Dragonswan.doc by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

much. "What happened?"
    "It was a long time ago, and I'd rather not talk about it."
    She could respect that, especially since he'd already answered so much. But her
    curiosity about it was almost more than she could bear. Still, she wouldn't pry.
    "Okay, but can I ask one more thing?"
    "Sure."
    "When you say long ago, I have a feeling that takes on a whole new meaning. Was
    it a decade or two, or-"
    'Two hundred fifty-four years ago."
    Her jaw dropped. "Have you been alone all this time?"
    He nodded.
    Her chest drew tight at that. Two hundred years alone. She couldn't imagine it.
    "And you have no one?"
    Sebastian fell silent as old memories surged. He did his best not to remember his
    role of Sentinel. His family.
    He'd been raised to hold honor next to his heart, and with one fatal mistake, he had
    lost everything he'd ever cared for. Everything he'd once been.
    "I was ... banished," he said, the word sticking in his throat. He'd never once in all
    this time uttered the word aloud. "No Arcadian is allowed to associate with me."
    "Why would they banish you?"
    He didn't answer.
    Instead, he pointed in front of them. "Look up, Chan-non. I think there's something
    over there you'll find far more interesting than me."
    Seriously doubting that, Channon turned her head, then gaped. On the hill far
    above was a large wooden hall surrounded by a group of buildings. Even from this
    distance, she could make out people and animals moving about.
    She blinked, unable to believe her eyes. "Oh my God," she breathed. "It's a real
    Saxon village!"
    "Complete with bad hygiene and no plumbing."
    Her heart hammered as they approached the hill at a slow and steady speed. "Can't
    you make this thing move any faster?" she asked, eager to get a closer view.
    "I can, but they will view it as a sign of aggression and might decide to shoot a few
    arrows into us."
    "Oh. Then I can wait. I don't want to be a pincushion."
    Sebastian remained silent and watched her as she strained to see more of the town.
    He smiled at her exuberance as she twisted in the saddle, her hips brushing
    painfully against his swollen groin.
    After the night they had shared, it amazed him just how much he longed to possess
    her again, how much his body craved hers.
    He still couldn't believe he'd told her as much as he had about his past and people,
    yet as his mate, she had a right to know all about him.
    If she would be his mate.
    He still hadn't really made up his mind about that.
    The kindest thing would be to return her and let her go. But he didn't want to. He
    missed having someone to care for and someone who cared for him.
    How many times had he lain awake at night aching for a family again? Wishing for
    the comfort of a soothing touch? Missing the sound of laughter and the warmth of
    friendship?
    For centuries, his solitude had been his hell.
    And this woman sitting in his lap would be his only salvation.
    If he dared ...
    Channon bit her lip as they entered the bailey and she saw real, live Saxon people
    at work in the village. There were men laying stone, rebuilding a portion of the
    gate. Women with laundry and foodstuffs walking around, talking amongst
    themselves. And children! Lots of Saxon children were running around, laughing
    and playing games with each other.
    Better still, there were merchants and music, acrobats, and jongleurs. "Is there a
    festival going on?"
    He nodded. "The harvest is in and there's a celebration all week long to mark it."
    She struggled to understand what the crowd around them said.
    It was incredible! They were speaking Old English!
    "Oh, Sebastian," she cried, throwing her arms around him and holding him close.
    "Thank you for this! Thank you!"
    Sebastian clenched his teeth at the sensation of her breasts flattened against him.
    Of her breath tickling his neck.
    His groin tightened even more, and it took all his human powers to leash the beast
    within. He felt the ripping inside as he set the two halves of him against each other.
    It