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did.
    “Here.” Janet averted her gaze when he turned to her.
    Gathering the heavy wet wool into his arms, he ordered himself not to study her barely covered skin. Her chemise was white, and also wet, but Janet had pulled it away from her body. It was no longer clinging.
    Unfortunately.
    She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    Xander smiled to himself. Janet MacLeod was appealing, with her mix of strength and vulnerability. He wanted her even more.
    Her face was crimson, her dark locks damp and mussed. Their bond was palpable, desire and mixed emotions bouncing between the two of them, making him fight tremors. Xander needed some air.
    He grabbed their boots and forced one foot in front of the other, moving away from Janet. The water roared as he moved closer to the falls, but he was able to stay dry as he slipped away from the cave’s wide mouth, staying on the thick ledge of the cliff face beside it.
    Xander put their clothes where the sun beat down, but as low as he could manage, so if someone flew overhead the garments would remain unseen. He probably could’ve used a spell to dry them, but he wanted to steal a proper bed for them to sleep on.
    Something that large would exhaust him even more, so he needed to conserve his energy. He also wanted to try to heal her ankle.
    Janet still wouldn’t look at him when he slid back inside. She sat on the same small boulder, her knees to her chest and her arms around them. Her face was buried on top of them, and she rocked slightly.
    He wanted to banish the uncertainty he felt from her. Xander craved her smile, even her touch. He took a seat beside her but she didn’t respond. He tried to ignore the slight bite of rejection. “Lass?”
    Wide blue eyes met his gaze, but she looked so scared it made his heart thump.
    Xander reached for her hand and squeezed. “You’re cold.” He wanted to rub her arms, pull her against him again, but didn’t. “I’ll get you a bed, then light a fire and see if I can fix your foot.”
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
    He didn’t miss her intake of breath when he gripped her foot; though it was as gentle as he could manage. Xander’s gaze followed the curve of her shapely calf up to her knee. Her ankle was delicate, her skin pale and creamy, and he wanted to touch her, caress every smooth line.
    She was tall for a female, and seeing her bare legs made him want more. Janet was utterly feminine. Her chemise was thin, but it pooled between her legs, hiding the part of her body he wanted to see most.
    His cock strained against his short pants, despite his assurance it was not the time. His wife was injured; he was supposed to be healing her, not seducing her. Besides, there was nothing even remotely sexual about his touch.
    When he looked up, he could see their mating bond. It glowed gold, wrapping around them both, disappearing into her chest. He looked down and saw the same on his body. The aura he’d sensed earlier was still there; his emotions and hers. It had a red pulse. Janet’s foot hurt her.
    Xander frowned. If his touch was causing her pain, she said nothing.
    She reached out, as if to caress the mating bond.
    Tingles shot down his spine, and his wings flexed of their own accord.
    Janet gasped.
    “You can see the bond,” he said.
    “Aye. I…touched it.”
    “I felt it.”
    “Me too.” Janet swallowed, her eyes locking onto her face. “It’s odd…”
    Xander nodded. “It will deepen with time. You will start to sense my feelings, and I will be able to sense yours. The lore says we’ll be able to think and feel as one, even communicate by thoughts.”
    She didn’t say anything, so he let the magic information drop. If Janet asked, he’d tell her all she wanted to know of the ring and mating bonds.
    Now, it was overwhelming. Instinct and their bond told him as much. She might know of magic because of Alana and Angus, but it was different to experience it.
    He rotated her foot and she winced, gripping the blanket beneath