“Will you do something for me?”
“If I can.”
He touched her cheek. “When you have tears, will you remember I have a shoulder for you?”
She smiled now. “I will.”
When they parted, she went to the parlor where she found Blair and Glenna
already discussing the day’s schedule.
“Hoyt?” Moira asked as she poured herself tea.
“Hard at work. We had a slew of new weapons finished yesterday.” Glenna rubbed tired eyes. “We’ll be charming them twenty-four/seven. I’m going to work with some of those who’ll be staying here when the rest of us leave. Basic precautions, defensive, offensive tutorials.”
“I’ll help you with that. And you, Blair?”
“As soon as Larkin’s finished playing pimp, we’re—”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“He’s got a horny mare, and cleared it with Cian to have Vlad give her a bang. She doesn’t even get dinner and drinks first. I thought he told you.”
“No, we had other matters, and it must have slipped his mind. So he’s having Cian’s stallion stand as stud.” Her smile came slowly. Yes, life went on. “That’s a fine thing. Strong and hopeful—and damn clever, too, as he may be starting a brilliant line there. So, that’s what he was about, knocking on Cian’s door before sunrise.”
“He figured if Cian gave the go-ahead, he could—Wait.” Blair held up a hand. “Replay. How do you know he knocked on Cian’s door before sunrise?”
“Because I was just leaving the room when Larkin arrived.” Moira sipped her tea calmly while Blair slanted a look at Glenna, then puffed out her cheeks.
“Okay.”
“Aren’t you going to berate and damn Cian for seducing an innocent?”
Blair ran her tongue over her teeth. “You were in his room. I don’t think luring you in there to look at his etchings is his style.”
Moira slapped a hand to the table with satisfaction. “There! I knew a woman would have more sense—and a bit more respect for my own wiles. And you?” She lifted her eyebrows at Glenna. “Have you nothing to say about it?”
“You’re both going to be hurt, and you both know it already. So I’ll say I hope you’re both able to give and take whatever happiness you can, while you can.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you all right?” Glenna asked. “The first time is often difficult or a little disappointing.”
Now Moira smiled fully. “It was beautiful, and thrilling, and more than I imagined. Nothing I’d played through my mind was near the truth of it.”
“A guy isn’t good at it after a few hundred years’ practice,” Blair speculated. “He’d be hopeless. And Larkin walked in when…he must’ve flipped.”
“He punched Cian in the face, but they’ve made it up now. As men do when they pound each other. We’ve agreed that my choice of bedmate is mine, and moved on.”
There was a moment of unified silence as all three women rolled their eyes.
“There’s little time left before we leave the safety of this place. And, we can hope, plenty of time after Samhain to debate my choices.”
“Then I’ll move on, too,” Blair told her. “Larkin and I—after considerable browbeating by yours truly—are heading out in a couple of hours to see if we can wrangle ourselves some dragons. He’s still not sold on the idea, but he’s agreed we’ll give it a shot.”
“If it’s possible, it would be a great advantage for us.” Propping her chin on her fist, Moira turned it over in her mind. “I think we could cull out those we feel may not be as strong on the field. If they could ride…archers in the air.”
“Flaming arrows,” Blair said with a nod. “Their aim doesn’t have to be on the money.”