Page 27 (2/2)

"Everyone I trust in the world trusts her," Bowe said "That's good enough for me" But was it, really? Damn it, Mariah and Mariketa, aside from the similar fey names and pointed ears, were complete opposites Mariah had been so ethereal and innocent, the witch so sensual and devious, and so brave No Mariketa could not be her Simply impossible

Rydstrom studied Bowe "Wouldn't matter now if Mariketa was her anyway"

"What does that mean?"

"Animosity has probably already turned to hatred in that one And there's nothing like boiling hatred to dampen a female's acceptance of her nored Bowe's scowl and said, "I just wonder if the witch actually could have cast such an intricate spell on you Think about it - this couldn't be a sier this kind of reaction in you"

One thing Boas unequivocally certain of was that he didn't love her He desired her, had overriding urges to protect her - and to bed her Gods, hoant to bed her

But he didn't even like her Which followed Considering that she'd just attacked hireat," Rydstroicks Yet to do this to you, she would have had to affect the Lykae's Instinct in you And not merely to tamper with it Somehow she would have had to trick a force that has been honed over hundreds of thousands of years Then, say she'dyou up - which she admitted to us that she does ninety-nine out of a hundred times Do you think she could have re the other? And in her condition?"

Bowe felt sweat dotting his brow What if what if Mariketa the Awaited actually was his? His female, returned to hie thrill at the idea of possessing her and bending her strong will to his

What if fate had finally taken pity on him after all these wretched years?

He shook his head hard "My ability to heal was honed over the saed to taht her that ht her how to affect a Lykae's Instinct?" Rydstrom said "Let me ask you, isn't there some way you can prove without a doubt that she's yours?"

Bowe hesitated to answer before et her with bairns"

"Are you bloody jesting?" Rydstroht! I recall this now"

Bowe ran his palet the proof you need, I knohat I'd be aiine"

"Doona be i your throat out!"

Rydstro with the Instinct, treat her as yours for possibly years until you decided for certain?"