who knew who and what he really was: Aisha Redhand, the chieftain's wife.
Coming on top of his fresh losses, Caimbeul's brief interrogation concerning the murder of Baroucha Seaver had thrown Kynyr off stride, making him more determined than ever to hold himself together while matters remained uncertain. Having thrown the gauntlet in Malthus face, Kynyr would wait to see if his enemy picked it up. He felt trapped by rules and laws, and with Caimbeul breathing down his neck, Kynyr could not afford to simply call Malthus outat least not until he had more solid proof of what was going on.
He schooled the grief and uncertainty from his face, stride, and carriage. He ignored his throbbing leg, focusing so far past it that no sign of his usual limp remained.
Pausing at the door to the Rose Room, he knocked.
"Come in. Aisha's voice carried an edge of strain and Kynyr wondered what was going on.
The Rose Room was regarded as Aisha's private preserve; smallby the standards of the manordecorated in deep shades of rose and mauve. A mural covered the south wall of lycans at a picnic in the middle of a rose garden the males in hybrid form and the females in human while true wolves romped around them. The wall hangings were all of pastoral scenes. Sofas and chairs formed half circles around three low tables, upholstered in matching rose brocades. A woven reed basket, containing knitting, occupied the corner of a sofa. Aisha sat on that sofa, knitting. She straightened and adjusted her skirts.
Aisha Redhand had gone grey with age. Very little of her youthful brown coloring remained in her heavy hair. The legendary beauty had long ago faded from her careworn face, replaced by a maternal warmth that continued to draw people to her.
Claw could call her spiky and crotchety all he wished; Kynyr never would. There might be a side of her that he had never seen, but he doubted it.
"I'm only here for a bit, Gramma. My family needs me. He sat down on a chair close to Aisha. He only called her Gramma where no one could hear.
She set her knitting aside, leaned forward, and patted his knee. I'm so sorry about your father. I wanted to meet him ... see what kind of mon my son had sired."
"You would have liked him. Kynyr tried to smile, but grief and anger gave it a bitter twist.
"Is that what you came to talk about?"
"No. I'm trying not to think about it. When it's not so fresh ... I'll tell you about him. Kynyr clasped his hands together and glanced off at a point on the wall. It's a selfish subject I want to talk about."
"Kady?"
Kynyr gave a small nod. Life becomes more precious after a loss ... and I've had too many of them this year."
"During the Rebellion, my heart broke with every death."
"Last night, as we were helping with the wounded ... Kady Called Courtship. Now what do I do?"
His great-grandmother was the only person he could talk to who had had a Wild Cousins Courtship. The custom was ancient and had largely fallen out of favor, replaced by various things adopted from the human realms, including the practice of brideprice. Kady had found the custom in an old book, mistranslated and invoked it before either of them fully understood the possible ramifications of doing so, locking them into an extraordinary situation governed by Divine Law. They had a time limit on it, and were entering the final phases. Failure meant exiling himself from Kady's presenceforever.
"A step in the right direction."
"She keeps putting me off about changing. Kynyr had to chase her through the forest in wolf form for the right to mate, repeating a pattern of chase and capture until he quickened her wombonly then would they be allowed to marry.
"So, you want to persuade her to change?"
"How did Claw get you to change?"
"Well, it was a far different situation, Kynyr. Aisha's expression turned thoughtful and slowly dissolved into crafty. Gifts. Wine. Exercising in the nude?"
Kynyr flushed. You're joking."
Aisha laughed and patted his knee again. Not at all. It worked for Claw."
"Thanks, Gramma. I'll try all of them."
* * * *
Odhran Lafferty, a tinker by trade, worked mostly as an oddjobber, doing anything and everything. He opened the front door to Cahira's Potions and Notions just enough to poke his head inside and glance around. Is Pandeena here?"
"She's in the infirmary. Kady paused in the middle of shelving jars and eyed his civilian bridge-watcher tabard. You must have more jobs than a cat has lives."
"Rather. He crossed the threshold and headed for the stairs; stopped at the door into the hallway and glanced back at Kady. But I'll be back at the house tomorrow and finish the wainscoting."
"You'd better. Kady raised her hand in mock threat.
Odhran ducked with a grin and headed for the stairs. He found Pandeena in the infirmary tending the wounded. Her perfect features, golden hair, and flawless form always caused a physical reaction in Odhran and he pressed his legs together, hoping she failed to notice it. She was the only bitch in Wolffgard that could walk into a room and have every male presenteven the gaffersreact.
