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16
Frowning, Fallon shook his head. “You’re going to make yourself miserable.”
“Then you’ll be highly entertained this evening,” Mathin said cheerfully, placing his hands on Andrea’s shoulders for the blessing.
Andrea didn’t miss the wolfish look Mathin cast her as he sat opposite her. He purred in ecstasy at his first bite, and the glow in his eyes as he looked at her showed another kind of hunger. “Delicious. I can’t wait for dessert.”
She snorted softly and picked up her sandwich. After they’d taken the edge off, she asked Fallon, “So, what is it you do? Grandma never said.”
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Scent of Danger 17
She flinched, and he sympathized. It wouldn’t be pleasant if the cults got to her. “Many Haunt died this way. To defend themselves and stop the slaughter of their families, some Haunt began assassinating any known charmers. Others searched for another way.“They found it. One Haunt, a prospector, discovered a doorway between worlds. The world he discovered was a place of beauty, yet danger. Best of all, as far as he knew, it was unclaimed. He told his people about this world, which he called the Dark Lands, and many of them chose to leave Earth with him and settle there. The ones who chose to stay elected an ambassador, a man to serve as an emissary between worlds, should any of them ever choose to leave Earth. The Haunt who crossed over conquered the Dark Lands, and flourish there to this day.”
Scent of Danger 18
Seriously off balance, she stumbled hastily from the room.Crossing his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling and brooded. Why did women have to make everything harder than it was? He was a man of action. If he wanted something, he went for it. He’d certainly never stayed up nights worrying whether he deserved it or not. What was it about females that made them protest every gift and analyze every action? More often than not they came to the wrong conclusion anyway and then blamed the man.Moving her to the Dark Lands wasn’t going to be easy. Nor would she take the move in good grace, especially with her grandmother to consider. He felt no guilt over his plan; not when the alternative was seeing her fall into the wrong hands. Adaptation might be d
Scent of Danger 19
Mathin observed her. His nose told him something wasn’t right. While still lovely, her scent was tainted, and her hand shook a little as she brushed her hair from her face. It worried him. “You’re not feeling well, are you?”Startled into looking at him, she reluctantly shook her head.“What do you need?”She sighed. “I explained about the blood sugar thing last night. I just need to eat something healthy. I’m already feeling better.” Her head felt clearer, and she wasn’t heading for the floor. It could have been much worse.“Maybe you should lie down for a
Scent of Danger 20
“No one really knows,” he answered easily, ignoring Fallon’s dark look. “The Haunt like to call them parasites, but any Symbiont-human will argue that they are anything but. For one, they restore life and health to their human host, feeding off the impurities and dead cells in their body. In return they enable rapid healing, agility and an increased life span.”“Huh. Sounds kind of gross. Is it like a bug?” Andrea mussed aloud, thinking of several Star Trek episodes. She smashed another mosquito. “I hate bugs.”“It’s not a bug,” Mathin told her, annoyed at Fallon’s snort of amusement. “And if we ever enter the Dark Lands, it’s the first thing I’ll find for you.”
Scent of Danger 21
The object of her terror turned its black head toward them and waved its antenna, mildly interested.Andrea yelped and skittered behind Mathin, using him for a shield. “It’s the size of a cocker spaniel! You’ve got the gun; shoot it!”With a grunt of amusement, he grabbed a small stick from the forest floor and tossed it half-heartedly toward the beetle. It bounced off its back with a dull clunk, sending the creature scurrying.“There. Now…” He frowned as she backed away, her eyes on the towering forest.Wild spice scented the air of the alien world around her. The surrounding wo
Scent of Danger 22
“Keilor!” Relieved at the interruption, Mathin greeted him, clasping forearms with the dark-haired warrior who entered the clearing. He kept a grip on Andrea, knowing she couldn’t be trusted.With high cheekbones reminiscent of a Cherokee warrior, the man radiated energy and command. Several volti followed at his heels like a pack of tamed hunting dogs.The man’s dark eyes settled on Andrea, assessing and reassuring at once. He shook his head. “My wife has shared those exact sentiments; particularly as he dragged her through the swamps and fed her giant snails. Will you come and meet her? She is human, like you.”Keilor’s calculation worked. With a nervo
Scent of Danger 23
The Haunt guard opened the thick wooden door. Mathin strode through, sweeping her along with a hand at her back.The room beyond was sunny, and brimming with familiar knickknacks and gewgaws. Crazy colors covered nearly every surface. Hooked rugs in a riot of clashing colors, Afghans and slipcovers—the very ones she’d packed away—covered the furniture in a rainbow of dizzying shades. It looked like someone had tossed a bag of Skittles all over the place.Bewildered by the display, she simply stared. Why would Mathin have brought all this stuff? Her grandma wouldn’t be happy when she got home and discovered it missing. Wait…he didn’t think she wanted it, did he?
Scent of Danger 24
A pen of sorts had been erected around the perimeter of the living area, leaving the twins with plenty of carpeted area to tumble and play. It also kept them out of the fireplace and their mother’s collection of potted fruit trees.Keilor shrugged and snatched a piece of the vegetable she was chopping for dinner. “Mathin said she didn’t seem picky at the time. Besides, we could hardly take her to Mathin’s room. They’re not mated yet.”Reminded of the source of her ire, the petite terror turned her wrath on Mathin. “And how could you, Mathin? What possessed you to drag the poor girl here when there’s plenty of Haunt women chasing you?”Mathin
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