Page 82 of The Ranger

Markhel’s cheeks heated at the sight of her. Thank the Creator she was in the house when it all happened. “I started to shift.”

“Really?” Doc said with interest. “Dallan told us about that but didn’t say if he’d ever seen anyone do it. How does it work?”

Markhel listened for sounds of the women upstairs and heard the soft lull of Zara’s singing. “Our inner hearts take on a physical form for different reasons. To protect our mates, or under duress. And at times, in battle.”

“I hear tell Jaireth’s heart makes him shift into a big wolf,” Grandma said. “What does that say about him? Seems to me he’d be more a fox.”

Kwaku laughed. “De heart of a Muiraran is clever but brave. And so is de Muiraran king. Dat is why he is a wolf. But you, young cub, it will be interesting to see what form your heart will take.”

Markhel’s eyes fixed on Maida. “But will she accept it?”

“Has Dallan not accepted Shona?” Kwaku said. “Yet he has never seen what form her heart will take, nor has she. Do you really dink it will come between dem?”

“No, Time Master. No more than Zara’s heart could come between the two of you.”

“Well, spoken, cub. Now take your maiden in your arms and bring her.”

Since she knew of the impending barn conversation, Zara sang her to sleep too. So suspicion wasn’t raised, Kwaku decided to have her put the whole family to sleep. Markhel had no idea where Duncan, Maida’s brother, was but coming home to find the family had gone to bed early wasn’t anything new.

He gently picked her up then followed Kwaku to the hall and then the staircase.

“I’ll show you to her room,” Grandma said. She passed them and ran up the stairs. There was no need to pretend she was old and feeble now.

Markhel gazed upon Maida as he carried her up the stairs. She was beautiful, he realized, and he smiled. “I will protect you, little one. With all my heart and with my life. Do not turn me away when the time comes.”

“Her room is here,” Grandma whispered and motioned to a door on the left.

He listened to Zara’s voice coming from what he guessed was Sadie’s room and nodded. He carried her inside, set her on the bed, then proceeded to take off her shoes.

“Here, I’ll do that,” Grandma whispered. “You’d better get downstairs.”

He nodded, his eyes fixed on Maida’s lovely face. “I cannot fail her, wise one.”

Grandma put a hand on his broad shoulder. “Now, don’t go talking like that. Why would you?”

He looked at her. “It hurts to gaze upon her. It hurts to think she could so easily refuse me.”

“Of course, it does, child. That’s what we humans call love.”

His eyebrows went up. “But I...”

“Oh, come now, Markhel. That second heart of yours might just be getting a clue as to what’s going on, but your other heart has already figured it out. You’re sweet on her and then some. There’s nothing wrong with that as far as I know. In fact, I would think it’s a good thing.”

“How?”

She smiled. “On account you’ll love her with both your hearts before you ever join. And I can tell she’s already sweet on you.” She put a hand to his cheek. “I’m not gonna lie. It’s still gonna hurt something awful. Just like it always does with your people. But I think you and Maida have an extra advantage in that you’re already falling in love with each other, and she’s only Called a handful of times.”

He watched Maida again. Grandma was right, he did have feelings for the young woman, and they had started before his inner heart began to waken. But now that it was, he was going to have to be extra careful it didn’t get away from him and make him do something stupid. It wouldn’t be the first time an inner heart took the reins and ran rampant during a bonding. Which was fine if his future mate were another Muiraran. But that wasn’t the case here, and he didn’t want to do anything that might frighten Maida away from the bond. A bond that was growing stronger by the hour.

“Come, child. Best you go on over to Colin and Belle’s while Zara and I see to these folks and make it look like they had dinner and cleaned up. Besides, we don’t want none of them waking up in their day clothes, now do we?”

“I suppose not.” He ran a finger down Maida’s right cheek. “Wise one?”

“Hmm?”

“Do not let me forget myself.”

Grandma sighed and patted him on the arm. “You’re really worried about this aren’t you?”

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