Trevor sat propped up with a bed table across his lap, a bowl of stew and a glass of water in the middle of it. Mary spooning stew into his mouth.
Pandeena stood beside the next bed over, working on Wallace Callaghan.
"Pardon me, Pandeena. There is a fellow on the bridge asking for you. He wants permission to enter Red Wolf."
Pandeena finished
changing Wallace Callaghan's bandages. All done."
She walked to the table and rinsed her hands in a basin of clean water. Have Caimbeul talk to him."
"He's asking for you. Says to say Dyna sent him."
Pandeena's expression changed in a flash. Dyna? Let's go."
* * * *
Tree trunks formed the support columns of the bridge that spanned the gorge that had been cut through the sheer stonewalls by the deep cataract known as the Eirlys River. The rushing roar of the Eirlys filled the air, drowning out the calls of circling birds. On three sides, the land descended into rugged canyons and twisted valleys that looked like a giant had ripped his fingers through the soil. The lycan clans preferred to make their homes in hard to reach places, areas that could easily be defended against invasion. The half-walls of the bridge's sides offered limited shelter while not blocking the view of people approaching it.
The bridge guards lounged on benches set back among a thick stand of fragrant white pine and cedars three spear lengths beyond the bridge on the lycan side where a heavy barrier of brush and briars offered them concealment from people approaching from the opposite side. They had a policy of getting a look at anyone arriving at the bridge from the Waejontori side before showing themselves, although they were clearly visible from the lycan side.
On a bench across from the guardsmyn, beneath a thin strand of aspens sat a small mon in a knee-length brown tunic, split to his hips for riding, over a pair of loose-legged trousers stuffed into short boots. His beardless face had an effeminate sensuality, full pouting lips in a narrow face, and a long, straight nose. Large, long-lashed eyes the color of glistening black pearls dominated his features.
Odhran pointed at him. Luciano Albertus. He thumbed at Pandeena. Our priest, Pandeena Moonbow."
"You wanted to speak with me?"
Luciano stood up and extended his hand, fingers half-curled in a lycan gesture that invited sniffing as a means of confirming his nature.
Pandeena brought his fingers to her nose. You're hu ... mage! she yelped.
Embarrassment glowed in Luciano's face as he shook his head. I'm a spiritworker, but I used to run a mage shop in Skullbones."
"The Scarlet Angel? Pandeena schooled a flash of irritation from her face. She had never expected the owner of Caimbeul's favorite mage shop to show up in Wolffgardthe ones where he always purchased contraceptives known as seed crystals that absorbed and stored the fertile parts of a male's ejaculate so that he did not impregnate his strings of doxies. Pandeena had always blamed the shop for selling them to him as much as Caimbeul himself for using them during their marriage.
"Yes. Dyna sent me to you. The Waejontori are pushing hard along the borders and I had to flee. The sa'necari don't like spiritworkers. They rite us when they catch us. Can we talk privately?"
"Certainly. Pandeena walked farther into the trees and then turned to face him. She could not deny safety to him, since he was pledged to her ally.
Luciano opened his robes and pushed them off one shoulder, revealing a squiggly Dynannan Godmark. Touch it."
Pandeena touched the mark and her eyes widened. It's real. Now I've seen everything. A Waejontori Dynannan Spiritworker."
"There's far more Dynannans among my people than you might realize and we're all coming here."
Pandeena rolled her eyes. We'll be inundated."
"Well, nothing so bad as that."
"The only single males we have at the Refugee Camp are the lycans that work there."
"I don't need to stay at the camp. I want to open a shop."
Pandeena scanned him. With just the clothes on your back?"
Luciano reached in his pocket and brought out the tiny carrying globe. My Lady loaned this to me."
Pandeena laughed. Then you can stay at the Inn until you find a shop to buy."
"Can you take me there?"
"If you'll buy me a drink at the Difficult Horse."
"I'll be glad to."
CHAPTER TWO
SIGNING THE DOCUMENTS
Kady slipped through the living quarters silently on bare feet in the hour before dawn. For the first time in days, the house was quiet. All save the worst of the wounded had returned to their farms. Trevor and his family had moved into the new house to oversee the work there. Iollen was so grateful that it embarrassed Kady at times.
She climbed the stairs to the third floor and slipped into the salle for an early practice alone. She had begun doing this the day after the death of Kynyr's father. She liked working through her forms alone before the day started and other matters laid claim to her attention.
