Ah, new love. Previously distrustful of females, the cahir had turned completely around after he and his brother lifemated Darcy.
That didn’t mean his tail shouldn’t be pulled now and then. “Owen, my friend, if your female won’t drag you to bed unless you’ve almost died, you’re doing something wrong.”
As the other cahirs started to tease Owen, Donal winked at Margery. Because last night, she’d dragged him and Tynan upstairs, saying it was her turn to have her way with them.
Catching his look, she blushed the prettiest of pinks.
“While we’re all here, let me make sure I have this straight—since I’ll have to explain to Calum.” Alec folded his arms over his chest and frowned at Tynan. “You were unarmed and decided to bait a hellhound? To get it away from Zeb?”
When Tynan simply shrugged his agreement, Donal grinned. If his littermate saw something needed to be done, that’s what he did. He didn’t second guess his actions—or defend them.
“Then, even before the hellhound was killed, Donal ran into the open, followed by our banfasa and Breanne.” Alec gave Donal an irritated stare. “Healer, you know better.”
“I do, and normally, I’d wait. Zeb had an arterial bleed, and there was no time.”
After a second, Alec nodded and turned his displeasure toward Margery. “There was no need for you to—”
“There was.” Her chin lifted. “Zeb was dazed and fighting Donal. He needed to be calmed down so Donal could work.” She repeated Donal’s words. “There was no time.”
Donal had almost had a coronary when she appeared, but…she’d been right to do so.
“Sorry, Donal.” With a rueful look, Zeb admitted, “I thought you were the hellhound.”
“I’m confused.” Alec rubbed his forehead. “Margery, why would you think you could calm him when Donal couldn’t?”
“She has a gift,” Donal murmured. “A miraculous gift. Many banfasas can ease a shifter to some degree, but I’ve never met anyone with Margery’s skill.”
Margery stared at him, the surprise in her gaze heart-breaking. Which was just wrong. She should know how much her clan appreciated her.
He and Tynan would work on that.
Sitting back, Donal slapped Owen’s arm. “Done here. Go clean up.”
“Thanks, healer.” Owen rose.
Alec turned to look at Zeb and lifted his eyebrows. “Is that how you see it?”
“You know how when we shift, the Mother blesses us?” Zeb asked. “When Margery joined us, it felt like that. Like a hug. I still couldn’t think, but I knew everything would be all right.”
Alec scowled up at the ceiling, maybe to see if that’s where they’d all left their common sense. Finally, he sighed. “In that case, thank you, healer. Banfasa. Although when I tell Calum about you two being in harm’s way, he’ll leave claw marks on my hide.”
Alec’s gaze turned to Breanne. “You, however, have no excuse for setting foot outside the lodge.”
Her lips quirked. “On the contrary. Someone needed to guard our healer and banfasa. I was there, and as it happens, I’ve killed a hellhound before.”
“I knew she’d use that on him,” Zeb said in a low tone to his littermate.
“Give it up, Alec.” Shay kissed Breanne’s fingers. “Breanne won’t hide when her mates are down. If you can win a battle like that with Vicki, let us know how.”
“You win.” Alec huffed a laugh, then straightened. “Owen, Ben, let’s finish patrolling. Shay, Zeb, take it easy for a couple of days, or we’ll all suffer through one of Donal’s diatribes.”
Donal stiffened. “My what?”
“You mean his rabid ranting?” Ben grinned.
“No, I think it’s called the healer’s harangue.” Shay tilted his head, baring his neck like a submissive wolf. “No worries, Donal. We’ll behave.”
“You’ll regret the insults, you maggot-ridden, mangy-tailed, minnow-dicked mongrels.” Donal turned a narrow-eyed stare on the entire batch of idiotic warriors…then heard the little female beside him trying to smother giggles.
And he smiled.
She’d gotten past being mad at him. Maybe now she’d accept his and Tynan’s apologies?
Maybe. She was stubborn. A banfasa. Female.
Groveling might be needed.
Chapter Twenty
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - dark of the moon
A while later, upstairs in the lodge, Margery got out of the shower. She’d insisted on going last because she knew she’d need time to cry. Just cry.
Tears had helped, although not enough.
As she dried off, her hands trembled. It felt as if she hadn’t eaten for a day, only the hollowness was in her chest.
Tynan might so easily have been slaughtered by the hellhound. Her brain kept replaying the sight of him running, the monster so close behind.
And Donal—he’d gone out to save Zeb, knowing the hellhound was there.
Oh, she wanted to just…just yell at them. Didn’t those males know how easily people died? One moment alive, the next dead. The bonds would snap like a dry twig as the Mother gathered in a shifter’s spirit. Margery could still feel the broken-off tie to her littermate Orson.
Yet…Donal and Tynan did know of the fragility of life. A healer. A cop. In their own ways, they dedicated themselves to saving people. To dealing with death.
Despite her hot shower, the coldness lingered inside, as if her bones were made of ice. Donal and Tynan had almost died, dammit. The thought kept circling back. Didn’t they understand how much she lo—
She shook her head hard. No, love wasn’t what she could possibly feel. She hardly knew them.
Yet the thought of losing them was wrenching. Unbearable.
She tossed the towel on the rack. She needed to see them, to feel the warmth of their skin, to hear their voices.
The bedroom was dark, the only light came from flickering candles around the room. There was enough illumination to see Tynan sprawled on the immense bed, Donal on the small couch. Both wonderfully naked. Tynan so powerful and broad-chested. Donal all hard contoured muscles.
Smiling, they rose as she walked closer.
“Meggie.” Tynan’s smile faded. He touched her face gently, then silently gathered her into his arms. He laid his cheek against the top of her head. “What’s wrong, little wolf?”
For years, she’d dreamed of going home to Dogwood, of having everything back to what it was when the world was safe. His embrace gave her that feeling.
“I just…” Why was it so difficult to ask for what she needed? “Can you hold me for a minute? Both of you?”
“That we can do,” Donal murmured. He leaned against her from behind, his body warm and hard. He slid his arms between her and Tynan, his palms warm against her abdomen.
The males radiated heat. Her shivers faded. “I was so scared.”
“We were all scared.” Tynan stroked a hand over her hair. “Terrified, actually. But we’re alive, Meggie, and unharmed.”
“Can we—”
“Wait.” Donal’s grip tightened around her. “Tynan and I talked. We’d like to clear the air between us.”