Shield's Lady

eastern provinces.”
    “Interesting,” Delek mused. “I have not heard of any mates being found among the women of the east, but I suppose it’s reasonable to assume there are some potential Shieldmates there. That should be good news to the clans.”
    “There are some complications with an eastern Shield-mate,” Gryph admitted.
    “Such as?”
    “As far as she’s concerned, the First Generation Pact between Shields and the colonists doesn’t apply to her. After all, her people did not make any treaty with the Shields.”
    Delek gaped at him in amazement. “By the Lightstorm, Gryph, I hadn’t thought about that. She’s right.” Delek grinned slowly, a very feral smile that reminded Gryph of the hunter Delek had once been. “But by the same token, she is not protected by the Pact.”
    “Nevertheless,” Gryph stated proudly, “I followed the rules.”
    “But did she know the rules before you took her to bed?” Delek asked slyly.
    “Things were rather confused that night,” Gryph admitted. “There wasn’t time or opportunity to give her an education on the history of Shields and colonists.”
    Delek roared with laughter and slapped his thigh. “I’ll just bet there wasn’t time. Did she open your kit the next morning?”
    “Easily.” Gryph smiled with pride. “As easily as if she were a Shield trained in working prisma and had her own kit. It was amazing.”
    “What does she think of this whole affair?”
    Gryph shrugged and picked up his glass. “As I said, she refuses to concede that she’s even married, let alone that anything unusual happened the night I linked with her. She insists she had a little too much to drink that evening.”
    “But she is with you now?”
    Gryph opened one hand in a gesture. “Naturally. And she’ll stay with me whether she likes it or not. I think someone has figured out she can be used to control me.”
    Delek met his gaze knowingly. “Another Shield would know that. But so would any westerner who is reasonably well-versed in Shield history. It’s no secret that a Shield-mate is a very valuable commodity to a Shield, even if he would like to throttle her at times.”
    Gryph eyed Delek in surprise. “There have been one or two times already when I could willingly have taken my belt to Sariana’s backside. She is willful, independent and smart. I’m learning that that is a dangerous combination in a woman.”
    Delek was amused. “True. What else is she?”
    Gryph smiled. “She’s also warm and gentle underneath her thorns, rather like one of your prize flowers, Delek. She has pride and strength. She’s brave and gutsy, too. Back in Serendipity she nearly killed a man who was trying to assault her. Getting her to follow even the most reasonable of orders is proving to be a challenge, however.”
    Delek’s grin broadened as he listened to the growing list of attributes. “A true Shieldmate for you, Gryph. You need a woman you can’t intimidate.”
    “Intimidate! I don’t intimidate women.”
    Delek laughed. “Your instinct is to dominate any situation in which you find yourself. It sounds as though you’ve found a woman who can deal with that aspect of your nature. You are indeed a lucky man. But I think you are also going to be a very busy man. You’ll have your hands full trying to hold onto her unless she makes up her mind that she is married to you.”
    “Don’t worry,” Gryph stated. “She can kick and scream all she wants. I’m not going to let her get away.” There was a short pause and then he said slowly, “Delek, I want to ask you something about linking.”
    Delek chuckled. “By now you already know the basics. Why would you need advice from an old hunter like me?”
    Gryph forced back the mild embarrassment that threatened to redden his high cheekbones. “It’s about the first time.”
    “What about it?”
    “I want to know if there is really supposed to be so much pain,” Gryph said quietly.
    Delek appeared to realize just how serious Gryph was. “Pain? Well, there’s the slight burning sensation both people get from the prisma, and there’s the feeling of disorientation that occurs when each picks up on the other’s emotions. If a woman has had little or no previous sexual experience, she might have some additional discomfort. The Shield might or might not feel some of that discomfort, depending on the strength of the link. But I wouldn’t describe any of it as painful.”
    Gryph nodded. “That’s what I