“Why couldn’t they have their discussion here?”Shiloh demanded.“We’ll miss everything.”
“Shush, they need to work things out for themselves.We can’t interfere,” Lynx said.
“I’m going to be an uncle.”
“We’re going to be an uncle,” Lynx said.“As well as fathers.It’s good all our children will play together.”
“Itisa good thing all our children will have each other to play with,” Ellard said.
“Yes.”It was still hard to believe she would be having a baby.“I will get big and ungainly.”
“Beautiful,” he countered as he led her from the castle out into the heat of the solar star.
A breeze tugged at her hair.Over to their right, a bird of some sort chortled from the depth of the trees.She couldn’t see it but its happy sound had her smiling.
“Are you still feeling unwell?”
“Just in the morn,” she said.“Mogens said it is normal.”
“I hope you don’t mind I told Shiloh about our child.I was excited.”
“I don’t mind, but I’d better tell Ry and the crew soon.”
The sound of weapons came from the far end of the grounds.
“Would you like to do it now?”
“Yes.”
They headed in that direction.
“How is the arm?”
“It works just like my other one.There’s no pain and it doesn’t feel heavy like the Stores.”
“You never told me that.”
“No, I was glad to have a functioning arm.This is so much better.It feels a bit cold, but that is a small price to pay for such a gift.And to be able to shift again without thinking, and to move freely.”
Temptation sprang upon Gweneth—the idea of running with Ellard in feline form.If she could shift again…
“Ellard, could we try shifting now?Instead of going straight to see Ry and the others.”
“I’m a bit nervous,” he confessed.
“I don’t even know if I can shift again.At least you know you can.”
He halted and turned to face her.“There is a private area over to the right there, just past those trees.Why don’t we disrobe and attempt our shifts where no one else can see?”
“Yes.”
Secs later, she found herself in a clearing surrounded by trees.A fountain splashed into a shallow pond, the musical sound competing with the still invisible chortling bird.
“Do you remember how you did it?”
Gweneth frowned.“Sort of.Changing back seemed easier.I pictured my human self and concentrated on how my limbs felt.”
“Perfect.You’d better take off your tunic.It’s too pretty to rip during the shift.”
