Children of the Moon 04 - Dragon's Moon

lands, including speaking the Chrechte words of passing and sweeping the ashes of the fallen Chrechte into the stream.
    Ciara realized it was probably the same one that fed the underground cavern and thought it fitting. Enemy, or not, every Chrechte deserved to be given proper send-off of their ashes. Being scattered in waters sacred to their ancestors seemed only right.
    When she said so to Eirik through their mate-link, he did not respond but simply waited for Lais to hand her his clothes and weapons before taking to the sky.
    They flew much faster than a horse could gallop, or even a Chrechte wolf could run, even faster than they had ever flown together. Ciara had to hide her face against his neck to protect it from the sharp bite of the wind and there was no joy in this flight. Only single-minded purpose.
    They reached the sacred caves on Sinclair land as the sun rose over the morning mist.
    E irik was silent as they walked into the caves together. He headed unerringly for the chamber of mating and dropped his weapons and clothing that he had not bothered to don after shifting onto the ground. Without a break in his stride, he walked right into the pool and submerged himself completely in the steaming waters.
    Ciara removed her clothing as she waited for her mate to reemerge. He stayed under long enough that she was completely naked and growing worried when he exploded out of the water, sucking in a big lungful of air. Droplets cascaded off of him, getting her and stone surrounding the pool wet.
    His head down, he stood there heaving.
    She slid into the water and waded over to him. Laying her hand on his bicep, right over the deep blue tattoo that proclaimed him prince of his people, she asked, “Are you all right?”
    He didn’t reply, just stood there, his breathing an irregular pattern that in any other person would mean they were crying. And then she understood.
    “I am sorry,” she said softly, not knowing what other words would matter.
    “You did not kill them.”
    “It was my idea.”
    “It was a good one. Refusing to take my full dragon form put our warriors at risk.”
    “But fighting other Chrechte in battle is not the same as incinerating them with your fire,” she said, voicing her new understanding of the man she’d mated, married and loved with the very depth of her being. “Killing Galen and Luag that way hurt you as much as it hurt me to see it.”
    “He was your brother.”
    “He was a Chrechte who had surrendered his honor to the idea of being superior.”
    “I am the protector of my people.”
    “And that day, Fidaich and Canaul needed protecting. Just as last night, our soldiers needed your dragon. The MacLeod numbers were too high; we might have won the battle but the cost would have been great.”
    Finally, Eirik’s head lifted and their gazes met. His face was wet, but not all the moisture was from his dip in the pool. “I am dragon, but I am also raven.”
    “One has the instincts of a predator, the other does not kill.” Her heart ached for him and her desire to protect her own emotions disappeared under that pain. “I love your dragon, Eirik. I am grateful, so very grateful for the strength and power he gives you. I love your raven, too. Without instincts from your bird, you could become like Fearghall, but you never will.”
    “And me? Do you love me?” Eirik asked as if it really mattered to him.
    It certainly mattered to her and she would never lie about it. “I do, so very much.”
    His head dipped again, his voice coming out gravelly. “From the moment of my birth, I have been taught to know my responsibility to my people, to all Chrechte.”
    “I know.” Not releasing her hold on his arm, she laid her other hand over his heart. “This beats with it.”
    His head came up then, his amber eyes fierce with emotion. “It used to, but now it beats for you. My mate. Last night, you told me to shift and your intent was to save our warriors, but all I could think about was keeping you safe and if annihilating the MacLeod soldiers was necessary to do it, then I would cast fire.”
    “You have to keep me safe for the future of our people,” she tried to soothe him, her own heart stuttering at the thought it could possibly be more than that.
    Suddenly, his hands were on either side of her face and their gazes were locked with primal messages arcingbetween them. “I saved you for me. You are mine. You will always be mine and you will always come first. Before my