[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."We appreciate the gift of tools you sent." I was back to nodding again.Corent's hair was changing color, from light to dark blue as the leaves shifted and swayed over our heads in the mid-day breeze.Winkler put his arms around me.I leaned into his warmth."This is one of your mates?" Corent looked up at Winkler, who had a good eight inches on Corent."Yes, this is my wolf mate," I said."Werewolf?""Yes.""I have never seen one before."Winkler changed, right on the spot.He didn't have to disrobe any longer—with the abilities bestowed by the Saa Thalarr, it was no longer necessary.I ruffled the fur around Winkler's ears as he stood with me.Corent was quite surprised."He hunts on the full moon?" Le-Ath Veronis had only one moon.Harifa Edus had six.That's where Winkler and the other wolves of the Saa Thalarr usually went when they wanted a run.I had a feeling they watched as the werewolves there hunted, brought down game and challenged one another.It was the way things happened with werewolves."He usually goes to Harifa Edus.Do you know about that?""No.What is it?""Harifa Edus was the original werewolf planet, and it was uninhabited for a very long time.We have been working to repopulate it.Winkler visits at least once a month, during one of the six full moons.""You did this—repopulating that world.Didn't you?""That was one of my goals, yes," I nodded."We thought we were taking from a selfish Karathian," Corent sighed."A being who might deserve to have his child taken away.If we had known that the child we took was nothing of the kind," Corent didn't finish his statement."What's done is done," I couldn't stop the tears this time.I was embarrassed when one dripped onto my blouse before I could wipe it away.Winkler was back to himself quickly."Please excuse us," he nodded to Corent and folded me back to the palace.* * *"What did the Queen have to say?" Tiearan walked over to Corent."She wanted to see Toff, even from a distance.She was crying there at the end, so her werewolf mate took her away."* * *Jenderlin, the newly elevated crown prince of Cloudsong, sat inside the crown prince's suite while his father paced incessantly.Jenderlin wanted to halt his father with a word, but he had no words.Nothing would assuage his father's guilt over sending his brother out to a waiting ambush.Nothing.Jenderlin had always known that his father doted on Brandelin, his older brother.Jenderlin had always been the weaker of the two, in his father's eyes.Not even good enough to train in the military, although Jenderlin had read all the historical accounts of battles won and lost and had studied strategy, in addition to his other lessons.Now, instead of advising his brother as his father planned when Brandelin took the throne, Jenderlin would take the high seat instead and he was frightened at the prospect.He had no desire to plot the course of Cloudsong's future.A welcome knock came on the door."Come," King Kenderlin growled.Kenderlin's master of the guard entered, hauling a prisoner along, his fist gripping the back of the captive's collar."I have news, albeit unwilling news," the master of the guard's growl eclipsed that of the king."News that will explain your son's death." Kenderlin nearly gaped at the two who'd entered his study, but recovered his composure swiftly."Perhaps you should explain, then," Kenderlin sat behind Jenderlin's desk and glared at the prisoner.Chapter 4"Melida, we are very pleased to have you here." Glendes nodded at the new arrival."Marid, thank you for bringing her." Glendes gave another nod to Melida's father.Marid was Chief of the Belancour Wizards and quite powerful."We have everything arranged," Glendes continued, "The union will take place tonight before dinner, with the celebrations afterward.""I wish to meet your grandson's other mate." Melida, dark-haired and pretty, looked about her as if she were weighing the worth of Glendes' study.Glendes looked slightly uncomfortable at Melida's question."That is not an option—Lissa has released Shadow from his union with her.You may be his only mate from this point on, unless he can convince her to return, somehow.""I heard she was highly placed." Marid commented dryly."We were not at liberty to reveal that before, due to her position.It would have been improper of us at the time.Since she has released Shadow and we are no longer obligated to her or she to us, then I feel we can provide that information," Glendes replied smoothly."Who was she? Have I destroyed anything important?" Melida's question sounded insincere.Glendes wanted to release a sigh.As Eldest of Grey House, he was a good judge of character, having lived so long.Melida had a mercenary streak about her and Glendes didn't like it."A queen," Glendes shoved his thoughts aside and replied as smoothly as he could [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]