A Hunger Like No Other

'I was through here anyway,' she said evenly, though she was backing swiftly away. 'I'll just go visit with Lachlain while you two chat.'

Bowe was relieved to see that the vampire didn't like that idea at all, her brows drawn together, her eyes flickering. He thought he'd never been so gladdened to see a woman's distress. Though he willed her to protest, Emmaline said nothing.

Before she dropped down, Cassandra called over her shoulder, 'Remember my offer, vampire.'

When they were alone, Bowe asked, 'And what did she offer?'

'It doesn't concern you.'

He gave her a threatening look as well.

But she just shrugged. 'That has no effect on me. I know you can't hurt me or Lachlain would kick your ass six ways to Sunday. 'Kay?'

'You speak strangely.'

'If I had a dollar…' she said with a sigh.

Why had Lachlain made this creature sound retiring when he'd described her? 'So if you will no' tell me whatever malicious seed Cassandra has planted, then do me the courtesy of walking with me awhile.'

'No, thanks. I'm busy.'

'Busy pacing a folly roof on a foggy night, ranting to yourself?'

'You've a keen gift for observation,' she said, turning from him.

'Speaking of gifts—one arrived for you during the day.'

She froze, turned slowly, and tilted her head at him. 'A present?'

He barely concealed his surprise. Damn if the Valkyrie weren't as acquisitive as the Lore said.

'If you take a turn with me and listen, I'll show it to you.'

She nibbled her red bottom lip, fang showing, reminding him that she was still a vampire. The only other times he'd spoken with a vampire had been when he was torturing one.

'Okay. Five minutes. But only so I can see the gift.'

He reached out to help her down, but in one of the strangest movements he'd ever seen, she stepped from the roof, her next footfall as regular as if her last hadn't been fifteen feet above, but fifteen inches.

He stared, shook himself, then followed. As he started toward the stables, he began, 'I ken you're angry with Lachlain. Is it more for lying to you, or because you found out what you are?'

'Not what I am, but what you people seem to think I am. As for my anger, split it down the middle—call it a day.'

'He lied for a reason. He is no' a dishonest man, in fact is known as the opposite, but he'll go to new lengths to keep you with him. And you are his mate.'

'Mate, schmate. I'm tired of hearing that!'

'I've warned Lachlain no' to be stubborn or stupid, and it sounds like I'll have to warn you as well.'

Her eyes fired silver with anger. Undaunted, he took her elbow and steered her into the stables. 'Let's cut through the details and get to the meat. He's no' letting you go. Your family is going to want you back. There will be conflict. Unless you can convince them no' to fight.'

'You don't get it!' she snapped. 'I won't have this problem because I don't want him!' She flung herself free. 'And the next Lykae that grabs my elbow to steer loses a paw.'

She strode ahead of him down the lengthy run of stalls. Without any indication from him, she stopped and did a double take at the mare that had arrived this morning, then crossed over to gently run her hands down her muzzle. Strange that Emmaline would gravitate to the one that was hers alone. Damn grasping Valkyrie.

Her gaze flickered over the horse and she murmured, 'Hey, gorgeous,' and 'Aren't you a sweetie?' She looked as if she was in love.

Irrationally feeling as though he was interrupting, Bowe continued, 'I thought vampires had an innate ability to cut through bullshite. He's no' letting you go. He's a wealthy, attractive male, a king, who would spoil and protect you for the rest of your life. All you have to do is accept it.'

'Look, Bowen, I'm in no way a realist.' She'd leaned back against the stall gate with a knee drawn up, as if she'd been here a thousand times. Her arm curled under the mare's neck to pet the side of her face. 'I can pretend with the best of them. I can pretend Lachlain's dishonesty didn't hurt. I can pretend I like it better here than I do in my own home and my own country, and I can even ignore the fact that his age is a multiple of mine. But I can't pretend that his entire clan won't hate me or that Lykae won't keep attacking me. And I can't pretend that my family will accept him, because they never will, and I would be forced to choose anyway.'

As she'd spoken, her expression had slowly ebbed from furious to stark. She wasn't telling him half of it. Her eyes were haunted. Lachlain's mate was spooked. Badly.

Just as Mariah had looked.

'What else is happening? Something else is upsetting you.'

'It's just…everything's…overwhelming.' She whispered the last.

'What is?'

She shook her head and her face turned hard. 'I'm a private person and I don't even know you. Not to mention that you're Lachlain's best friend. I'm not telling you anything.'

'You can trust me. I will no' tell him anything you doona want me to.'

'I'm sorry, but right now Lykae are not exactly in my to-be-trusted column. What with all the lies and those pesky stranglings.'

He knew she was referring to Lachlain's actions as well, but said, 'You held your own against Cassandra.'

'I don't want to live in a place where I have to hold my own. I don't want to live in a place where I'm attacked or bullied.'

Bowe sank down onto a bale of hay. 'Lachlain canna find his brother. Cassandra is proving to be like a gnat in his ear. His leg ails him, and he can scarcely keep up with this new time he's been thrown into. Worse for him is that he canna make you happy.' He snared a piece of straw out and chewed the end, offering her another.

She glared. 'I don't masticate, thank you.'

He shrugged. 'I can take care of Cass. His leg will heal, he'll acclimate, and eventually Garreth will turn up. But none of this will matter if he canna make you content here.'

She turned to touch her forehead to the mare's and said in a soft voice, 'I don't like that he hurts or is worried, but I can't simply tell myself to be happy here. It's just got to come.'

'It will if you give it time. Once he can shake off more of his past…troubles, you will find he's a good man.'

'I don't seem to have a choice in the matter, do I?'

'No' at all. So in the meantime, do you want me to tell you how to manage him better?'

'Manage him?' she asked, facing him.

'Aye.'

She blinked at him. 'I might have to hear this.'

'Understand that anything he does, he does with the ultimate goal of your happiness.' She parted her lips to disagree, but he spoke over her: 'So if you are displeased with any measure he takes toward that end, you need only to voice that it's made you un happy.'

When she frowned, he asked, 'How'd his lie make you feel?'

She looked down at the toe of her boot drawing circles in the packed dirt, and finally mumbled, 'Betrayed. Hurt.'

'Think about this for a moment. How do you think he'd react if you simply told him that he'd hurt you?'

She lifted her head, staring at him for many moments.

He rose, dusted off his pants, then turned for the door, only pausing to say over his shoulder, 'By the way, that's your horse.'

Before he faced forward, he saw the mare nose her hair and nearly knock her down.

'You will no' embrace an old friend?' Cassandra asked with a pout.

'If she were content to remain as such,' Lachlain answered impatiently. How long was Bowe going to be? He