Dragon's Moon by Lucy Monroe Read Free Book Online Page B

was going to accept, the guard’s voice trailed off. “How did she get off, sir?” the hapless guard was foolish enough to make as his one complete sentence.
    â€œShe fell.”
    Grief mixed with fear and the guard dropped to his knees. “I’m so sorry, Alpha.” He offered his neck for whatever the other wolf meant to do.
    â€œShe lives.” The Sinclair shook his head, his fury still strong, but a resignation about it.
    Eirik lifted one brow in question.
    The laird sighed and it was not a happy sound. “She is far too adept at masking her scent.”
    â€œShe’s sneaky.”
    â€œAye.” Talorc sounded proud, despite his anger.
    â€œHow does she live?” the guard asked with a fair amount of trepidation.
    Talorc turned his anger back on the still-kneeling guard. “Our new clansman saved her.” His tone and manner implied it should not have been necessary.
    The guard seemed oblivious in his shock. The look of awe and respect he gave Eirik surprised him, but not as much as the gratitude wafting off the young wolf’s skin. He bowed his head to Eirik. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou have a personal interest in the laird’s daughter?”
    The guard’s eyes widened in fear as he slid a sideways glance toward his laird and then the huge blond man who had silently joined them just as Eirik had told the Sinclair of his adopted daughter’s exploits. Niall, Talorc’s second, glared at the guard with death in his eyes.
    The young wolf vehemently shook his head. “Nay, ’tis just that she is favored by many in our clan.”
    Niall nodded as did the Sinclair, but Eirik noted both men gave the guard matching looks of warning.

Chapter 3

    Dreaming of a tomorrow, which tomorrow, will be as distant then as ’tis today.
    â€”L OPE DE V EGA
    T he Sinclair dismissed his guard with instructions to do better in future or risk losing his ability to procreate.
    The wolf’s clear acceptance of the threat as truth and fear because of it left a sour stench in the air after he was gone.
    Talorc grasped forearms with Eirik. “Thank you for saving my daughter.”
    â€œShe is clan now.”
    â€œAye.”
    The object of their discussion chose that moment to come up to them. Ciara looked up at the man who called himself her father. “Laird Talorc, I am sorry for the trouble I caused.”
    Eirik was shocked to note the Sinclair mask his fury and his demeanor turn gentle. “It is all right, Ciara. I know you did not mean to cause grief.”
    â€œI didn’t. I thought I would return to the keep and no one would be the wiser.”
    This was supposed to placate her laird? Her belief she could get away with it and thus cause no worry to others?
    â€œI saw you,” Eirik corrected her. “Others could have as well.”
    â€œNo, they could not,” she disagreed in a soft but firm voice, her tone far too certain.
    â€œYou cannot know that.”
    She just shrugged, the movement so like her adopted father that the corner of Eirik’s mouth curved in an almost smile. But then, the truth hit him. She could only be so certain in one circumstance.
    â€œYou’ve been up there before. Many times. And never been caught.”
    She glared at him, this time her expression leaving no doubt she had not expected that truth to be revealed. The anxious glance she slid toward Talorc said as much as well.
    The laird frowned, some of his fury leaking through to scent the air around them as his demeanor lost a bit of its patient calm. “Is this true?”
    Ciara bit her lip, clearly deciding whether or not to tell the truth. How interesting that she even considering lying to her pack alpha, much less laird. Did she think she could get away with it? Could she mask more than her scent?
    Finally, she nodded. “It’s peaceful. Quiet.”
    â€œCiara.”
The exasperation in Talorc’s voice was laced with