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Chapter 35

Author: Nicole MacDonald
last update Last Updated: 2022-06-15 14:13:34
LOI ARCHED AN EYEBROW as Cat came over. Almost skipping, she noted.

'Enjoy the flight?'

Cat looked guilty for a moment. 'Errr, yes,' she gave a sheepish cough. 'It was pleasant.'

They looked knowingly at her.

THE FOUR OF US, WITH Audrey, had to collect the firewood and I could see the rebellious looks on Sian and Loi's faces. They didn't like being delegated the easy work, just because we were women. I was happy to do it. It meant we could talk without being overheard by the guys. The instant we were out of sight the questioning began. Sian seemed certain that Daron could be someone special, and Kassie felt the same about Rumal. Loi appeared to like Sabyn a lot but didn't want to commit herself just in case. I knew how she felt.

'Although I really don't understand why we're being so skeptical,' I said when I stopped to sit on a fallen log. Audrey sat between my knees and I fussed over her, it'd been strange to spend the entire day without her, though Gredel said she'd enjoyed th
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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 36

    SABYN AND LOI TALKED THE whole flight, leaning backward or forward to speak in the other's ear. He told her all about his family, she learned he had two younger sisters who commandeered much of their parents' time. The twins, Lenia and Franti, were just sixteen and at that boy-crazy stage.'It made the last visit we had at my family's home embarrassing,' Sabyn shook his head at the memory.Loi laughed at the thought of the teenagers trying out their charms on the boys. 'I'll bet that doesn't go down well with Gredel,' she spoke in Sabyn's ear.He roared with laughter.'WHAT? WHAT'D SHE SAY?' DEMANDED Tomiar.He relayed Laura's words to her. Tomiar chuckled and sent him an image of the last time Gredel had visitedit showed the large man pasty white while the two girls closed in on him, their eyelashes fluttering and hands clasped demurely in front. Gredel told Sabyn afterward, in no uncertain terms, that he would never again visit without Citaan.AUDREY SEEMED TO LOVE THE view

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    LOI DECIDED SHE'D HAD ENOUGH of standing and with Sabyn gripping her hips again, she lowered back to the saddle.'How are you?' Sabyn spoke into her ear.'Shaking,' Loi said in surprise. 'It's a lot harder than I expected.' Her legs trembled as though she'd done hours of training.He laughed softly. 'You were up longer than I managed my first time. Shows how strong you are.' He wrapped both arms around her.Loi felt flattered and relaxed back against him with a smile. 'Thanks.'I COULD JUST SEE THE village in the space between Loushka's wing and neck. It didn't have a fence like Lothost had. I leaned back against Alek's chest and he obligingly ducked his head so I could speak into his ear. 'Why isn't it fenced? Lothost was.''They have a large number of dogs here,' Alek said. 'Audi will be popular. They also regularly host griffons and their riders. That'll scare off most of the carnivores.'That idea intrigued me and I asked, 'How many griffon riders are there? What makes the

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 38

    ALEK PACED AT THE FRONT of the lodge while he waited for Catherine. About to go in search of her, he stopped when Audrey appeared at his feet, whining and crying with excitement. He laughed and bent to pat her.'She's super excited,' Catherine called out as she walked in.Alek looked up to greet her then stopped. She wore shorts that revealed shapely legs and a fitted tunic. He gaped at her for a moment. 'Run?! Err, I mean, go for a run?' He flushed when she gave him a funny look, suddenly aware of his abrupt tone.'Yep, are you feeling alright?' Her green eyes stared up at him in concern.Shake it off Alek, he thought to himself. It's not like you haven't spent the last two days together. 'I'm fine. It's just warm in here. What did you do to your hair?' he changed the subject quickly and studied the intricate braid that ran down the back of her head.I TURNED TO SHOW THE plait off. 'Sian did it for me. It'll keep my hair out of the way.''Clever,' he commented and gestured wit

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 39

    WE SPRINTED FLAT OUT ALONG the track and this time I had no problem keeping up with Alek. A roar of fury ripped through the trees followed by Audrey, snarling and barking.ALEK RISKED A GLANCE BACK. 'She's okay,' he gasped out. 'It's working.''LOUSHKA.' Alek screamed in his mind. 'HURRY! WE NEED YOU!'BACK AT THE LODGE EVERYONE relaxed and the griffons stretched out in the sun. Sian, Kassie, and Loi lounged around a large table with the men, and Brece and his family. An enormous cry shook the lodge. Everyone leaped to their feet.'What was that?' yelled Loi, but the men ignored her, all focused on their griffons.KASSIE FELT THE GROUND SHUDDER and looked out the window in time to see Loushka spring into the air. Her mouth dropped at the sight of the griffon in full battle mode. Mane standing stiff, eyes narrowed in fury and her tail lashing the air as the griffon took off at a phenomenal speed.SIAN REALIZED THAT SOMETHING MUST have gone wrong with Cat and Alek and lunge

