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

to think of the greater good rather than the life of one person. That I am weak if I allow

was struck by the stark misery she saw reflected from his blue eyes. “But the idea of killing anything that is part of you…makes me want to claw

admission caused a storm to break loose in her heart and she flung herself into his arms, shocking him with her sudden movement.

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

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

struggle. She could only imagine what a burden he bore for the clan and she was thankful she wasn’t harnessed to a certain set of

think outside of the rigid rules that boxed in the clan with ritual and superstition. She lifted on her toes to seal her mouth

put her back to Tieran, staring the same

and an unearthly silence enveloped the glade. Even the slight

you shift?” he

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

we will have to 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

Ulster.

rose on her neck and she shook with fear. Madness shone in Ulster’s

on her belly.

then swung his big head to regard Tieran who had positioned himself in front of Cassandra, protecting her with his body. Suddenly, Cassandra felt a presence at her back

come for an ambush and Cassandra had