“Each man from your party has been rewarded.You’re the last.”
Shea’s face remained placid and unmoving asshe kept her eyes trained somewhere above his head. She alreadyknew what came next.
Fallon stood with a small grimace and walkedover to place his hands on Shea’s shoulders. His palms’ warmth sankthrough her shirt, scalding her.
“You’re about to receive one of the greatestgifts we have to give an outsider,” he told her.
Shea was left with no choice but to meet hiseyes squarely with her own. It would have been odd to continuestaring over his head. Like all Trateri he was big, not just inheight but in the breadth of his shoulders and the size of hisarms. He made her seem dainty in comparison.
“What’s that?”
He gave her shoulders a small squeeze.“You’re going to become one of us.”
“Uh-huh. And how am I to do that?”
He gave her a toothy grin. “We’re adoptingyou.”
“I have parents, thank you.”
“And now you’ll have a clan.” He let her goand stepped back.
“And if I prefer to remain as I am?”
There was a small growl behind her. The humoron Fallon’s face drained leaving a deadly expression behind.
“The offer to adopt an outsider into a clanis not one that is made often. It is considered an honor.” Fallon’sface thawed as a bit of his earlier humor peeked through. “I wouldadvise caution when making your decision.”
Ah, so it was one of those gifts. The kindyou might not want but couldn’t refuse.
Shea sighed. It wasn’t like this would affecther decision to escape one way or the other.
“I would be honored to be accepted into theranks of the Trateri.”
“I thought that might be your answer,” Fallonsaid in a wry voice.
Bet he did.
“You’re also to be promoted to the ranks ofmy Anateri.” He inspected her body, paying attention to her armsand legs. He didn’t seem impressed. “You’ll have to undergotraining. Hopefully, you’ll put on a few more inches before youstop growing. Until then you’ll serve in whatever capacity Caden orhis men see fit.”
Shea took the news sourly. She had a feelingthis was another ‘gift’ she didn’t dare refuse.
“You’ll need a new uniform,” Fallon said witha grimace at the oversized one she had on. To Trenton he said, “Dowe have any that small?”
Trenton gave Shea a skeptical glance.“Probably not. I’ll have one of the Snakes alter one to size.”
“Good. Now, let’s get this feast over withbefore I collapse on my ass.”
Shea blinked. She hadn’t been expecting sucha frank admittance of weakness. Not from the Hawkvale.
Fallon continued past her, stepping gingerly.Trenton pushed aside the fabric for him. Two steps before crossinginto the other room, Fallon’s shoulders straightened and his stridesmoothed out until he prowled passed Trenton. If Shea hadn’t seenit, she never would have guessed he suffered any weakness.
Seeing the confusion on her face, Trentonexplained, “Whatever is said or done behind these curtains is neverrepeated outside this chamber. You would not like the consequencesshould you share his personal business.”
Trenton’s eyes were steely as they held hers.She swallowed at the not so veiled threat and nodded.
He gave her a pleased smile. “After you,little brother. The feast can’t begin until the guest of honorappears.”
Shea gave him a squinty eyed glare and duckedpast him. From the slightly amused glint in his eye, he knewexactly how she felt about this so called ‘honor.’
