He brushed a kiss on her temple and worked over to her ear. “So pretty,” he murmured. “You make me burn from the inside out.”“I think…”He placed one long finger against her lips. “If you’re about to make a comment about me and another woman, I promise you’ll unleash that hidden side you keep wondering about.”She shut her mouth.“Better. Let’s try this again.” This kiss was longer, more satisfying. Hot and restless.“I got a bite!” She grabbed for the

Her eyes snapped to his. “Your mother? I didn’t even know you had one!”They’d stopped at the tub, and he whisked off her robe with quick efficiency. “Didn’t want to jinx the deal.”Loathe to stand around naked in front of him, she slid into the water. “Yeah, but you could have dropped a clue! How am I supposed to face the woman, knowing that I just found out about her hours before I met her?” Knowing what she’d just spent the night doing with the woman’s son. Yikes!“I wouldn’t worry about it. She’s been nagging me for years to marry, so she’ll be delighted about you. Oh, she’ll scold me, but she&rsq

The laughter attracted his mother. Rain wasn’t sure if that was bad or good, because while she at least knew that Portae liked her for her good sense in marrying her son, she also proceeded to introduce her to everyone in sight, dragging her around the room with dizzying speed. Her traitor husband quickly found a group of friends to hide behind, chatting with them while his mother showed her off, occasionally gesturing to Fallon for emphasis.To Rain’s relief, she got to sit down at a table reserved for Portae, herself and Fallon while those being honored, including Fallon, took turns making speeches at the head of the room. Grateful to be in the shadows, Rain sat back and studied the two elders who were also retiring.Elder Azion took his turn at the pulpi

“Just as well, as you were going to use it to leave me!” Fallon’s eyes glowed gold.“Ah…you said there was a second reason?” Jayems said, interrupting a doozy of a brewing quarrel.A little abashed, she looked at him. “I haven’t tested it yet.”“Ah.” He set the Bell carefully on his desk.Fallon picked it up and looked at it. “So this is what I spent so much frustration trying to figure out.”Rain shrugged. “If it makes you feel better, it frustrated Azion for year

The park was too crowded, though by no means full. She felt exposed as curious eyes tracked her progress. It was as she entered the orchard and achieved the seclusion she’d hoped for that she began to worry. Something wasn’t right. Shouldn’t her bodyguards have said something by now, questioned her choice of wandering in the woods? She expected someone to appear, ready to chew her out.A familiar pain gripped her as the change came over her, lengthening her nails, sharpening her teeth and her senses. This time she rode it out, using her nose to test the wind before the change dulled it, blessing the ears that picked up sound unavailable to mere human ears. She stood still, looking, scenting as shiny red fruit swayed gently in the breeze. Something…