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 40

    ALEK JERKED BACK, THEN FLUSHED red, turning to stare at Loushka for a moment. I got the idea and bit my lip to keep from laughing. Actually, my head now spun in a rather impressive manner. The awful thumping had vanished and my veins felt like they hummed with desire. I could feel a very silly look develop on my face and glanced down to hide it.'SORRY.' ALEK THOUGHT SHEEPISHLY.'Oh I don't mind,' Loushka thought, 'And Cat certainly seems better for it. But next time shield your mind. I really don't need all those unsolicited thoughts flooding in.'Alek looked down at the woman snuggled in his arms. Appearing to sense his gaze, she looked up, green eyes slanted in pleasure, looking very cat like.'Arrrgghh!' Loushka shrieked verbally and mentally, startling Alek and Cat. 'That's it! I'm taking you back to the lodge and you are in separate rooms dammit! Keep your mind on something non-sexual or you are walking back to the village!'Oops, Alek winced. Need to work on that mind shi

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 41

    OOPS. RUMAL FROZE UNSURE OF how to respond. He hadn't meant to insult her. It hadn't occurred to him that she might be sensitive about it.'Maybe you should apologize,' suggested Kerak. 'What does she mean by "whip your ass"? I thought she only carried a sword.'Rumal shrugged, 'I'm not entirely sure.'He could almost see the waves of annoyance pulsing off her. Thinking hard, he made an attempt to lighten the situation. 'Is whipping ass' something you do regularly?'KASSIE BIT HER LIP WHILE she tried not to smile. Okay, maybe she'd overreacted a little, but she wasn't letting up that easily.'Only to idiotic males who suggest I'm vertically challenged. I can squeeze into places you'd never fit in.' Umm, actually that didn't come out quite as intended- Well if I don't point it out he might not notice, she thought.RUMAL ROARED WITH LAUGHTER. 'BUT would I want to?'He watched as Kassie's back quivered. She still didn't turn round though. Might have to try something else, he th

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 42

    'ALEK! ARE YOU OKAY?' LOUSHKA thought in concern, having felt him jump in the saddle. 'What happened?''She gave me a dead leg.' Alek, still laughing sent her the image.'Didn't one of your cousins use to do that to you?' Loushka thought, bemused.'Yes,' He gasped for breath after all that laughing.KEEPING A WARY EYE ON Alek I clung to the pommel while he caught his breath. He leaned toward me, looking at me from under dark brows. 'Catherine,' he said teasingly. 'That wasn't a very nice thing to do.'I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him. 'Well, I didn't insult your world.'Alek reached out, his hand inching toward my foot while I struggled to tuck it further under me.'It is a little bit funny though, don't you think?' His hand continued to creep closer.I made a swat at it. 'Maybe.' Then swatted again when it crept closer still.Alek paused then cocked his head to the side and tsked at me in a disapproving manner. 'Now I thought that Earth women were supposed

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  • The Birthright Series   Chapter 43

    SIAN FELT A LITTLE OUT of sorts. Loi had beaten her to standing during flight, and now Cat could talk to Loushka. It hardly seemed fair, she thought, letting out a quiet sigh.NESHA HEARD AND CREPT CLOSER to Sian, brushing his beak against her. She seemed happy at the attention, stroking and combing his mane with her fingers.'You should teach her free-falling tomorrow.'Daron, in the midst of unpacking, looked up in surprise. 'What?''Sian. You should teach her free-falling. She needs something special to do that none of the others have done yet.' Nesha explained, 'Why not whisper the idea to her now, she can surprise the others tomorrow.'Daron glanced over at Sian and noticed she looked a little down. Making her smile would make him feel pretty good. He stood and went to sit next to the petite blonde.BEAUTIFUL WEATHER GREETED US THE next morning and we stumbled around, packing up. I looked forward to getting to the castle and not needing to pack and un-pack each day.Kas

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    Everyone moved. It surprised Mila how many people were here, but so many seemed to be missing too. Mama took her hand. On her other side was her younger cousin Paiga. Normally she annoyed Mila, with all the questions she asked, but the scared expression in her eyes reminded Mila of Addy. She offered her other hand to Paiga, who took it with a tentative smile.The group began to walk.Mila hadn't realized until now how tired she was. She stumbled over the riverbed the rocks stubbing her toes as she held Paiga and Mama's hands. It made tears run down her cheeks, but she didn't stop. On and on, picking her feet up, tripping, Mama's hand stopping her from falling. Paiga tripped and Mila managed to hold her arm high enough to stop her cousin from hitting the stones.'Thanks, Mila,' Paiga sounded like she felt. Ready to cry. So very tired.Around them the adults talked. Mila listened.'Where do we go?''The hidden caves. We can keep underground nearly all the way to the coast.''The

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