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Chapter One
Christ the ballrooh arlands of crisp holly and fragrant evergreen boughs High overhead, giant chandeliers dripping with cut crystals and glittering gold accents scattered soft light like diaht outside the eighteen-foot s that ran the length of the ballro drolass to reveal a pristine, hland hills blanketed in wintry white
The scene was as picture perfect as a page in a glossy azine
Elegant, urbane Utterly enchanting
Danika could hardly stifle the urge to scream
She didn't belong here Co back to Scotland for the holidays and to this Breed social gathering tonight-both at the insistence of Conlan's well-h and already she was itching to book the next flight hoh-heeled sandals and black cocktail dress only two hours, struggling to make small talk with a hundred people she didn't know, andtheshe could scarcely hide
"Are you having a nice time, Danika?"
God, it was all she could do not to pivot and bolt
Instead, she s woman beside her "Of course The party is lovely, Emma"
"You see? I knew you'd enjoy getting out for a while," the petite redhead said She was the Breedmate of one of Con's distant cousins, a mere child in her twenties, still fresh with the shine of unspoiled youth and gloith the promise of the eternal bond she shared with James, the handsome Breed male at her side His dark eyes were tender on E her protectively at his side When he smiled at his pretty s behind his lip Desire transfor with heated sparks of amber
The couple obviously adored each other, and it was hard for Danika not to envy them their future Hard to remember what it was like to be newly blood-bonded and so in love, looking forward to tiether without end
Danika glanced away fro sash tied around her waist She'd forgone the traditional white 's gown, but even a year and a half after Conlan's death in Boston, she found it difficult to give up this last sy in Scotland-Con's hoed a history together here, in the Highlands Centuries of ti a peaceful existence, until Con's sense of duty and honor took theed his sword in service as a warrior of the Order
They'd wanted for nothing, except the child they'd finally decided to have Their son, Connor, conceived just three one awry She'd hated leaving the baby back at her guest cottage with Con's faht, even for a couple of hours He was all she had, her only link to the life she'd shared with Conlan MacConn Danika glanced out at the sea of strangers all around her, civilian Breed males and their mates, a hundred unfamiliar faces in an unfa felt so alone
"Will you excuse me for a moment?" she asked the couple beside her "I should call the house again, ht with Connor"
"But you just checked in on hio "