to the Éan’s lands deep in the forest.
Without her ability to fly, they might as well have been in a wolf’s stronghold.
Barr did not bother to reply to her gratitude and she made no effort to prolong conversation. Not when it was so clear he was uninterested in talking with her.
She removed her clothing quietly, wondering if she should offer to sleep elsewhere. But that was stupid. He was her mate, and further, he was pack alpha. If he did not want her in his bed, he was more than capable of making his desires known.
Verbally. He was no child to sulk and get his way. No doubt he had his reasons for his silence, but at no time had he ever implied by so much as a look that he did not want her in his bed as his mate.
As mother of his yet-to-be-born child, he was even less likely to reject her place in his life.
Part of her could not help wondering if he wanted her only because she was his sacred mate and pregnant with his child. The love she felt for him was clearly not returned.
But then what did she know of emotion and love? She had lived as a warrior, among warriors, many of whom had taken mates for the sake of continuing the Éan race rather than any strong emotional connection.
How was she to know how a male Chrechte acted when he was in love with his mate? Except, she’d seen Earc with Verica and Niall and Guaire with one another. The affection they held for their mates was more than apparent.
Unsure how to deal with a Barr who did not react with instant arousal when they were alone, and annoyed by her own insecurities, Sabrine determinedly climbed into bed with him.
He made no move to turn and take her in his arms. Nevertheless, she reached out to touch his back, simply laying her hand against his shoulder blade behind his heart.
He surged up and over so quickly she let out a very un-warrior-like yelp of surprise.
He looked down at her, his features golden in the fire-light but cast partially in shadow. She could not read his expression, but the feel of his hardness against her thigh told her things were not so different than every other night. With no words, he lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a heated kiss.
Relief flooded her and she responded with all the feminine longing in her heart.
Their lovemaking was powerful and overwhelming, his body possessing hers with an intense hunger she reveled in. It was only as she drifted off to sleep, held tightly in his arms, that she realized he had not done his usual verbal claim staking.
He had not prompted her to acknowledge that she was his even once.
Sabrine stared at the horse Barr had prepared for her to ride. It was a lovely white mare and appeared to have a quiet disposition. Not that it mattered.
“I do not ride.”
Barr stopped what he was doing with his horse, a huge brown stallion that frankly scared Sabrine spitless. Not that she would admit to the weakness. He turned to face her, but looking as if he was trying to decide if she was merely being difficult or serious (which she was), he did not speak.
Guaire, who had come with Niall to see them off, was not so reticent. “Why not?”
“I do not have a horse.” In fact, there were less than a handful of horses living in her people’s lands, and those owned by some of the humans that lived among the Éan.
“Have you ever ridden one?” Niall asked, unable to hide the shock he felt.
Though she could tell he tried.
She felt her cheeks heat, though she didn’t think she should be embarrassed—after all, her people had their reasons for not keeping the great beasts—and shook her head firmly.
“You will ride with me then.” Barr immediately started moving the things he had tied behind the saddle on the white mare to his giant brute of a horse.
“I . . . uh . . . I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He faced her again, his strong jaw set. “I will not risk you falling off and injuring yourself further because it is the first time you have ridden.”
“I could shift and ride the horse in my raven form. She could keep her seat with her claws.”
“How is it that you can shift at all?” Guaire asked. “I thought Chrechte females could not shift when