“That’s Gweneth?”Ry demanded.
“Pretty sure,” Lynx said.“Gweneth and Ellard came out here to talk, and that’s Ellard.”
Gweneth padded up to Ry and sat on her haunches before him.Ry hauled off his black tunic and tossed it aside.“Anyone else want a run?”
Lynx let out a whoop and flung off his tunic.Secs later, both he and Shiloh were in feline form, running through the trees.
“Not fair,” Kaya huffed, her nose lifting.
“We’ll go for a drink instead,” Nanu said.
Gweneth went to them and rubbed against their legs.A purr emerged as they petted her while Ellard waited for her.A purr!Then she bounded off, tearing after Ellard and the others for a game of chase.Exhilaration roared through her with each leap and jump.Best game ever.
“Did you enjoy that?”Ellard asked.
Gweneth placed her palm on the keypad at the entrance to her suite.“I loved it.Everything seems so much more.I could hear small animals scurrying through the forest, and I could see more and the colors.So vibrant.”
“Some felines see in color,” Ellard said as they entered.“Others in black and white.That seems to run in families.”
“I’m going to sanitize.”Gweneth hesitated then nodded as she came to a decision.“Would you like to join me?”
“Yes.”
The immediate agreement suffused her with pleasure, and she took his hand and led him straight to the sanitizer room.“We haven’t finished our talk.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“It’s not, but I want you to understand what I need from you.Love isn’t enough.”
“It’s not?”
Gweneth turned on the sanitizer and started to strip.“I need to be able to count on you.If, for example, something happens to your arm, you can’t decide you’re not good enough for me again.This is the last time I’m going to tell you.I like what is in here.”She tapped on his head.“And here.”She placed her hand over his heart.“Physical appearance doesn’t matter to me.”
Ellard hesitated.“I promise to try.I can’t guarantee I won’t make mistakes, but I will try hard to remain positive.”He stared at his arm.“Missing an arm—it makes me vulnerable.I can’t protect you.”
“I don’t need protection.I need a man who will stand and fight at my side.”
“We’ve already done that.”
“And we were good at it.”The twinkle in his eyes abraded some of her determination, and she castigated herself, bolstering her reserves.It was important that he understood and accepted her conditions.She stepped inside the sanitizer and held out her hand again.He whisked his tunic over his head and stripped off his remaining clothes and footwear with quick efficiency.“I love you, Ellard.”
“I don’t know why I fought so hard,” Ellard whispered and tugged her against his chest.“I found it hard to believe my luck.”
“Not luck.Design,” Gweneth said.
“I love you too.I do.”
“I know it,” Gweneth said.“That part was never an issue.”
“I want a proper mating.”
Gweneth pulled away.“If we do that, there is no going back.”
“I know.Do you love me enough to take a leap of faith?”
Gweneth stared at his plain face, his pretty green eyes, his ghostly arm, and the glint of the green jewels from his new ring.She thought of how she’d feel if something happened to Ellard, if he turned to another woman.
A feline growl escaped her and his eyes widened.“What?”
