Page 9 of Victoria's Discovery

“Hai. Pllleez dount keel mee.”

Eyes wide, he jerked his head up and whispered urgently, “Thorn! Thorn, come over here!”

“Why doyounot come overhereand help me break these godsdamned walls!” he growled between slams of his fists. “Stop coddling the kittling!”

Glancing down at the female, he grimaced. “That is the problem. She is not a kittling. Nor do I think she of Jorundfell.”

That was enough to get Thorn’s attention.

Spinning around, his usual scowl marring his face, Thorn opened his mouth, likely to tell Thegan that he was being ridiculous—one of his favorite things to do—but froze when his eyes landed on her.

Thegan looked down in time to see her dart a scared look at his friend then back up again when Thorn made a choked sound of disbelief.

“You see?”

“That is not a kittling.”

“I have said that,” Thegan murmured dryly.

“Yes, but I did not believe you!” Thorn snapped, flicking an irritated look at him before he went back to staring.

Thegan caught the interest and fascination on his friend’s face before it shifted to speculation as Thorn glanced from her to the hole in the ceiling and back again.

“Give her to me.”

“What? No.” Pulling her closer to his chest, he ignored her gasp of surprise and glared.

He knew his friend wouldn’t hurt her. Despite his perpetual grumpiness, Thorn was honorable and had a gentle heart. Thegan was just feeling a bit… possessive of the female and not at all inclined to relinquish her. Until she made a move to get up on her own, he was going to hold her for as long as she let him.

“Just give her to me,” Thorn growled, clearly irritated.

Setting his jaw, Thegan stubbornly remained seated and reached an arm around the female’s back to pull her tighter to his chest.

* * *

When Thegan madeno move to give him the female, Thorn narrowed his eyes and took a step in their direction until he was looming over them, then held his hands out expectantly.

Thegan could be as fierce and uncompromising as any Jorund, but he was usually more inclined to bend with the winds. He was even-tempered and often played mediator when there were conflicts and disputes among males in the clan. That he was acting so unyielding now surprised Thorn.

Did Thegan have concern he would hurt the tiny female? He wouldn’t, ever, and his friend should know that. Gods’, even the thought of harming a woman was enough to make his stomach twist, and hurting this one, in particular, was especially abhorrent. She was so small and had no visible defenses with which to protect herself.

No, hurting her was not at all what he wanted.

The opposite, in fact. The longer he stared at her, the more a peculiar feeling grew in his chest. It felt… warm, protective. Something about her was strangely captivating.

He was not accustomed to feeling more than passing lust when he gazed upon females, quickly suppressed with the knowledge that his chances of having the opportunity to sate that hunger were beyond slim. But, gazing down at her, curled up so sweetly in Thegan’s arms, Thorn felt a spurt of envy.

“You are going to scare her to an early death glaring like that,” Thegan chastised, gazing up at him with a disapproving expression and clutching the female protectively.

“I am not—” Thorn cut short when he looked down at her. The little beauty was staring up at him as though she thought he was about to fall upon her claws first. “Oh.”

Wincing, he realized Thegan was right, as irritating as that was to admit. Thorn shifted uncomfortably then smoothed his expression out with an effort and slowly lowered himself to a crouch.

“Easy, littlehess. I will not hurt you.”

It came out slightly gruffer than he’d intended, but she didn’t seem to notice. He saw her oddly speckled cheeks beginning to change color from whitish pink to a pale red and wondered at it.

Was that some kind of warning signal? Was she about to attack?

---