She snorts, but I don’t think I’m imagining the note of relief in it. “I bet you won’t like it when I do.”“There’s only one way to win that bet.”She takes a deep breath, throws her gaze at mine with all the weight of an anchor. “I’m pregnant.”Blood roars in my ears. I slump against the chair. The
Clove and aniseed. I twist toward the smell before I can stop myself, leg pulsating.Through the trees, I can just barely make out a glimpse of auburn hair. Hazel eyes catch mine, hold for a heartbeat, then turn away.Xander wasn’t part of the battle. I searched for her, even though I promised I wou
FinnI dive to the side as a claw scythes down, and my bleeding left flank crumples underneath me. Slammed to the ground, I swallow a mouthful of dirt, but I don’t collect another injury. The Moonlight Hollow wolf bares his teeth, about to snap at my throat.Only fighting as wolves shrinks their ima
“Well, you know how it goes,” I say noncommittally.“Difficult labor.” He nods. “Of course. I should have realized.”The fading sunlight catches his eyes, making something I can’t quite name shine within. His smile twists slightly.“Father’s over-concern,” I say, trying to dim whatever that shine is
Xander“Flank left, flank left!”“They’re coming in from all sides!”“Goddess above, where are they coming from!”“Flank right, you ridiculous—”I wince and try to drown out the noise of mind-links flying back and forth. It’s hard to say how long ago the alarm went up now, but I know I’ve been stand
Vito preens like a cat presenting a caught mouse. “My sister married a Hajni foot soldier. Infuriated my father, but she writes to me sometimes of what is actually occurring on our borders.”“Third-hand information, then.”“But information all the same,” Vito insists. “She says the fighting came fro