Page 79 of Moon Craving

"I am yours." Though she would not call herself an angel.

He spoke again in the ancient tongue. Then in Gaelic, "I belong to you."

She didn't wait for him to instruct her to repeat the phrase. "You belong to me." At

least until he knew her damning truth.

"I promised to protect you during our marriage ceremony and you promised to

accept my protection. Now I promise to keep you as my mate for our lives forward."

Why did it seem he spoke the word mate with a finality not even wife could

embody? Could the lifetime promise be real? Or were even Chrechte vows subject to her

defect? "I promise to protect you to the best of my abilities and to be your mate for as long

as you want me."

He frowned at her addition, or was it her caveat? "Now it is time for the Chrechte

blessing. I will speak it as both pack leader and your husband."

"That sounds nice." Better than the priest's hasty blessing as Talorc strode with her

from the chapel.

He carried her from the pool and stood her on the furs. Then he dropped to his

knees and tugged her down in front of him. Kneeling, they faced each other. His

expression was so intent she could barely breathe. He tipped his head back slightly and

said something, as if issuing a command. She did not understand, but he did not look at

her expectantly, as if she should.

Then she thought she knew who he had spoken to as two warriors came into her

sight. They took a stance behind Talorc as she realized they had not come into the cavern

alone. All of his soldiers now stood in a circle around her and Talorc. None of them wore

their plaid, or anything else.

She should be mortified--both by their nudity and hers, but she wasn't. It felt

inexplicably fitting--as if she had been born to this obviously ancient Chrechte rite. It

helped that none of the men were looking at her. They had their backs to her and Talorc,

their heads tilted as if looking toward the heavens.

Each of the soldiers had a simplistic indigo marking of a wolf on his left shoulder

blade. Talorc had that tattoo as well. Was that their Chrechte marking?

Her gaze slid from the big soldiers to her husband. He was looking at her with a