[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
summers."
"Well, maybe next time," she said, patting his arm.
She knew her brother's son very well; Erik being so very
much like his father. All she needed to do was say the
words, "The human is your mate," and her nephew
would suddenly change his tune and most likely flee
into the forest with his tail tucked firmly between his
legs. While he may have wanted someone with whom to
share his life and the responsibility of ruling, having that
someone picked out for him by another, or in this case a
manuscript more ancient than Old Jarl, wouldn't sit well.
Eventually he'd rebel.
Since her nephew was undeniably an alpha male, clan
lord, and head of the family, Eydis could not pick his
mate like she could for a beta like Ragnar, regardless of
human customs that stated only after being mated could
a youth fully join society. However, if she bodily
shielded the human, screaming, "Don't you dare come
any closer!" Erik would waste no time in devising a plan
(several, since the first three were destined for failure, if
past evidence held true) to get him. "Did you happen to
see the human who brought the child?" she asked
conversationally. "Rather fetching, wouldn't you say, in
a mortal, only-has-one-form kind of way."
Galen and the Forest Lord - 52
"Yes," Erik replied, just a bit of surliness bleeding
away.
"And, if I'm not mistaken, he appeared quite
impressed by you, too."
Erik's eyes left whatever they'd been studying to
focus on Eydis. "Really?" His muzzle retreated, leaving
his face fully human-looking again.
Sometimes Eydis wondered what had gone wrong in
Erik's mother's pregnancy to produce so dim a candle as
Erik could be at times. For a leader, he often allowed
himself to be led. A fact she intended to help the human
exploit to the fullest. Someone had to be the brains of
the outfit. Everyone knew rulers were only as great as
their advisors and inner circle, and that the Alpha Bitch
supplied the true power behind the throne.
"Yes, really. In fact," she leaned in to whisper into
his ear, "being that you're the forest lord, I think it
appropriate that you get to know this visitor. To make
him feel welcome, of course."
She added the words she trusted to get Erik's
attention like no other. "I mean, he has no close kin after
being outcast. I think you should offer to arrange a
match. He is of age. When the first snows fall, Tomas
will be of age also and will be looking for a male to
share his bed."
Erik's jaw clenched and a vein protruded from his
forehead, confirming Jarl's claim that indeed a joining of
destined mates would soon take place. Interesting.
Eydis decided to test the theory. "Tomas is very
handsome, don't you think? I wonder what our village
lad will think of him. They're nearly the same age, and I
believe they'd be such a handsome couple." She faked a
dreamy smile, observing Erik from the corner of her eye.
Galen and the Forest Lord - 53
The vein throbbed, and Erik's breathing deepened. He
said not a word, probably due to the wolf's snout he now
wore -- a full snout this time.
Precisely the response she'd hoped for. "I believe I'll
check on our guest before retiring," she said, patting
Erik's knee. "He's in the guest quarters, I'm told. That's
the second floor guest quarters, third room on the left.
You know, the one with the big brass knocker." She
examined her nephew's stern visage, worried she'd
pushed him beyond comprehension. She pressed her lips
against Erik's furry cheek and rose, turning quickly
before he saw her triumphant smile. If Erik was half the
wolf she thought him to be, it wouldn't be long until the
castle filled with passionate howls late in the night. And
this time they wouldn't be coming from Lady Isibel's
quarters.
***
Erik located the human's room with little trouble. A
huge placard on the door read, "Human inside. Alone.
Naked," in his aunt's distinctively flowery script. Led by
his mating instincts, Erik stepped inside.
The human in question sprawled across the bed,
wrapped in a warm robe. Yes, Aunt Eydis had exquisite
taste in handsome men. The human pleased the eye quite
nicely, and the nose, too, now that he no longer clutched
a soiled baby. Most interesting of all were his fair hair
and complexion, so different from most of the forest
folk's.
For years, Erik had eagerly awaited each and every
golden-haired arrival, looking for the babe of prophecy. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
summers."
