Read Online HuntressUnleashed by Clare Murray - Free Book Online Page B

knowing that her inner wolf—well, whatever she had of an inner wolf—would instinctively obey.
    Grinding her teeth in frustration, she began to pace up and
down, staring fretfully through the open yet inaccessible door. Eagan was out
of sight. Even with her supernatural hearing she couldn’t make out where he was
or what he was doing.
    One of the collies crept up behind her, giving her an idea.
“Bannock, Frost! Find the sheep. Bring them into the barn!”
    Whining, the dogs looked up at her, evidently torn between
staying to protect her and obeying her command. After agonizing for a few
seconds, both of them ran off and Cait breathed a sigh of relief. The Guardians
would protect Eagan if necessary—she was certain of that.
    Still, she was relieved beyond measure when the collies came
back, panting triumphantly as they skidded indoors. Behind them was Eagan,
twirling the kilt with one hand.
    “Should I put it on or leave it off?” he inquired. His
expression turned serious as he drew closer. “What’s wrong, Caitrin?”
    To show him precisely what she was so furious about, Cait
charged toward the door. She expected her muscles to lock, preventing her from
crossing the threshold. Instead she crashed headlong into a solid wall of
muscle.
    She was saved from an ignominious fall on her backside by
Eagan’s quick grasp. He stared down at her in astonishment. “Lass?”
    Oh . His dominance had ended the moment he returned,
so she was once again free to leave the cottage. Caitrin waved a
self-deprecating hand, pulling away in embarrassment. “I am not used to a
werewolf ordering me about.”
    He caught her up in a fierce embrace. “So my dominance
worked?”
    “Too well.” Caitrin was suspicious of the jubilant note in
his voice.
    He kissed her, not bothering to give her an explanation for
his amusement. “The sheep are indoors again, lass, all thirty-two o’ them.”
    Cait sagged in relief. Having grown up raising sheep, she
was quite fond of the silly animals. “I thought Delaney would have slaughtered
them.”
    “Mutton will be of no interest in comparison to the prospect
of winning a werewolf mate, Caitrin. He remains close, seeking to take ye from
me.” Eagan turned to scan the pastures, his green eyes fierce. Although he
looked calm and collected, his grip around her radiated tension. What was he so
worried about?
    “Will Delaney move on to another area now that I am mated to
you?”
    “He may try to challenge me.” Eagan reached out to close the
door, a dangerous glint in his eye.
    “I am not standing aside so you two can fight over me,”
Caitrin warned. “He’ll find a sword in his back.”
    The fury in Eagan’s eyes lessened as he laughed. “I have no
doubt he will, lass. But he may well invoke the Right of Challenge. Ye will no’
be able to interfere with that—it is ancient werewolf magic.”
    “What of the dark wizard?”
    “That’s what I’m worried about. He may be able to tamper
with the Right, and the runes on Delaney may be a problem.”
    “Should I see if the wizard has cast any more wards?”
    Cait made a move toward the door, but Eagan shook his head.
“Nay. Leave it be, lass.”
    Annoyance flared sudden and bright. “I cannot stay inside
for the rest of my life, Eagan.”
    “Nor am I asking ye to. I merely want ye to rest until
tonight.”
    Tonight? Several different thoughts played through
her head, the foremost inducing a blush. She turned away, surveying her little
cottage. She’d spent so much time here in the past three years that it was like
a second skin. Although the two bedrooms were tiny and the sitting room not
much larger, it was all she knew.
    “As you say. Game of chess?” she suggested. She made a
conscious effort to tamp down her irritation.
    “Aye, would no’ mind.”
    Cait hadn’t played anyone since Da had died. She retrieved
the old wood-and-bone set, aware that Eagan was still regarding her strangely.
Self-consciously she pulled her robe closer,