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  “Why don’t we explore your ability?” He spoke in a soothing voice to help her relax, but the anger in his gaze a moment ago remained fresh in her memory.

  “First close your eyes. Envision the animal you want to transform into. Draw the picture of species in your mind, and you will feel your body changing.” His hand kept her from rising or refusing his request.

  She slammed her eyelids shut.

  Fine, if it didn’t work. What could he do?

  Call her a fake.

  “I’ll try, but I don’t see how this will work.” In her mind, she pictured a large black wolf, sharp teeth, thick coat, rippling muscles and let all thoughts of being a human slip away.

  The sudden ache in her shoulders forced her to shift restlessly under his hand. Her leg muscles tightened, tendons stretched. The hard surface of the floor hit her back in a strange way. A spasm raced along her spine. She shifted and rolled away from Havyn. Her side hit the wall of the stall. She opened her eyes to tell him it hadn’t worked, and a black wolf startled her with his huge form.

  She took a quick step away from the creature, but with no room to maneuver, she stood pinned against the back partition. What’s going on?

  You changed your form. Havyn’s voice sounded in her head. The wolf nodded his head in her direction.

  Astonished by the change in him, she peeked down at her feet. Brown hairy paws occupied the space where her feet should have been. She twisted around to see brown and white fur covering her sides and rump. The small wolf’s form didn’t appear anything like Faye Lynn had imagined, but her body held the shape of a canine.

  But this isn’t right. I should look like you do. She took a few steps, marveling at the crisp hay against the pads of her feet. Big and fierce, not a wimpy little puppy.

  Havyn toured along beside her, sniffing her coat. I don’t see you as a pup. He growled and moisture from his tongue dripped with lust.

  She walked a few steps forward and ran out of room.

  You’re twice my size. Shock rang in her voice.

  Circling back along her side, he kept her pinned against the back wall of the stall. Are you ready to try another form?

  No, I’d really like to see what I look like as a wolf first, but I guess that’s not possible until we break out of the barn.

  He left her and trotted to the door. With a gentle nudge of his nose, he undid the latch and shoved the partition open.

  Then let’s head to the river, and you can see your reflection there. He held the large wooden door so she could leave the barn.

  Thrilled to be free, Faye Lynn raced for the opening. The fresh summer air blew into her nostrils. The soft green grass under her feet caressed her paws. The mid-afternoon sun warmed her skin. All the different scents floating on the breeze fed her canine senses. She wanted to track them all down and discover what they were, but she ignored the lure.

  Her father would be waiting, and it would take a while to return to town. A wolf’s stride ate up the distance much faster than her human legs could travel, but a falcon could fly a straighter and faster path.

  Her father would probably still be celebrating. But if she returned early, maybe she could convince him to buy her a new dress with some of the extra cash.

  The sound of another wolf’s paws hitting the ground beside her sent her plans for escape to a screeching halt. She glanced at Havyn matching her step for step. She slowed and so did he.

  Could she out run him? She increased her pace, but he only adjusted his gate to match hers.

  As they neared the river, he herded her to the water and away from the road. She decided after a few failed attempts that she couldn’t escape him and wandered to the edge of lake.

  The brown and white face of a wolf greeted her. She turned her head and judged her size. Her form, plus her inability to escape Havyn, wrapped a blanket of depression around her emotions. Her head fell to the water, and she took a few licks.

  So what do you think?

  She didn’t answer. Instead, she sought the shade of a large rock. The lack of sleep from the night before hit, and after a few turns to trample the grass, she curled her body into a circle and rested her head on the short length of her forelegs.

  You can’t modify your size and coloring. They follow you from form to form. He walked to her side and nudged her with the end of his nose. What’s wrong?

  He wouldn’t understand, and she couldn’t explain her pathetic life to anyone. Nothing, I’m just tired.

  She closed her eyes and did her best to ignore his strong masculine form. Because of him, she’d returned to her father late and missed her breakfast. Then after being bought like a trinket, he’d left her in the barn for hours to worry about her future.

  Now, she’d found out she could turn into other animals. But no matter what species she chose, she’d still be at the small end of the scale. She would never be able to threaten anyone or protect herself.

  Her father already despised her for being able to turn into a falcon. He’d probably only hate her more as a wolf.

  And to top off her misery, Havyn stood before her. She doubted she’d ever be able to escape his possessive presence. After paying good money for her, he wouldn’t let her go easily. Her body and mind tired, she couldn’t fathom a way to gain her freedom.

  When did you last eat?

  Confused by the change in topic from the ones running through her head, she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Why?

  Because you didn’t eat any of the food I gave you when you were locked in the barn. And last night, you didn’t eat dinner. He stood over her demanding answers. What did you eat for breakfast?

