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s as she struggled to her feet； lungs sucking at air she could not find。
She was driven down again by a hard body from behind。
Alix lay half…stunned； still out of breath。 Her face burned from a bleeding welt on her cheek。 She lay pressed against the cool ground； sobbing； as she tried to regain her breath； and helpless in his arms。
Her body was lifted from the forest floor and turned over。 She lay very still as he set her on her back； unable to close her eyes as he knelt over her。 Faint light filtered through the trees。 His earring winked coldly。
〃Have I not already said escape is impossible？〃 he asked。 〃I am Cheysuli。〃
Her chest hurt； but air was beginning to creep into it again。
Alix swallowed painfully。 〃Please。。。 let me go。〃
〃I have said before how much trouble I have gone to get you； and to keep you。 At least let me have some repayment for it。〃
His fingers touched the cut on her face and she winced。 〃You did not need to run from me； mei jha。〃
She shivered。 This man bees a wolf at will。 She looked at his hands for signs of the wolf…mark。 Finn grinned at her with a man's teeth in a wolfish leer。
〃When I wear a man's shape； mei jha； I am all man。 Shall I prove it to you？〃
Alix stiffened as he leaned closer； hands spread across the ground on either side of her shoulders。 If she pushed upward it would be to place herself directly in his arms； and he knew it。
〃No！〃 she cried as he leaned closer。
His eyes； oddly feral； looked directly into hers。 〃I have watched you for some time； mei jha。 It was a simple raiding mission we came on days ago； to replenish our Keep。 But I found prey of a different sort。〃
She closed her eyes。 〃Please。。。〃
His knees were on either side of her thighs； holding her prisoner。 He bent over her until his lips were nearly touching her face。
〃Shaine's soldiers have slain nearly all of us； mei jha； and
they have not spared our women。 What is a proud race to do
when it sees its own demise？ We must get more of us on the
women we have； and take others where we can； even if they be
unwilling。*'
Her mind flinched from his words； denying them even as she heard the ring of truth in his voice。 The Mujhar's purge had begun twenty…five years before。 She had grown up knowing the Cheysuli must die； for all she believed the Mujhar's actions unfair in the wake of what her father had said。 But now she was faced with a shapechanger who spoke of force； and she was more than willing to forsake her principles to win free of him。
Her fingers on his arm were no more than a feather touch； instinctively seductive。 She saw sudden wariness in his eyes and the intensity in his body poised over her。
〃Must you make the tales of your savagery and bestial appetites true？〃 she whispered。 〃Must you so readily prove to me you are no better than the demon…spawn others name you？〃
Finn scowled at her。 〃Soft words will not gainsay me； mei jha。〃
Her fingers tightened。 〃Please。。。 let me go free。〃
He smelled of leather and gold and demand。 〃Mei jha；〃 he said roughly； 〃I cannot。。。〃
She opened her mouth to cry out as he pressed a knee between her thighs。 But before she could make a sound the familiar tone she associated with Storr came quietly into their minds。
Lir； you should not。
It drove Finn from Alix。 He shoved her harshly against the ground as she hitched up on one arm； cursing violently beneath his breath； and she winced against the force of his hand against her shoulder。 He knelt by her； stiff with tension； and she saw he looked at the wolf。
Storr waited in a thick copse of trees； staring unwaveringly at Finn。 Alix could only bless the wolfs timely appearance and intervention； for all she could not prehend it。 Slowly she eased herself onto one elbow。
〃Storr！〃 Finn hissed。
She is not for you。
Finn turned on her； furious。 〃Who are you？〃
She kept her voice steady with effort… 〃I have said。〃
He settled one hand around her vulnerable throat。 It rested without pressure； promising only； but she felt the violence in his body。
〃You have said nothing！ Who are you？〃
〃I am a croft…girl！ My father is Torrin and my mother was Leyda。 He was arms…master to Shaine the Mujhar before he turned to the land。〃 She glared at him。 〃I am his daughter。 Nothing more。〃
Finn's eyes narrowed。 〃Anns…master to the Mujhar。 When？〃
Alix took a weary breath。 〃I am seventeen。 He left the Mujhar's service a year before I was born； and took a valley girl to wife… But I cannot say how long he served Shaine。 He does not speak of those days。〃
〃Does he not？〃 Finn said musingly； taking his hand from her throat。 He sat back on his haunches and frowned thoughtfully； pushing heavy black hair from his face。
Alix； feeling safe for the moment； sat upright and straightened her twisted gown。 The welt on her face stung； as did the scratches and bruises on her legs； but she touched none of them。 She would not give him the satisfaction。
Finn stared at her impassively。 〃Do you know the story of the
qu'mahlinT'
〃There are two of them。〃 She covered her legs decorously。
He grinned。 〃Aye。 And I heard you speak of one to the princeling； even when he would dissuade you of it。 Which do you believe？〃
His change in attitude made her wary； but also relieved。 No longer did she fear he would pounce on her like a mountain cat taking a rabbit。 With renewed confidence she told him。
〃Shaine's daughter broke the betrothal made between Homana
and Solinde。 It would have allied the lands after centuries of
warfare； but she would have none of Bellam's son； EUic。 She went instead with a Cheysuli。〃
〃Hale；〃 Finn agreed。 〃Shaine's sworn liege man。〃
Alix shrugged。 〃I cannot say。 I only overheard my father speaking of it once； to my mother； when he thought I could not hear。〃
〃It is true； meijha；〃 he said seriously… 〃Hale took Lindir with him into the forests of Homana； but only because she asked him to； and only because she wanted no marriage with Ellic of Solinde。〃
She scowled at him； strangely confident in the face of his new self。 〃What was this to do with me？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he told her bluntly。 〃It has to do with me； and why you are here。 What I said before is true。 The qu'mahlin has slain most of the warriors and many of the women。 As a race we are nearly destroyed； because of Shaine。 And now the daughter of the Mujhar's former arms…master who witnessed the very beginnings of the qu'mahlin is in my hands。〃 He smiled slowly； gesturing。 She saw again the spread fingers and lifting palm。 〃It is tahlmorra； perhaps。〃
〃What do you say？〃
〃Fate。 Destiny。 It is a Cheysuli word meaning what is meant will happen； and cannot be gainsaid； for it is in the hands of the gods。〃 Finn smiled ironically at her。 〃It has to do with the prophecy。〃
〃Prophecy；〃 she muttered in disgust； weary of his attitude and hinted…at knowledge。 She looked at the patient wolf。 〃What has Storr to do with me？〃
Finn scowled。 〃I cannot say； but it is something 1 would learn。 Now。〃 He fixed her with a baleful glare。 〃Why does he keep me from you？〃
She glared back。 〃That / cannot say； snapechanger； save to pliment his actions。〃
He startled her by laughing。 Then he got to his feet and reached fo