Someone had gotten there ahead of herand he was working out in the nude. She tried not to stare at his manly parts, but her eyes would start at his face and drift down again. He was as well hung as Cullen had been. She licked her lips watching him, magnificent in his hybrid form, covered in lush golden hair with the merest hint of a snout, moving with an authority and presence she had only seen Todd displayuntil then.
The last timethe only timeKady had seen Kynyr naked was when they were digging arrows out of him months ago.
She wavered, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Kynyr noticed her. Impulsively, Kady removed her house slippers and stole onto the mat. I Called Courtship. I ... She glanced sidewise at him again. I best get used to seeing him naked.
She took a deep breath and composed herself before beginning her own forms which were not nearly as complex as what Kynyr was doing.
Gradually Kady closed out Kynyr's presence, losing herself in the dance-like movements. A feeling of peace descended upon her, as it always did.
"Very good."
Kady started at his voice, becoming suddenly self-conscious, and lost her rhythm.
Kynyr caught her arm, steadying her as she stumbled. You're not supposed to do that. He chuckled.
He had changed back to human. She looked into his eyes, noticing that he smiled for the first time since his father's death. I don't usually."
"Has Todd showed you this one, yet?"
Kynyr's swift movements as he demonstrated the form took Kady's breath away.
"No, he hasn't."
Kynyr walked her through it, correcting her forms as they went. They worked together for several minutes and then he threw her off-stride by leaning in and kissing her. She pushed away from him.
"Change for me, Kady. He kissed her again. You promised."
"I will. Just not right now. She shivered as his hand slipped beneath her robe, his fingers teasing her nipple in feathery touches so sensual that it robbed her of breath. Kady melted against him, exploring his body with her hands in tentative touches, circling the scar on his chest.
"Badge of courage, she murmured and kissed it.
Kynyr paused in his seduction and gazed into her eyes searchingly. You're not offended by them?"
His sudden vulnerability plucked the strings of Kady's heart like a minstrel playing chords of love. Her fingers caressed the scars on his thigh.
"You're magnificent ... My Wolf."
Kynyr tugged the tie on her robe and let it drop to the mat. She arched her back as he pushed her robe open and slipped it off her shoulders, kissing her neck and moving lower. He cupped her buttocks as he sank to his knees, rimmed her navel with his tongue, and went lower still.
Kady moaned as his tongue teased her clit, and searched her womanly parts. No one had ever done that to her before. Her knees went weak. Kynyr must have sensed that because he eased her down onto the mat and licked his way up her body again.
Her loins ached with need by the time he had reached her lips. She wrapped her legs across his buttocks, inviting him inside and he entered. Kady's pelvis moved with him as he thrust deeper and deeper, gently at first and then more strongly with needs matching hers. Kynyr put most of his weight on one hand so that he could stroke her as his member moved in and out and in again. Kady coughed when he brought her to a shuddering orgasm and his seed spilled into her.
"
I love you, Kynyr, she murmured against his chest, amazed at how easy it had been to make love to him, and feeling oddly silly for having put him off so long.
"Change for me."
Kady gulped. I'm not ready."
"Let me convince you. Kynyr started kissing her again. Change for me. You Called Courtship..."
"So I did. Kady disentangled herself from him, and leaped off the mat, coming down on all fours and changing into a pale cream-colored wolf with butter tips on each hair. She sprang from the room in a rush, racing down the stairs to the front door.
Kady let herself out, ran around the corner, and raced for the forest at the edge of the village.
She glanced over her shoulder, saw the huge golden wolf chasing her, and put on a burst of speed. Kady had not expected him to overtake her so soon. But she had rarely done anything in full wolf form before. And she had never been outside Wolffgard before either. Waiting tables at a tavern had not prepared her for this.
Kynyr chased her into the trees, caught up with her, and bumped her side with his head, knocking her over.
Kady rolled, gained her feet, and ran again.
She dashed into the concealment of a weeping willow tree, spun about within the autumn browned curtain of its spear like leaves, and thudded into an unexpected boulder, sprawling on her face. Instantly, Kynyr leaped upon her, his forelegs gripping her just behind the elbows as he mounted. Kady squirmed and tried to pull free, but Kynyr held on with grim determination. Humping furiously, he got his member into her. Kady let out a squall, hooked her front paws on the boulder, and tried to drag herself loose from him, but it was too late. Kynyr's member had swollen huge inside her, locking them together. Kady moaned and whimpered. Kynyr laid his muzzle between her shoulder blades. She turned her head as far around as she could and licked his ear and cheek, while she waited for him to finish pumping her full of his semen.
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