what Geir had been. He would not be king or allow his beast to reign over him.
Though he"d resisted the craving for companionship for centuries, once he"d felt the familiar connection after he"d Called Alice, he couldn"t fight the temptation any longer.
The butcher came through the plastic curtain with a large wrapped parcel and a pleased expression. Brand paid the 85
man and offered his thanks.
* * *
The door opened before he had to use the hand scanner. Dagny had managed to find a change of clothes that fit her, more or less. His gray sweater hung almost to her knees, but Alice"s leggings only went to mid-calf.
He held up the parcel. “I brought you some real food.” A smile quirked her lips. “That"s where you were?” The expression was so alluring that he had to touch her.
He rushed forward and put an arm around her back, lowering his head to rub his cheek against hers. She tensed for an instant, then relaxed into his embrace.
She sniffed twice before she laughed. “Elk? Where did you find that around here?”
He backed away and grinned. “Secret hunting grounds.
Perhaps I"ll show you some day.” Her answering smile filled him with a sense of ease. Taking her hand, he led her into the kitchen. He seared a half-dozen of the steaks, cooking them only enough to char the outside.
After a while, Dagny spoke up from behind him. “I didn"t think you could cook. There was nothing in here when I looked earlier.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Not bothering and not knowing are two different things. I didn"t have anyone to feed until recently.”
She chuckled, a throaty, delicious sound. “I"m flattered.”
Brand served her and was pleased to see her dig in as soon as the plate touched the table. A strange feeling of excitement tickled his stomach while he watched Dagny eat. He had hunted with her, and he let her eat first. He"d always made fun of other males when they behaved so traditionally. Since he"d met Dagny, he understood all too well why they deferred.
86
She noticed his attention and met his eyes. Glancing down at his empty plate, she stopped chewing.
Brand smiled. “When you"re full, I"ll eat.” He felt the sharp edge of her shock, and then her affection for him an instant later. To feel that warmth from her all the time, he thought he might do anything.
She resumed chewing, then swallowed the mouthful.
“Alice?” “Nothing short of compulsion will bring her within ten feet of food when there"s a male present. I"ll make sure there"s enough left when I"m done.” Alice had been terrorized too long to conquer her fear, no matter how patient he was. He"d tried asking her, yelling at her, and even feeding her from his hand, but nothing would make her eat with him in the same room.
Dagny"s face became somber. “Why does it have to be like this?”
“Because no matter what happens around us, the Broods of Fenrir don"t change.”
She stared at him for a long while, food forgotten on her plate. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was a whisper.
“Can"t you change it?”
He stood and paced across the room. “You don"t know what you ask.”
“Then, explain it to me. You could be the king. Doesn"t that mean you can order them to stop?”
“A king only remains in command as long as his subjects fear him, Dagny. What do you suppose I would have to do to maintain fear among this lot of brutal animals?” She put down her utensils. “I hadn"t considered that.” He stared out the window, watching clouds race by the bright outline of the full moon high above. The moon felt so close, her song crowding every thought. The beat of his heart kept time with the song as his blood pumped through him.
Images from his youth crept into his mind, but he fought them back. “I watched what my sire had to do to 87
control them. I"ve had the years since I killed him to consider what it would mean if I took his place. More than long enough to know that I can"t do what would be required of me.” She came up beside him and rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I"ve upset you. I"m sorry.” A current of sadness flowed from her that tasted like old metal in his mouth. “Don"t apologize to me.” He didn"t mean it as a command, but it sounded like one.
Her face lifted, eyes narrowed. “I"ll do what I please.” With a quick move,