"Well, maybe next time," she said, patting his arm.
She knew her brother's son very well; Erik being so very
much like his father. All she needed to do was say the
words, "The human is your mate," and her nephew
would suddenly change his tune and most likely flee
into the forest with his tail tucked firmly between his
legs. While he may have wanted someone with whom to
share his life and the responsibility of ruling, having that
someone picked out for him by another, or in this case a
manuscript more ancient than Old Jarl, wouldn't sit well.
Eventually he'd rebel.
Since her nephew was undeniably an alpha male, clan
lord, and head of the family, Eydis could not pick his
mate like she could for a beta like Ragnar, regardless of
human customs that stated only after being mated could
a youth fully join society. However, if she bodily
shielded the human, screaming, "Don't you dare come
any closer!" Erik would waste no time in devising a plan
(several, since the first three were destined for failure, if
past evidence held true) to get him. "Did you happen to
see the human who brought the child?" she asked
conversationally. "Rather fetching, wouldn't you say, in
a mortal, only-has-one-form kind of way."
Galen and the Forest Lord - 52
"Yes," Erik replied, just a bit of surliness bleeding
away.
"And, if I'm not mistaken, he appeared quite
impressed by you, too."
Erik's eyes left whatever they'd been studying to
focus on Eydis. "Really?" His muzzle retreated, leaving
his face fully human-looking again.
Sometimes Eydis wondered what had gone wrong in
Erik's mother's pregnancy to produce so dim a candle as
Erik could be at times. For a leader, he often allowed
himself to be led. A fact she intended to help the human
exploit to the fullest. Someone had to be the brains of
the outfit. Everyone knew rulers were only as great as
their advisors and inner circle, and that the Alpha Bitch
supplied the true power behind the throne.
"Yes, really. In fact," she leaned in to whisper into
his ear, "being that you're the forest lord, I think it
appropriate that you get to know this visitor. To make
him feel welcome, of course."
She added the words she trusted to get Erik's
attention like no other. "I mean, he has no close kin after
being outcast. I think you should offer to arrange a
match. He is of age. When the first snows fall, Tomas
will be of age also and will be looking for a male to
share his bed."
Erik's jaw clenched and a vein protruded from his
forehead, confirming Jarl's claim that indeed a joining of
destined mates would soon take place. Interesting.
Eydis decided to test the theory. "Tomas is very
handsome, don't you think? I wonder what our village
lad will think of him. They're nearly the same age, and I
believe they'd be such a handsome couple." She faked a
dreamy smile, observing Erik from the corner of her eye.
Galen and the Forest Lord - 53
The vein throbbed, and Erik's breathing deepened. He
said not a word, probably due to the wolf's snout he now
wore -- a full snout this time.
Precisely the response she'd hoped for. "I believe I'll
check on our guest before retiring," she said, patting
Erik's knee. "He's in the guest quarters, I'm told. That's
the second floor guest quarters, third room on the left.
You know, the one with the big brass knocker." She
examined her nephew's stern visage, worried she'd
pushed him beyond comprehension. She pressed her lips
against Erik's furry cheek and rose, turning quickly
before he saw her triumphant smile. If Erik was half the
wolf she thought him to be, it wouldn't be long until the
castle filled with passionate howls late in the night. And
this time they wouldn't be coming from Lady Isibel's
quarters.
***
Erik located the human's room with little trouble. A
huge placard on the door read, "Human inside. Alone.
Naked," in his aunt's distinctively flowery script. Led by
his mating instincts, Erik stepped inside.
The human in question sprawled across the bed,
wrapped in a warm robe. Yes, Aunt Eydis had exquisite
taste in handsome men. The human pleased the eye quite
nicely, and the nose, too, now that he no longer clutched
a soiled baby. Most interesting of all were his fair hair
and complexion, so different from most of the forest
folk's.
For years, Erik had eagerly awaited each and every
golden-haired arrival, looking for the babe of prophecy. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]