Moon Burning - By Lucy Monroe Page 0,65

both bride and groom lent solemnity as well as joy to the occasion.

Whatever their differences, Earc and Verica were happy to be mating.

When Verica promised to obey Earc, Sabrine had to bite her tongue. It was not in a Chrechte’s nature to submit to anyone without question, but no doubt the Faol man knew that. He would never expect Verica to be as biddable as the vow implied. Though as her mate and the pack beta, he would be no husband gifted with unending tolerance, either.

To Sabrine’s mind, that made them a strong match, a good mating that would provide children for both the pack and the clan.

The priest spoke another blessing over them and then made a motion with his hand. “The peace of our Lord and Father be with you.”

Suddenly the people around them were repeating the words to each other, clasping hands and smiling.

Sabrine found it odd and held back until Barr took her hand. “Peace be with you.”

She stared at him. Peace was not the emotion most paramount when she was in his presence. At this moment in time, she could not imagine peace in any form attached to her feelings for him. Yet his hand covering hers brought forth an inexplicable delight she could not quite mask.

Her mind whirling once again, while her emotions chose to follow suit, she stared up at him.

A smile dawned on his rugged features and his finger caressed her palm as he pulled his hand away. “The proper response is: and also with you.”

“I do wish you peace, though I fear you are far from it yet as laird of this clan.” Not to mention a Chrechte male whose true mate would have no choice but to abandon him sooner than either would be happy with.

His eyes said he read her thoughts and still his smile grew. “You are a unique woman, my little warrior princess.” He spoke the last words in an undertone, but she heard them.

Her father had used to call her his little princess. The emotions that welled up as Barr reminded her of those halcyon days before her parents’ murders threatened to choke Sabrine.

He touched the small of her back, his action both possessive and comforting. The future is not so bleak as you believe, he said into her mind.

The rest of the clan settled back to their original places, but now Barr stood beside her rather than near Earc. His hand remained at the small of her back as well and she could feel the close scrutiny of many around them.

Father Thomas and Padraig offered Communion. She’d heard of it, from the humans that lived among the Éan, but had never seen it administered. The sense of connecting with the spiritual during the ritual was as strong as the communal worship the Chrechte practiced. It should not have surprised her, but it did.

After all had partaken of the bread and sipped from the chalice, the clan and the priest spoke that strange language, the Latin, in unison.

Father Thomas presented Earc and Verica as a married couple, though Sabrine was sure all present were well aware they had spoken their vows.

Everyone dispersed, though some she recognized from that morning headed toward the forest rather than to their cottages. They did not take a direct route, she noted, but their destination was clear to her.

She turned to Barr. Will there be a Chrechte mating?

The ability to speak to him thus and ask what she was curious about without worrying about being overheard was an amazing freedom. Even with her abilities among her people, she did not take it for granted.

Aye.

The sacred springs are a day’s journey away.

There is a nearer set of caves the clan uses.

Why?

He shrugged. Rowland led the pack to do things differently, but ’tis the intent behind those present at the ceremony, not where it is held, that holds importance.

Perhaps for the Faol, but there is power in the caves of the sacred springs for the Éan. It was not only the Clach Gealach Gra that impacted the strength of the coming of age ceremony.

What do you mean?

She shook her head, unwilling to discuss the topic further.

Barr stood alone as the last howls of the Chrechte mating ceremony faded into silence. He wanted Sabrine beside him, but she’d refused to come, saying her Chrechte nature would be obvious to her enemies if she accompanied him. He thought she’d let that particular secret into the light when she’d saved Earc and stayed with Barr through