Page 88 of Wolf's Prize
Aimon met Gaharet’s gaze and grinned. Their pack would survive. Once again, there would be offspring.
As congratulations flowed around the room, Kathryn’s hand slipped into his beneath the table. Perhaps they, too, would soon follow in Gaharet and Erin’s footsteps. The thought of Kathryn’s belly swelling with his child… His grin widened. Kathryn smiled at him, her eyes dancing with all sorts of heated promises. He rubbed his thumb against her soft skin and her eyes glazed over, dark swirls lingering in their depths. He would have her alone again soon, and they would begin their own journey to parenthood.
“Farren,” said Gaharet, bringing Aimon’s focus from his mate and back to the table. “Would you organize the chaplain please? Tell him he will need to perform a discrete marriage ceremony for two couples. Best to make things legal, at least in the eyes of Lothair.”
“Of course. Will you be returning to the keep? Should Kathryn and I perhaps join Aimon on his estate?”
Aimon choked on his wine. Kathryn and his mother in the same house?Hespent little time at his family home. The risk of exposing his secret was too great.
Gaharet shook his head. “I am afraid this is not over yet, Farren. Erin and I must remain hidden at the cottage for a time. You will remain here. As should Aimon and Kathryn. Even should I return, this will remain your home.”
“But—”
“You are family, Farren. More so now that Kathryn is one of us and mated to Aimon. This keep is big enough for all of us, and I have been alone with these empty rooms for too long.”
Aimon’s chest squeezed. Family. And a place where he would truly belong. Kathryn, too. He fingered the unopened communication from Lothair in his hand. Would Lothair’s words shatter this moment of happiness, of hope?
He broke the seal.
Aimon stared at the elegant writing across the page, seeing it, but not truly believing its import.
“What does it say?” asked Gaharet.
Aimon read it again, making certain he had not misread or misinterpreted the meaning.
“It says—Aimon. I trust you have had no hand in this latest incident. Ulrik Voclain has escaped Langeais Keep.”
* * * *
He slunk into the clearing, his nose to the ground, his black fur ruffling in the breeze. Scents familiar to him tickled at his memory. Others, from the mated pair, from their coupling in the clearing, were new to him. He padded about, teasing out the individuals, until he found what he was looking for. The one scent embedded in his psyche, never to be forgotten. His lip curled back, revealing large canines. His attacker. The one who had betrayed him. The one who had cut him down on the battlefield and given him the scars that crisscrossed his back. The one he had trusted.
He turned his one good eye toward the direction of the large walled building where wolves lived as men. He had vague memories of living in such a place. Living as a man, not as a wolf. He had watched such a wolf, black-haired, bearded and dominant, standing guard outside the wall. A yearning so strong had clenched at his entrails. He knew this man-wolf. Had once called him family.
He turned back to the scent he had traveled long and hard to find. The black wolf was not what he was here for. He was here for justice. Picking up his quarry’s scent, he followed it and disappeared into the forest and away from the building he had once called home.
Epilogue
Aimon startled awake. Pressed against his side, his naked and beautiful mate thoroughly satiated and exhausted by their lovemaking. Unsure what had interrupted his slumber, he brought his wolf close to the surface. Even tucked away in Kathryn’s bedchamber in the d’Louncrais keep, with Gaharet, Farren and all the keep guards, it behooved him to remain alert. The traitor was still out there.
Kathryn whimpered and tossed in her sleep. “No!” She writhed about on the bed, pushing away from him, her hair a tousled mess of copper and her face twisted in anguish. “No! I am not yours. You cannot take me!”
“Kathryn.” Aimon slipped his arms around her and pulled her in close. She struggled against him, but she was no match for his strength. “Wake up,ma belle renarde.”
Kathryn exploded from her nightmare, almost wrenching herself from his arms. Her chest heaved, and her body shook as her eyes darted about the darkened room. “I saw him.” She gulped in a deep breath. “The one who attacked me… He was trying…to make me…his.” She rolled toward him and buried her face against his chest and sobbed. “He tried to take me away from you.”
“Ssh.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “All is well, Kathryn. I am here. You are safe. I have you, and I will let no man or wolf harm you. I promise you. No one is taking you away from me.” He lifted his hand to her head, cradling it against his chest, and stroked her hair. “Calm now. It was just a dream. There is no one here but you and I.”
Her hands petted his chest, as though she needed confirmation that he was real, that she was awake and not still held in the clutches of her nightmare.
“You said you saw his face.” He continued to stroke her hair. “Did you recognize him?”
She pulled away—her face pale and streaked with tears. “I…” She scrunched up her face in a frown. “I…I did see his face, but…” She stared at him, shadows of uncertainty flickering across her eyes. “Now I cannot… It is like the memory is there, and yet I cannot see it.”
He pulled her back into his embrace, hiding his disappointment. “Do not fret, Kathryn. The memory is there. It will return in its own good time.”
“Wait.” She pushed him away again and stared up at the ceiling. “His sword. I remember. It had a jewel on the pommel.”
A jewel? An affectation for wealthy chevaliers, it was not common, for it could change the balance of a sword. Neither his nor Gaharet’s swords were adorned with such. Nor were Aubert’s and Edmond’s. But both Godfrey’s and Lance’s were. Was the traitor mere moments away from being revealed?
He tempered his excitement. “What color jewel, Kathryn?”
“I… I… Oh.” She covered her face with her hands. “I do not remember.”
Aimon smothered his frustration and pulled her into his embrace. The answer was there. So close and yet so far. Without knowing who had betrayed them, Kathryn was still very much in danger. As were they all. He could only hope she remembered soon, and they could take this traitor down before any more damage was done.
