Lupi 04 - Night Season

possible increase in their fertility as the level of magic on Earth rose. She looked him in the eye and got it said. “Not really. I need to ask you about lupi who get married. What would Nokolai do if one of their members got married?”
    Rule’s eyebrows flew up. His voice turned gentle. “Cynna, Cullen isn’t going to marry you. I don’t know if he’s hinted or implied such a thing, but I hope—”
    â€œActually, he’s already asked, and now he’s just assuming. He’s like that—if you don’t beat him back with a club, he figures that means he’ll get what he wants. But before I make it official, I need to know for sure Nokolai wouldn’t kick him out or anything.” She made a face. “He wouldn’t lie to me outright, but this might be a subject he’s willing to bend the truth on.”
    The shock on Rule’s face was everything she’d feared. So why did it make her giggle?
    â€œCullen?” he said at last, incredulous.
    â€œIt’s a kick, isn’t it? And it isn’t just about the baby.” She still marveled over that.
    â€œNo, it wouldn’t be.” He waved that aside as obvious. His face was very serious. “Cynna, you understand that this not up to me.”
    She nodded. “Your father, mostly, right? And the Rhej. I, uh, I’ve talked to her.”
    She’d surprised him again, but this time he smiled. “You were able to persuade her to come to a phone?”
    â€œYeah. She said…well, she had a lot to say.”
    Rule’s smile deepened. “You agreed to become her apprentice.”
    â€œSort of. On a trial basis,” Cynna added quickly. She still couldn’t believe she was the right one for the job, and she figured the Rhej would see that soon enough. But…“Everyone keeps telling me it’s not a religious vow or anything, but…well, according to the Rhej, the Lady does sometimes intervene in ways that look pretty miraculous. She’s got that kind of power, only she’s bound by lots of rules about what she’s allowed to do, and she can’t act unless she’s asked, she might not do it anyway, and mostly the only ones she can hear asking are the Rhejes. Or…”
    â€œOr someone she’s chosen to become a Rhej.”
    â€œYeah.” Cynna sighed. When Cullen died, Cynna had called on the Lady. A second later, he’d drawn a breath. Maybe that was coincidence. Maybe it was a debt. “Anyway, the Rhej said that as far as she’s concerned, Cullen is Nokolai and will stay that way.”
    â€œThat makes a difference. Let me think a moment.” Rule drummed his fingers on the table once, a habit of Lily’s he’d picked up. “He won’t lose Nokolai,” he said at last. “My father is not easy to predict, but he’s extremely unlikely to go against the Rhej on such matter. But it will be difficult. Some, both within and outside the clan, will shun Cullen. This is a vital moral issue for us, Cynna.”
    â€œI know.” She said that with sympathy, because this put Rule in a difficult position. But she’d marry Cullen anyway, and not because she had to have the ring. Because he did. He needed her to be family, to be his.
    Well, okay , she admitted privately as Rule walked her to the door. She needed that, too.
    Cynna found something new to marvel over. For years, Rule Turner had been the standard against which all other men were measured. He’d played a part in saving her, whether he knew that or not. Until him, she’d had no idea how a good man treated a woman.
    She’d been a bit in love with him long after he left. It had never really died, not for her.
    â€œHave you told Lily?’ Rule asked when they reached the door.
    â€œNot yet. I thought you needed to hear first because it affects the clan, and I needed your answer.” Oh, this was going to make trouble for him. “Rule.” Impulsively she reached for his hand. “I am sorry about…well, the problems. I know this causes problems.”
    He nodded, but found a wry smile. “I’ll cope. I’ll even come to the wedding.”
    And that was a major concession. She beamed at him. “We’ll probably hold it outdoors someplace. Not many inside spots big enough for a dragon.”
    Cynna all but danced down the sidewalk to her car.
    Now when she looked at Rule, she might remember