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
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
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
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
'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
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
'YOU NEED TO SHIMMY DOWN Nesha's back, then crouch. When you have your balance, leap off with your arms out straight from either side keeping your legs together. Nesha will count to five then go into a dive and swoop under you. You should be able to guide yourself back into the saddle,' Daron explained.Sian nodded, more than a little daunted by the mental image she had of the dive.'HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING like this before?' Daron asked.'Kind of.' Sian answered, 'On Earth we have something called sky diving, were you jump out of a plane with a parachute.''Get her to explain.' Nesha urged, 'What's a plane? And a parachute?'THAT TOOK AT LEAST TWENTY minutes of detailed explanation, though Sian got the distinct impression it all seemed like fantasy to Nesha and Daron. She grumped to herself; it would be so much easier if I could just show you. Another twinge of envy ran through her. Lucky Cat, she thought, I really hope I can hear Nesha soon.WHAT SIAN EXPLAINED IMPRES
SABYN STILL HAD HIS ARMS around her waist. Loi felt grateful he couldn't see the massive scowl on her face. Torn between the two, now very annoying, voices in her head that argued as to whether his apparent deceitfulness was fair or not, and if it even mattered.She sighed.'Are you okay?' Sabyn asked his voice hesitant.Loi considered her reply, getting a mild sense of vindication from the long, awkward pause. The rational voice in her mind pointed out that she would find out soon, while the grouchy voice said, not soon enough!'When will we reach the castle?' She was careful to keep her voice neutral.'By this evening.''SHE'S GROUCHY WITH YOU,' TOMIAR informed him.'I'm aware of that,' he snapped.'My, aren't we snippy. Well, Mr Snippy, I thought you might like to know that Loushka and Alek would like to show them the Wrenok basin.'Sabyn sighed. 'I'm sorry. I just don't like knowing she's grouchy at me.''I understand,' Tomiar thought sympathetically. 'But try to see it