The House Of Gaian

Granddaughter, since you have no family here—”
    “She has family here,” Liam snapped. “She doesn’t have to live alone in the Old Place. She can live here with us.”
    “I’m not living alone in the Old Place,” Breanna snapped back. “I’m living with Falco and a puppy.”
    Liam frowned. “A puppy? When did you get a puppy?”
    “Yesterday. Falco brought him for me.” Breanna squirmed. “Now that I’ve figured out what he meant about the salmon, I think the puppy was intended as a courting gift.”
    His frown deepened. “Courting gift? Giving a woman a pet is more a betrothal gift than a courting gift.”
    “Whatever. The point is, I’m not living alone. And the only reason you’re being a featherheaded jackass about Falco is because you want to court Selena and don’t know how to do it.”
    “I never said I wanted to court Selena!”
    “But you do want to, don’t you?”
    “Yes, I want to, but I never said it!” He crossed his arms and muttered, “Stone-headed female.”
    Breanna crossed her arms in exactly the same way and muttered, “Featherheaded jackass.”
    Finally remembering they had an audience, he looked at the Crone sitting in a chair across from them.
    Her lips were pressed together and she was shaking with the effort not to laugh.
    Breanna hunched further into the sofa. “You wanted to talk to me, Grandmother?”
    The Crone laughed, shook her head, and rose. “There’s no need. I’ve already learned what I needed to know. But remember, Breanna, I am your elder now. If you need my help—for anything—you must come to me ... or ask me to come to you.” She walked over to Liam and took his face between her hands. “And you, Grandson. A witch enjoys being courted the same way as any other woman.”
    Liam looked sulky. “I refuse to spend my evenings writing bad poetry.”
    The Crone sighed. “That’s too bad. It would give her something to laugh over when she’s my age.”
    They sat side by side for a long time after the Crone walked out of the room.
    “Truce?” Liam finally said. “I won’t nag you about Falco, and you won’t nag me about Selena.”
    “Truce.” Breanna smiled. “Besides, there are plenty of other things I can nag you about. Rhyann made up a list for me.”

 

     
     

Chapter 54

 

     
     

     
    new moon
     
    Liam hovered in the doorway, watching Selena pack her saddlebags. “You don’t have to go.”
    “This is your mother’s room, and she’s coming back to live here with you and Brooke.”
    “There are plenty of other rooms. You don’t have to go.”
    “Yes, I do.”
    It wasn’t fair. From the moment she’d arrived at Willowsbrook, they’d been caught up in the fight to survive. Now, when they could finally spend a little time getting to know each other better, she was leaving. “Why?”
    He found the color suddenly flooding her cheeks intriguing.
    “Because my father would disapprove,” she said, stuffing garments into the saddlebags with more speed than care.
    So her father had gentry sensibilities when it came to his daughter. That he understood.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Not far. Across the brook, actually.” The color in her cheeks deepened. “Breanna said they have plenty of room, and since her handfast to Falco was witnessed by the Bard, the Muse, and her family’s elder, it would be proper to stay with them. And— And she mentioned that it wouldn’t be that far for a ... friend
    ... to ride to come visit.”
    To hide his own delight, he muttered, “She’s been spending too much time with Rhyann.”
    “Oh, Rhyann’s going to live there, too.” Selena looked up, her eyes filled with amusement.
    “Mother’s tits.”
    She laughed. “Rhyann does tend to produce that reaction.” Picking up her saddlebags, she walked to the door, stopping when he didn’t move aside. “Thank you for your hospitality, Baron Liam.”
    “It was my pleasure, Lady Selena.” He took the saddlebags from her and smiled. “I’ll see you to your horse. It’s the least a friend can do.”

 

     
     

Chapter 55

 

     
     

     
    waning moon
     
    After glancing at Lyrra, who nodded, Aiden reined in. “Ashk?”
    She turned the dark horse and walked it back to them.
    He understood her keeping the dark horse. She’d lost her horse, he’d lost his rider, and since there were two other dark horses at Bretonwood, he’d also be among his own kind.
    But he didn’t understand about the puppy.
    When they’d stopped at