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His hand slid from her。 She felt her braid lifted from her neck
and his lips upon her nape。 〃Then you are learning already；
mei jha。 Before she could protest he turned her face to his and bent her head back as his mouth came down on hers。 Alix struggled against him with no effect except to feel herself held more securely。 He was far too strong for her； stronger than she had ever imagined a man could be。
You should not； lir； said a quiet voice in Alix's mind。
She stiffened in fear； wondering how Finn spoke without saying anything。 Then she was pushed from him unexpectedly as he moved back a single step。 She saw he had not spoken； scantly or aloud； but whatever had formed the words had greatly upset him。 His eyes； watching her warily； were slitted。 Slowly he looked at the wolf。
〃Storr。。。〃 he said softly； in amazement。
You should not； said the tone again。
Finn swung back to her； suddenly angry。 〃Who are you？〃
〃What？〃
His hand clasped her braid and tugged sharply； jerking at her scalp。 〃What manner of woman are you； to draw Stores concern？〃
The wolf？ she wondered blankly。
Finn peered closely at her； fingers painfully closing on her jaw until she had no choice but to look directly into his shadowed face。 The gold earring； wolf…shaped； gleamed。
〃You are dark enough for one of us； but you have not the eyes；〃 he muttered。 〃Brown； like half of Homana； Yet why else would Storr protest my pleasure？ It is not for the lir to do。〃
〃I am none of yours！〃 she hissed； profoundly shaken。 〃I am
daughter to Torrin of Homana。 Do not curse me by naming me Cheysuli； shapechanger！〃
His hand tightened and she cried out。 Faintly she heard Carillon's worried tone carry across the way。 〃Alix！〃
Finn released her so curtly she stumbled back。 〃Go to your princeling； meijha。 Tend his wound like a proper light woman。〃
She opened her mouth to protest his unseemly words； then bit
them back and whirled； hastening to Carillon… He stood by his
Cheysuli mount； unsteady； cradling his bound wrist against his
chest。 His face； even in the shadows； was drawn with pain…
〃Did he harm you？〃 he asked harshly。
Alix shook her head； recalling the anger in Finn's hand upon
her chin。 〃No； I am well enough。 But what of you？*'
He half…shrugged。 〃It is my sword arm。 Without it I am not much of a prince； nor even a man… Otherwise I would not speak of it。〃
She smiled and touched his uninjured arm gently。 〃We have nowhere else to go； my lord。 Let us move into the firelight where I can see to your wrist。〃
Finn came to them silently and gestured toward a green tent not far from where they stood。 Mutely Alix followed the Cheysuli leader； keeping one hand on Carillon's arm。 That he had said anything at all about his wound worried her； for it indicated the wolf bite was worse than she suspected。
Finn watched them kneel down on a blue woven rug before his tent and then disappeared within； ignoring them。 Alix cast a。 quick glance around me small encampment； seeking a way out； but there were too many warriors。 And Carillon's face was already fever…flushed and warm when she set her hand against it。
〃We go nowhere； yet；〃 she said softly。
〃We must；〃 he answered； carefully unwrapping his injured wrist。 The flesh was scored with teeth marks。 The bleeding had stopped； but the wound was open and seeping。
〃We have no choice；〃 Alix whispered。 〃Perhaps in the morning； when you are better。〃
Light from me small fire Caim built before me tent flickered over his jaw。 She saw me stubborn set to the prominent bones。 〃Alix； I will not remain in a shapechanger camp。 They are demons。〃
〃They are also our captors；〃 she agreed wryly。 〃Do you think to escape memo so easily？ You could hardly get half a league with this wolf…wound。〃
〃You could。 You could reach your father's croft。 He could ride to Mujhara for help。〃
〃Alone。。。〃 she whispered。 〃And so far。〃
He rubbed his unwounded forearm across his brow。 〃I do not
wish to send you into the darkness alone； no matter how far the
distance is。 But I have no choice； Alix。 I would go myself；
willingly； as I think you know。〃 He lifted his bloody arm。 〃I do
recognize my own limitations。〃 His smile came swiftly； and left
as quickly。 〃I have faith in you； my girl； more so than in any
man who might be with me in this Ч 〃
Pain squeezed her heart so that it nearly burst。 In the brief weeks she had known him he had bee everything to her； a hero she could worship from the depths of her romantic soul and a man she could dream of in the long nights。 To have him look at her so warmly and with such trust nearly undid her convictions about not allowing him to see her vulnerability。
〃Carillon。。。〃
〃You must；〃 he said gently。 〃We cannot remain here。 My uncle； when he leans of this； will send mounted troops immediately to destroy this nest of demons。 Alix； you must go。〃
〃Go where？〃 demanded Finn from the tent's doorflap。
Alix twitched in surprise at his stealth； but Carillon glared at the Cheysuli。 Somehow Finn seemed more substantial； a thing of the darkness； illuminated by me firelight dancing off the gold on his arms and in his ear。 Alix forced herself to look away from his yellow eyes and stared instead at the earring half…hidden in thick black hair。 It； tike the armbands he wore above the elbows； bore a skillful figure of a wolf。
For his lir。。。 she realized blankly； and wondered anew at the strangeness of his race。
The Cheysuli smiled mockingly and moved to stand over them。 His steps were perfectly silent and hardly left a mark in the dirt。
He is like the shadows themselves。。。
〃My prince；〃 he said vibrantly； 〃you must doubtless believe this insubstantial girl could make her way through a hostile forest without aid of any sort。 Were she Cheysuli； she could； for we are creatures of the forests instead of cities； but she is not。 And I have gone to far too much trouble to lose either of you so quickly。〃
〃You have no right to keep us； shapechanger；〃 Carillon said。
〃We have every right； princeling！ Your uncle has done what
he could to slay every Cheysuli in Homana land we made！ He
has e closer than even he knows； for it is true out numbers
are sadly reduced。 From thousands we are hundreds。 But it has
been fortunate； lately； that Shaine is more concerned with the
war Bellam of Solinde wishes to levy against Homana。 He needs
must steep himself in battle plans again； and forget us for a time。〃
〃So；〃 Carillon said on a sighing breath； 〃you will ransom me back to the Mujhar？〃
Finn stroked his smooth jaw； considering； grinning at them both； 〃That is not for me to say。 It is a Cheysuli Clan Council decision。 But I will let you know how we view your disposition。〃
Alix straightened。 〃And what of me？〃
He stared sightlessly at her a long moment。 Then he dropped to one knee and lifted her braid against his lips in a seductive manner。 〃You； meijha； will remain with us… The CheysuU place much value on a woman； for we have need of them to breed more of us。〃 He ignored her gasp of shock and outrage。 〃Unlike the Homanans； who may keep a woman for only a night； we keep her forever。〃
Alix。 recoiled from him； jerking her braid f