“So...Good night?” Lon’s familiar voice cut through the blissful peace of slumber.Disseus peeled open his eyes to see Lonnix standing over him. Peering over his wide belly with a knowing smirk.“Was.” Disseus rolled over to get up. “’Til I woke to your face.”Where the hell is she?She wasn’t next to him.In-fact she was nowhere in sight. He frowned at Lonnix.“Don’t glare at me, My Friend.” Lon frowned. “Wasn’t my doing that drove her off. She headed down to the river.”“Said she had to go ‘wash off a mistake’.” Lon mimicked a shrill womanly voice.“So…how good a mistake was it?” He wiggled his brows suggestively. “Was it?”I’m not talking about that. Disseus glared at him.“She can wash all she wants.” He called loudly down to the river. “But she won’t be able to wash away what she did.”Came to me warm, wet and willing.That was no fault of mine.Glancing over his shoulder toward the bank, Lonnix winced and shuffled away. Unwilling to see her come stalking back after biting that b

The rest of the ride was relatively peaceful until a sound like flapping ship sails.Tilting up their heads, they watched a giant orange bird fly over. Its shadow engulfing them.“Guardians.” Disseus hissed yanking up his hood and folding his cloak carefully around him.Did she call to them? He sent Nim a sharp look.Horses shying, they moved from the landing path of the massive bird.Descending through the trees it shrank, wings disappearing. Legs reducing and scales falling away. Clothes climbing up his length like snakes winding over him. Polished boots crunched over the branches as he took a few steps and came to a stop.“Nim.” He greeted. His solemn face typically impassive.She gave a slight nod.She knows him. Disseus looked from her to the Guardian. Waiting to find out exactly what he was here after.Pulling his hood low over his forehead Disseus willed his features to be mottled and slack again. Tipping his head sideways he leaned away from them.***Fortunately, Bernus had e

“Be a sport.” Lonnix pressed. “The rest of us did so at our own expense.”Shaking her head, Nim drew another careful sip.Lonnix and Disseus exchanged a look. In unison they laughingly lunged for her. Though Lonnix was far quicker than expected it was, of course, Disseus that reached her before she could react. Cup clattering as he laughingly hooked her under the armpits and hoisted her up.Still dangling helplessly in shock, she failed to struggle until he pushed her down before the witch. Nearly singeing her hair in the fire.Objecting she hissed profanity at him.“Shush.” He put a finger to his lips and gestured to Almora commandingly.***Snarling up at him, Nim glared from beneath lowered brows as she thrust her rigid hand out as he’d made it obvious, he’d not be letting her up until she complied.And she won’t have me touching her any longer than necessary. That thought caused a bitter twinge to rush through him, but he pushed it aside as he awaited Almora. Unable to resist a li

“Are you afraid?” Disseus queried. Hungering to see if she’d admit her vulnerability.Become a bit closer to me through a hint of truth. If she’s even capable of that…“No.” She choked a little. “I just can’t protect both your friend and your mistress by myself.”He scoffed.“Almora isn’t my mistress, as you know very well. I’ve only ever wanted one woman.” Catching her chin, he turned her face back to him. Giving her a long look that conveyed his disbelief.But she promptly jerked her head away.“Look at me.”“How do you somehow make your commands seem coaxing?”She wants to do what I’m asking but it defies every instinct she has to protect herself. Some part of him could faintly understand that. She had no one else to look after her for a long time.But that thought made the old bitter part of him return to the fore. That was her own doing.I’d have been there.“Because I’m asking you to obey.” He reached for her again, but she turned away.“Don’t.” There was pleading in her soft vo

Back to the Present:Disseus was holding Nim. And she felt small and weightless in his arms. Warm to the touch and pressed against him. As if needing his heat.His eyes were scanning the treeline. As much as he was enjoying the feel of her, and he was, his body as clearly reacting, he was intent on the rustling in the trees just beyond sight.They’re there.He’d been right.There are Battling Dogs out there. Or Battling demons...But they didn't close in. For whatever reason... Which was worrisome. He didn’t particularly favor when demons became unpredictable.What are they waiting for?Unable to resist, his eyes slid down to look at Nealinim’s profile.At some point during the night, she’d finally fallen asleep.After much flailing and combatting whatever nightmares haunt her.He wondered what it felt like for her to be in the arms of her former lover.What does she think, when I hold her again?Clearly, she was comforted. It was the first he could recall of her sleeping so deeply.S