Page 24 of Moon Craving

shadow of the cottage's roof.

If circumstances were not odd enough, the pale-haired giant warrior turned his

attention on her as well, though she had seen nothing to indicate the other man had

apprised him of her presence. This warrior's eyes were dark, though she did not think they

were brown. He was maybe even bigger than the dark-haired man, but she did not

assume that made him laird.

While might would be important in determining leadership among the war-bent

clans in the north, size was not the only determining factor in strength. The blond giant

looked strong enough, but he did not look toward her with quite the intensity of the other

man.

He did not have a tattoo on his arm either, and she was guessing that was

significant. His left cheek was marred by a battle scar; even so, he was almost as

handsome as the other man.

Abigail felt an instant rapport with the marked soldier. It was too easy for others to

judge a person's worth on a physical affliction. This warrior could do no more about his

scar than she could her deafness.

The raven-haired man came toward her with purposeful strides. The other giant

warrior followed him, a strange half smile on his face. The puckered flesh gave him a

sinister look that the amusement in his eyes belied.

At that moment, Abigail definitely should have ducked behind the window

covering. She couldn't. The tattooed warrior held her attention as firmly as she held on to

the hope of seeing her sister again one day.

His silent command to stay still was unmistakable.

Even if the command was only in her imagination, it would not let her go. Her body

felt strangely heavy, but her head felt light. Fear and exhilaration coursed through her as

her fingers curled around the window covering in a stranglehold.

As he came closer, the pace of her breathing increased until she was panting as if

she had been chasing her sister through the meadow near her stepfather's keep like she

had when they were children.

He did not stop once he reached the cottage as she expected, but continued