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He saw the va But as Cai's arms constricted around her further and he buried his face in her hair, as if he inding the two of them into a cocoon, Rand's eyes darkened For he could tell when his Master's shoulders trembled not just from her tears, but from his own

Why he should think of hiht now, Rand wasn't sure Maybe because Master ht now, i he innately knew fit Maybe because he was the only one who had the right to call Cai that, a unique link they shared, a tnership hidden in the word

It was difficult, but he stayed on the bank, just watching over theht her to shore, he was carrying her She'd finally given out, though Rand didn't kno Cai hith to carry her, because he wasn't much better off He stumbled on the bank, but Rand was there He'd shifted to huirl back up in the blanket

They sat down on the bank together and held her between theainst Rand's side Cai curled his fingers around Rand's wrist and brought it to his ently, it wasn't to drink Rand stretched out his fingers, rubbing the pads over the single tear track he sawCai's face

The vaaze lifted to him, held He took Rand's hand away, and pressed the open vein of his wrist to Dovia's lips She drank auto as a babe, already half asleep Numb, her consciousness had fled to relief-inspired oblivion and exhaustion She was safe Battered, traumatized, but safe

When Cai finally closed the wound, Dovia muttered "wolf" A smile touched Cai's lips but didn't reach his eyes Not even close

If I didn't enjoy plowing your ass soa wolf, either You have this nice stillness No words We all talk too much, us humanoid types

The vampire reached over, stroked a casual knuckle down Rand's face "Shift back Your wolf body will keep her warm and she likes it"

That an order, vampire?

Rand wasn't sure what er, but the trace of heat that went through Cai's expression, noMaybe because he'd wanted to do it for his own reasons, too

If you like

Cai adjusted Dovia to give Rand rooain, Rand felt oddly content as Dovia curled inside the curve of his body, her hands wrapped in his ruff Even better, Cai leaned in, sandwiching her between theh Rand's fur In silent stillness, they watched the water flow and the litter

It was enough

In ti that needed his care grew too strong for hi side The vaainst Rand behind Dovia, his head tipped doard He barely lifted it when Randnoises

Fane eed almost ian and Gideon ca they'd coordinated full perie In wolf speak, Rand asked Fane if he would take Dovia to his house He was relieved that Fane agreed without hesitation, no apparent discoan and Gideon as escort without Rand'spresence

Rand suspected it wasn't so much the male had decided vampires were trustworthy, but he'd accepted he could trust this sroup of theuilt about the two hue of that, but he was glad not to have to expend energy convincing Fane the vampires wouldn't be a risk to his family

When Fane shifted to huan and Gideon, the two males nodded Gideon stepped forward to take Dovia

She barely stirred, which gave Rand further comfort, since he'd been concerned she wouldn't allow hiht But she needed fehters would handle that end Suspecting she was experiencing the first real sleep she'd had since she'd been taken, he hoped she wouldn't rouse until the following twilight Lynn, Sangra and Cilya could handle theher so she could wake feeling as normal as possible

Gideon lifted her in his arentle manner But before he followed the shifters and his Master out of the clearing, he paused His lips twisted in a half-saze coursed over Rand's wolf for hiaze, his own dark blue eyes grew more somber

"Don't kno ed, but if it was me, I'd want some time to care for my Master one-on-one, too," he said "You're new to it, but don't let it freak you out There's no one who can understand him, be in his head, more than you No one he'll ever be able to trust the sa inside of us that needs that, just as much"

Daegan had reappeared at the forest edge, his gaze resting on his servant Though his expression didn't change, there was an energy between him and Gideon that said the two of them would always be visible to one another, in ways that no darkness could ever hide

Daegan and Gideon disappeared into the woods Rand's sharp ears detected the for into position to run point around Gideon and the girl They'd be all right