and her books before.”
“And?”
Kyna stepped between the two brothers who were now toe to toe. “And she might misunderstand or expect more. More than you’re willing to give. No one wants her hurt. Least of all you, I’m guessing.” She rested her hand on his chest. “You have the biggest heart of us all, Ailean. But sometimes you make the mistake that everyone thinks like you. Or us. She’s not like us. She’s cultured and that, isn’t she, Kennis?”
“Aye. Cultured and soft.”
Kyna brushed her hand against Ailean’s jaw. “Breakable, Ailean. So be careful what you do.”
He took his cousin’s hand, kissed the back of her knuckles. “You’ve a good heart yourself, little cousin.”
She smiled, seconds before she slammed him hard across the face with her free hand. “Don’t try and sweet-talk me, you wily bastard.” But she grinned just the same.
“We’re off, then,” Kennis informed them all, heading toward the door. “We’ll go up north a bit, make sure there’s no other surprises from the Lightnings. We’ll be back later tonight.”
“And if you find more of them?” Ailean asked. “More of the Lightnings? What will you do then?”
Kyna grinned as she followed after her twin. “Then we’ll have more horns to add to the ones already on our den walls, won’t we?”
Ailean turned back to Bideven, but his brother did no more than sniff in disgust before storming off.
“What is wrong with him?” Ailean snapped, knowing Arranz stood behind him.
“Don’t know. He’s been strange all day. So are you going to fuck her?”
Ailean sighed and walked off.
“It was just a question.”
4
It really galled him that his own kin thought so little of him. Thought he’d take advantage of Shalin or any female merely to sate his lust without a care for the female. He didn’t need to take advantage of anyone and it insulted him anyone thought he would.
Passing Shalin’s door, Ailean heard her cooing to her new puppy. Her scent had him pausing a moment. She always smelled so…delightful. Enticing.
His knuckles almost struck the door before he stopped himself.
Gods, I am weak.
Before he did something foolish, Ailean went to his bedroom, stripped, and got into bed. He ignored his desire to crawl back down the hall and scratch on Shalin’s door like that puppy. He’d leave her alone. He would.
An hour into that chant, and the knock on his door came.
He ignored it, hoping she’d believe him asleep.
“Ailean,” Shalin whispered urgently through the door. “I need you!”
When he still didn’t answer, she began banging on the door.
“Hold on,” he snapped, getting out of bed and wrapping a fur around his waist. He snatched the door open, ready to order her back to her own bed when he saw tears streaming down her face. “Gods, Shalin. What is it?”
She grabbed his hand. “I think he’s dying!” Then she dragged Ailean toward her room. Once she got him inside, she dragged him around her bed where her puppy was hunched over.
“Do something!” she demanded, her panic tugging at his heart.
Ailean crouched next to the pup and said, “Well, luv, there’s not much we can do.”
Shalin looked at him with something close to abject horror. “You’re just going to let him die?”
“No. I’m going to let him bring back up whatever he’s been eating.”
And that’s what the little bastard did.
They both moved back, disgusted.
“Oh, that’s vile!” Shalin gasped, covering her nose and mouth.
“That it is.” Ailean glanced around until he found a few rags piled in a corner. He grabbed them and quickly cleaned up the mess while the puppy whined softly and crawled into Shalin’s lap.
“He’s still sick.”
“His stomach ails him, is all.” He took the rags out into the hall and dumped them where the servants could find them in the morning. When he came back in, closing the door behind him, he found Shalin staring down at the pup like she feared he might gasp his last breath at any moment. “Shalin, he’ll be fine. You just have to watch what he eats.”
Ailean washed his hands in the wash bowl before walking back to her side.
“Why don’t you get some sleep?” he asked her, sitting beside her on the bed.
“What if he dies while I sleep? I’ll never forgive myself.”
It took all Ailean’s strength not to roll his eyes. He knew she meant every word. “He won’t die while you sleep, Shalin. He merely ate something that didn’t sit well with him. You’ve no need to fret so.”
“He’s mine. My responsibility. I’ll sit with him until he’s better.”
“No. You’ll get some sleep.” Ailean took the pup from her lap. “I’ll stay up with him so you can rest.”
“That isn’t fair.” She smiled and stood, taking back the puppy. “We’ll stay up together.”
“Uh…”
But he didn’t have much choice, since she crawled into the center of the bed and sat down, her legs crossed so her ailing puppy could rest right in the middle. She patted the space across from her and Ailean reluctantly moved there, desperately clutching the fur covering against him.
They sat silently for several minutes, until Shalin said, “I enjoyed dinner tonight.”
“Good. You, uh, blended in quite nicely.”
“Did I?”
“Aye. They all like you. Oh, and I got word from the ones protecting your father. He’s fine and safe.”
Shalin briefly closed her eyes. “Thank you. I worry about him so.”
“Why? I’ve never met him, but I’ve always heard he’s well-respected.”
“He is. Very well-respected, especially among our scholars. But, he can be a little…a little…” She suddenly smiled. The softest, warmest smile Ailean had ever seen. “He can be a bit befuddled at times.”
“Is that why he’s not an Elder?”
“He and the Elders don’t see eye
