Page 21 of All's Fair in Lion and War
The calmness was a façade. The extra heat betrayed their intense emotions.
“Put the guns under the coffee table.” Penny’s voice was so matter-of-fact, like it was perfectly normal to bring an arsenal to theVraka’shouse.
Penny’s eyes swept the cabin, checking every window. Every door. Every person. She was always watching. Even when she said she was relaxed, she wasn’t.
Saul deposited the guns where she’d requested them and then looked around for Lorelei. She was in the cabin, he could feel the slightest tug from the beginning of their mate bond.
The more time they spent in close proximity the better he would be able to recognize it. Though a full bond would never snap into place unless they were intimate, he was grateful just toknowshe hadn’t run.
Naomi approached, her arms filled with a familiar pink bundle. Scent let him know it was baby Isabella. He opened his arms and Naomi gave him the baby.
Naomi’s trust meant the world to him. The baby was a source of joy to Saul. They all were, but Isabella was his favorite and Naomi knew it.
The weight and smell of the baby girl calmed his anxious heart, slowed the worried thoughts racing in his mind, and let him take the first fully relaxed breath he’d had in hours.
“Better?” Naomi asked.
Saul smiled and nodded, but didn’t look up from Isabella’s scrunched up face. “Thank you.”
“Lorelei is doing fine. She asked for privacy and I gave it to her.”
He met Naomi’s gaze, worry creeping into his heart. “She doesn’t know how to use anything.”
“I showed her all the important bits. I promise. She will be fine. I told her you would be back shortly and to come downstairs to eat something once she was comfortable.” Naomi put a hand on Saul’s arm. “There’s something off, though. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Her memory is damaged. By magick or by a physical injury, I don’t know. She knows things from a certain point, but can’t remember what happened to her over the last year.”
“She could be blocking it. Trauma. The mind can do amazing things to escape from trauma or grief.”
Col walked up and stood behind hisshuarrapossessively.
Saul took a respectful step backward, breaking contact with Naomi.
Naomi huffed, but smiled and leaned back against Col’s chest. “Someone stole Penny’s babies from you already? She’s got four, go grab another one.”
He grunted. “Owen and Tara came in the back. They each took one. We need more younglings to share in this tribe.”
Naomi squeaked, protests sputtering from her lips like a carburetor that wouldn’t turn over. “We have seven, you lug! Seven infants between me and Penny! The other women are waiting with bated breath to see what the fertility gods have planned for them.” She shook her head and took a deep breath. “No more for a while. Please.”
Col leaned down and kissed Naomi’s neck, an evil grin of satisfaction on his face. Then he eyed the bundle in Saul’s arms.
“I just gave him Isabella to calm him down. The rest of the tribe will be here in about ten minutes. Dawn updated me.” Naomi gently smacked her mate’s arm and shook her head.
Saul smiled. “It is perfectly fine,Mahadhri.” Saul held out Col’s daughter to him and the dragon male took the baby and made a happy purring sound not unlike a cat.
Naomi and Saul exchanged a quick wink.
“I’m going to go upstairs to check on Lorelei.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything. I left clothes for her I thought would be comfortable and fit, but she’s a lot taller than me. Ava’s clothes will probably fit better than my short munchkin pants. I told her to bring a couple things too.”
“Thank you,” Saul said, gratefulness warming his heart. He was so lucky to be a part of this Tribe. This family.
7
Lorelei
Nothing was familiar. They said she’d been in this world for over a year. Three hundred sixty-five days. Three hundred sixty-five sun rotations. That’s what the woman, the dragon female, had said equaled a year in this world.
