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She clung to the love in his voice and in his words "I’d never do anything to hurt them Or you"
He pulled back to look down at her "I know that"
With her fingertips, she traced his mouth "You’ve become my life, Paenther I can’t let you suffer if I can help you I can’t let you die if I can do so to save you" I can’t live without you But the last she kept to herself Because, despite his declarations of love, she realized now that not once had he talked about the future, most importantly, a future that included her
He stroked her daic We’ll do the power raising as soon as you’re ready"
"Lyon agrees?"
"He does"
"That’s good" But a host of butterflies took flight in her stoive her a chance, but now that she was getting it, she was suddenly overcome with doubts of her own What if she couldn’t pull it off?
Paenther looked at her quizzically "What’s the et the words?"
He kissed her forehead "I reether"
A head pushed between the for attention
"Jealous thing," Skye scolded fondly, laughter in her voice
Ignoring the dog, Paenther kissed her one ue into herrefused to be ignored, and she started to laugh
With a chuckle, Paenther released her and stepped back "Go ahead They deserve a little of your time, and the Shaman won’t be here for at least an hour Not with the sudden turn of bad weather"
She saw the glihed Hoas it possible to love another person so much that she honestly wondered if her heart would simply stop if his did? As she turned to her aniht of her fears
What if she couldn’t help Paenther at all?
Chapter Twenty-one
Two hours later, the Ferals and their h the snow-blanketed woods As they clioddess stone, Skye stared down at the glory of the raging Potoo, the wind still whipped, cold and biting
Paenther pulled her against hiic and keep out prying eyes"
Lyon joined the to pull the radiance to melt the snow so Skye’s feet don’t freeze" His hand went to Paenther’s shoulder "Wish you could join us, BP Maybe if this works"
Skye shivered, and Paenther pulled the leather coat he’d loaned her tighter around her All she wore beneath was a thin, fliown, Kara had called it Kara and Delaney had taken her aside to dress her, choosing a beautiful gown of a vibrant blue they said brought out the color in her eyes
"Once we’re ready, we’ll call down the power of the panther" Lyon looked at her "I want you to wait outside the circle with Kara and Delaney until I call you Then you can dowhatever it is you do"
Skye nodded, leaning back against Paenther as she watched the other Ferals gather around Kara, the five hugethe woman Lyon took Kara’s hands while the others touched her neck or arms or ankles
Skye had seen this once before, in her prison cell, and looked for a repeat with anticipation
"Ready?" Kara asked
"Do it, little Radiant," Lyon replied quietly
Just like that, Kara lit up as if she’d so dozen lightwicks The effect was evenoutside beneath the clouds She looked like an angel co, isn’t it?" Delaney breathed, standing beside her, the collar of her own coat turned up against the wind "I’ll never get used to this stuff"
Skye ence, a strong soul and friendship in those dark eyes She s"
Around Kara’s and thethe stone froht went out, theto the waist Golden arlowed dimly beneath the heavy clouds To aBut the only one who set her heart to racing was the one at her back
Paenther gave her a squeeze, then released her to turn her in his arms The warmth of his hands seeped into her bare flesh beneath the coat’s leather "Are you ready?"
The war her blood As she stared into his dark eyes, she told hiht not help you Otherwise, I’ to do the best you can, Beauty That’s all any of us can ask"
"Ready, BP?" Lyon called
Paenther kissed her, a quick peck that sent his soft black hair sliding against her cheek Then he released her and pulled off his shirt, and went to join the circle
Kougar led the chant as the Ferals cut their chests with a sharp knife, one after the other, slapping their palms to the bloody wounds Finally, Paenther cut his own chest, bloodied his hand and shoved his fist into the air One by one, the other Ferals slapped their hands on top of his in a savage ritual of blood and power
"Skye, join us," Lyon called
She shrugged off the long leather coat and handed it to Delaney, then stepped out of the borrowed boots Taking a deep breath for courage, she walked barefoot across the wet rock to enter the circle and stand before Paenther
He stared down at her, his gaze falling to her knees and rising again, slowly, male appreciation warm in his eyes Then he tilted his head back and yelled to the clouds, his deep, strong voice ringing out over the rocks and wind, "Spirits rise and join Empower the beast beneath this sky" The others joined in, the words drifting and sliding around her Thunder ruan to shake
"Dance, Skye" Paenther threw back his head, and roared, "Ey flowed around her, Skye closed her eyes and spun, her feet ht her
"Stop!" Paenther’s voice barked in her ear as his rough hands cla her abruptly Her eyes flew open and she stared with horror at the Ferals around her bent double with pain