Caid frowned at that response. “I’m afraid that’s not really an answer.”
“We’re family. I love her.”
“I love my brother Quinn. I haven’t figured out if I like him, though. I love my sister, too, but I also like her because she doesn’t annoy me nearly as much as anyone else.”
“I do like Beatrix. She just doesn’t share much of herself with anyone. People who are introspective are like that sometimes. I don’t fault her for it.”
“But Gemma does fault her?”
“I don’t think so. She just doesn’t like her. And the feeling is mutual. But family is all. That’s what my father taught me. That’s what he taught each of us. But does it matter? Siblings don’t always get along.”
“I know,” Caid replied.
“But there’s a reason the witches have chosen her. Isn’t there?”
“We’d like to find that out. Laila would like to leave tomorrow with Beatrix, but I know she’ll understand if that’s not possible. No more than three days from now, though. Do you think you can manage that with your family?”
“Wait . . . you want to take my sister? Where?”
“To the Witches of Amhuinn. Once they meet Beatrix, they will confirm her future rule or deny it. We’re not a part of that. We’re only here to protect her.”
“But why? She won’t be your queen.”
Caid admitted the truth. “The Old King kept the truce between our lands. His sons will not. Everyone knows that.”
“If my sister goes with you . . . I go.”
He’d had a feeling that would be coming.
“But it will be up to my parents to decide if she goes anywhere.”
Caid nodded. “I’ll let Laila know.”
He turned to walk back to the stables, but Keeley’s voice stopped him.
“Before you go . . .”
“Yes?”
“I want to see you.”
Caid faced her again, knowing exactly what she’d meant. “No. You don’t.”
“I do.” She grinned. “I promise not to judge.”
“It’s not your judging that concerns me. All humans judge. But you don’t understand. I come from a protection clan. We do not work with gods or make spells. We protect our lands and our people. Meaning we don’t look like the other centaurs. We’re predators. Hunters. We kill and destroy.”
“I can’t tell if you’re trying to scare me or seduce me.” She shrugged. “Whatever. I want to see.”
* * *
The Amichai stared at her for a long time. So long, she feared he might have had a seizure.
“Are you all right?” she finally asked when the silence went on and on.
His gaze was locked on a spot behind her head and she wasn’t sure he was going to answer until he said, “I’m fine. Just . . . thinking about your response.”
Caid shook his head, took several steps back. “I’m . . . I’m . . . walking away from you now.”
“Will your sister show me?”
“Stop talking to me,” he ordered as he walked away. “And stop staring at my ass.”
“Just wondering how it looks with four legs.”
He stopped. Faced her. “What?”
“You know,” she admitted, “that sounded less . . . strange, in my head.”
“Did it? Really?”
CHAPTER 6
Gemma stared out the small front window at her father and sister. They’d been talking for long minutes this early morning as the suns just began to rise in the distance.
Her mother came to stand beside her, her youngest babe attached to her breast once again.
“Wonder what they’re talking about,” Gemma said, watching the pair closely.
“I’m sure they’re plotting our deaths.”
Gemma gasped and faced her mother, but she just laughed. “I’m joking! Does your god not allow joking?” she asked.
“Now you sound like Keeley.”
“Your sister is stubborn and opinionated. Just like you. You two must learn to work together. This is especially important to me,” her mother went on, “because I don’t want to have to hear your father complain that his beautiful daughters don’t get along. Gods, the whining.”
Gemma knew her mother was right, but still . . .
“You could tell her the truth,” her mother softly suggested. “Instead of all this lying.”
“I was going to. But then she brought her friends.”
“They seem nice enough.”
“Mum.”
“I hope it’s not that they’re Amichais that bothers you so much, my love. I expect better of you.”
“Amichais that come out of nowhere? Right to our door? You don’t think that’s strange?”
“I think all sorts of things are strange. Because they are strange. But strange doesn’t automatically mean evil and wrong.”
Gemma heard someone on the narrow steps that led to the upstairs bedrooms. She looked over her shoulder and finally saw Beatrix for the first