Page 84 of Wolf's Prize

“You have more than a say, Kathryn.” Lance stepped forward. “By our law, you have the right to choose.”

Kathryn backed away from Lance.I do?She narrowed her eyes at him. “Like you gave me the choice by petitioning Comte Lothair for my hand in marriage?” She turned her glare on Godfrey. “Or you, too? Treating me like I am no more than a prized cow, or a piece of expensive horseflesh to be bargained for and sold to the highest bidder. And now you fight over me. As though the last one standing will get to claim me by default.”

Godfrey flinched, and a slow flush crept up his neck. He held up his hands and stepped away from her. “The choice is yours, Kathryn. You are the only female of our kind. In these times, that is a rare and precious thing. And you hold the fate of the d’Louncrais estate in your hands. But know this. A claim once stated cannot be unmade, so choose well.”

“Your choice, Kathryn.” Lance swept his hand out, taking in all the men. “But Godfrey speaks the truth. Any claim you make is final. Make sure you are certain of your choice.”

The moment of truth. Who would Kathryn choose? Him? One of the others, more experienced than he? Did she feel a pull toward her attacker? Who knew how quickly that connection could resurface. Aimon’s stomach clenched, tying itself in more knots than a fisherman’s net.

Kathryn gazed around the circle at the men, settling on each of them, studying them. Each time her focus shifted, Aimon’s heart skipped a beat. Edmond and Aubert, after a quick glance at him, stepped back and would not meet her gaze. Lance smiled at her, and Aimon’s hands clenched into fists. Her attention moved away from Lance, and Aimon released his held breath. She turned to Godfrey, lingering over him longer than the others. Aimon’s mouth went dry.

Finally, her eyes met his. A gentle smile tilted the corners of her mouth, and she came to him. Keeping his hands fisted at his side lest he reach for her, he waited. She placed her hand against his cheek, and he leaned into the gentle touch, the others fading into the background.

“I am sorry,” she said, her eyes full of regret.

Aimon’s heart cracked, but he did not look away from her. He could not.

“I am sorry, Aimon, that I did not tell you back at the keep that I love you. That, like Jacques was for Elise, you are the only man for me. You are my mate. I choose you.”

“I…”

Wait. Shelovesme? She choseme?

He stared down at his mate, his heart near bursting with emotion. With a groan, he pulled into his arms and took her mouth in his, sealing their fate.

“Kathryn has chosen,” said Lance. “So be it.”

Aimon released her lips, nuzzling his face into her neck, loathe to let her out of his arms.

“I thought I had lost you,” he whispered against her skin.

“Never. It has always been you, Aimon. From before we met, through all my training, to this moment right here, right now.”

He pulled back, staring into her eyes. “From the moment I caught your scent at Langeais Keep, you had my attention. When I saw you in the forest, your hair down and bare toes peeking out beneath your dress, you stole my heart.”

He kissed her again, deep and lingering.

“Hmm-hmm.” Lance cleared his throat beside them. “We still have much to discuss, but I think it wise we leave things for now. Unless any of us have found anything important.” Lance turned to Godfrey. “Nothing of interest in your father’s tomes?”

Shadows flitted across Godfrey’s eyes, and he hesitated. The fine hairs on the back of Aimon’s neck rose.

“I have found nothing that can help us with our affliction to wolfsbane or silver.”

Though Aimon sensed no lie in his words, Godfrey was hiding something. Of that, he was certain.

“Edmond, Aubert, anything on Renaud?”

“Plenty,” grumbled Aubert.

Edmond rolled his eyes. “None of it is of any use to us. But he did give us the slip one day. We suspect he has a secret way in and out of the chapel. If we have to sleep on his damn doorstep, we will find it.”

“Good. Aimon, did the witch tell you anything useful about wolfsbane?”

Aimon shook his head.

Lance grunted. “We will keep looking. We have to find a way to negate Renaud’s advantage.”

“What about our rogue wolf?” All eyes turned to Godfrey. “What happened to Elise and Kathryn cannot go unpunished.”

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