Children of the Moon 04 - Dragon's Moon

putting more than physical distance between them. “I do not know if I can give up that hope.”
    “You really are an idiot.” Mairi, who had been standing wide-eyed and quiet during this exchange, gave Gart a look of disapproval. “You think love is so common a gift you can just throw it away when it is offered?”
    “We are not speaking of love, but of mating,” Gart replied with a frown for the small woman.
    Mairi looked up at Lais and then back to Gart. “Are they not the same?”
    “Nay,” Lais answered when Gart did not. “There is no Chrechte law that states mates will love each other.”
    Mairi’s soft features hardened. “I see.”
    “Besides, a warrior does not live his life by the dictates of his heart,” Gart said dismissively.
    Eirik could not disagree with him, but it looked like Artair was less than impressed with his friend’s sentiments. Mairi didn’t look well pleased, either.
    Crossing her arms, she gave Lais a look Eirik could not decipher and moved away from him. The eagle looked confused and disgruntled, though he made no move to close the gap between him and the human woman.
    “You are right,” Artair said, surprising Eirik. “A warrior cannot bow to the dictates of his heart.”
    The relief on Gart’s face was reflected in his scent. “So, you will begin courting my sister?”
    “Never.” There was enough venom in the word to kill and enough certainty to serve as the foundation of a fortress.
    “But—”
    “We will feed your companions and then the women can have the hut to sleep in,” Artair said to Eirik, cutting his fellow soldier off. “I have first watch on the beach tonight and Gart can sleep outside the hut.”
    “Ciara will sleep with my dragon in the forest. Lais and Gart can share the hut and watch over Mairi.”
    “Do not argue about this,” he warned the eagle shifter over the Éan royal mind link.
    Lais dipped his chin in acknowledgment, but he did not look happy. Eirik did not care. The man was a warrior and he knew better than to gainsay his prince.
    Mairi didn’t look any happier, but Eirik did not think it had anything to do with the sleeping arrangements. She was glaring at Gart and Artair in turn.
    She had a lot of spirit for a woman who could not shift.
    Ciara shook her head. “It would be more proper for me to share the hut with Mairi.”
    “My dragon will protect your dreams,” he said in a tone others knew better than to dispute.
    Ciara did not look impressed. “I think it would be better the way Artair suggested.”
    “It will be as I have stated.”
    “You’re truly one of the most stubborn men I have ever known, and I’ve lived the last seven years with Talorc of the Sinclairs as my father!” The exasperation in her tone made him smile.
    Odd.
    Mairi reached out and patted Ciara’s arm. “Let his dragon protect your dreams this night. This quest will not be easy and you will need your strength.”
    “Are you speaking as a friend or a seer?” Ciara demanded, sounding annoyed.
    “Both.”
    Eirik placed his hand on the small of Ciara’s back and started leading the group toward the forest and the hut concealed there. “Listen to your friend.”
    “You only say that because she agrees with you. I didn’t hear you telling Gart to listen to her.”
    The soldier in question had left the group already and headed down the beach. “He must make up his own mind about his future.”
    “But he’s hurting both himself and Artair.”
    “He would cause more pain if he agreed to a mating he resented.”
    Which did not mean Eirik intended to give her much choice in their mating. Her unreasonable determination never to take a mate could not be allowed to stand in the way of the good of both their peoples.
    Eventually, she would understand that truth, he was certain.
    W ith nothing but the moonlight to guide them, Eirik led Ciara deeper into the forest. They were headed toward the small clearing protected from view by a dense growth of trees that Artair had suggested would make a good night’s resting place for a dragon.
    She’d continued to argue about the sleeping arrangementsall through Mairi and Lais eating their stew and making plans for the morrow. However, Ciara came with him when Eirik left the hut. He would count that, at least, a victory.
    “I would feel better if we had waited for Gart to return before leaving Mairi and Lais in the hut.”
    “So you said.”
    “Well, why didn’t you listen?”
    “Why does it matter if