THE AWAKENING

“Did you mean what you said?”

He smoothed the hair from her eyes in a tender gesture that surprised her. “Which part?” he asked.

“All of it.”

He didn’t answer right away but shifted so that his weight was no longer bearing down on her. His hands drifted to the swelling of her stomach and he paused there, his big hand resting on the lump where her babies were nestled.

“I would not allow another man to touch what belongs to me,” he answered gravely. “But I would give my life to protect you and my child.”

Cassandra swallowed, remembering Iona’s warning. “There are two babies in there,” she said. “What about the other baby? Would you hurt the one that isn’t yours?”

Tieran frowned and his nostrils flared at her question but she didn’t know if his distaste stemmed from having to answer a difficult question or because he truly found the idea an anathema.

He rose and helped her to her feet. “We should get back to the compound. It isn’t safe out here.”

She withdrew her hand and he looked back at her. “Answer me, Tieran.”

His lips compressed to a tight line and he appeared as if he’d rather chew nails than answer that single question but she had to know.

“I will protect my babies with my life. If you plan to take one and snuff out its life, know that I will kill you for trying.”

heart broke in the

greater good rather than the life

stark misery she saw reflected from his blue eyes. “But the idea of killing anything

loose in her heart and she

have to do everything that has always been done in the past. That’s why there’s so much fighting between the clans. No one even remembers why the clans are fighting. There are frightened women in Clan Janus who suffer unimaginable abuse simply because they had the misfortune to be

throat as she added with a whisper. “With my help.

a burden he bore

clan with ritual and superstition. She lifted on her toes to seal

back to Tieran, staring the

singing and an unearthly silence enveloped the glade. Even the slight gurgle of the creek seemed subdued as they

you shift?” he

know,” she answered truthfully as her heart hammered with fear. “I’ve never tried twice in such a short time

fight,” he returned grimly just as a dark beast emerged from the darkness, a snarl dripping from his red jaws. Cassandra swallowed a horrified gasp and fought to

Ulster.

of his own. The hairs rose on her neck and she shook with fear. Madness shone in Ulster’s eyes

was focused on

to regard Tieran who had positioned himself in front of Cassandra, protecting her with his body. Suddenly, Cassandra felt a presence at her back and she whirled to find herself flanked by more

Cassandra had played right