  She lowered her head back to her paws. I don’t remember. She couldn’t tell him about her father’s ill-tempered moods or how he’d denied her food. It would only ignite Havyn’s anger.

  You need to eat. He ambled to a nearby tree and clawed at the ground. Dirt flew out behind his back legs.

  Her eyelids closed. She had no plans to join him in such a silly endeavor. Let him dig in the dirt, she wanted a nap.

  ****

  Once again in his human form, Havyn slipped into the clothes he’d dug up. They smelled like dirt, but they were better than him traipsing around the countryside with no clothes on at all.

  When he’d first moved to the area, he’d enjoyed the pleasures of running around without clothes, but his neighbors complained. To avoid the problem, he’d buried a set of pants in several places. That way if he felt compelled to transform out in the fields, a garment buried nearby gave him coverage for the trip back to the house.

  His gaze fell on Faye Lynn. Asleep, she lay in a ball on the ground. Her earlier comment correct, she didn’t look much bigger than a pup, but she filled his needs. He imagined making love to her in their wolf forms.

  A low growl rumbled in his throat. On the trip to the river, the flicker of her tail enticed him with the scent of her sex. The hunger in his cock grew. His tongue dripped with lust. She smelled like a bitch in heat.

  The animal instinct of his wolf form demanded he claim her as his mate. Cover her sex and demonstrate how her small form could still satisfy his appetite. With his cock buried deep in her hot, wet pussy, he would pound out his lust until they both exploded.

  Even now, he wanted to howl at the frustration of not having his way with her body, but he noticed the path she’d taken. She didn’t trust him and had probably decided to escape. His human logic forced him to give her time to adjust. She wasn’t ready to make love in a different form. He tightened his control over his desires and bent to pick her up.

  She whimpered softly, then snuggled back into his arms and fell asleep.

  Walking back to the house, he considered what she’d told him during the course of the afternoon. The lie about a wizard having cursed her spiked his anger. Being able to turn into a bird or any animal was a unique gift. She shouldn’t be ashamed of her ability.

  But then again, her father didn’t know the first thing about her
skill. A human with half a brain, he’d proven his ignorance by selling her so cheaply, even if he did plan to get her back. Havyn recognized the signs of the scam the moment her father started spouting off about not being responsible if she escaped.

  Faye Lynn’s getting away wouldn’t be a problem. In fact, Havyn knew he should probably return her to Ardenia. If she was who he thought, her birth right demanded she live there.

  His chest tightened at the prospect. He’d not been back to Ardenia in years. Not since his trial, not since he’d been banned by the queen from ever stepping foot on their soil again.

  But maybe she would forgive his sins if the young shape-shifter in his arms turned out to be her daughter. He shook his head. He’d be lucky if they didn’t accuse him of kidnapping the girl.

  He studied the young wolf in his arms. The right coloring, she appeared to be the right age, too.

  With no guarantee, he felt the only thing to do was return her to their homeland. She deserved the opportunity to learn where she came from and who her real parents were. But mostly, she deserved to live in paradise.

  A tight band squeezed his chest at the idea of achieving such a task. Ardenia, an allusive place of dreams, most people didn’t even believe the region existed.

  The queen helped perpetuate the belief by making it extremely hard to find. The portal to Ardenia shifted to a new location on a regular basis to avoid unwelcome visitors.

  Some of his less than savory friends would know the current location of the portal, but he cringed at the thought of traveling to such rough areas with Faye Lynn.

  The knowledge he sought could only be found in the dark and seedy taverns where crooks and fiends waited until his back was turned to strike.

  Should he drag her to such a dangerous place? Only to return her to the land she didn’t even remember.

  Plans as to what he should do warred in Havyn’s head with what he wanted to do.

  His foot faltered on the stone steps leading into kitchen at the back of house. No matter the cost to himself or his reputation, his personal honor dictated he carry her home.

  Chapter Six

  The loud squeak of the back door jerked Havyn’s thoughts back to the present. Ned rushed out of the castle and drew to a quick halt.

  “Oh, Captain, I was just coming to look for you.” He spied the wolf in Havyn’s arms then carried on with his story. “Our neighbor, Tate told—”

  “You know the one, Captain.” Sadie stood in the doorway, pointing in the direction of where the man lived. “On the north side of the property, just up the road a bit.”

  “Yes?” Havyn put his foot on the bottom step, and Ned turned so Havyn could pass on his way into the house.

  “Well, you’ll never guess what he told us.” Sadie stepped aside to let him pass and raised her chin to gawk openly. “Why would ya want to be bringing such a creature into the house?”

  “Never you mind, Sadie.” Ned led his wife inside and directed her back toward the stove. “I need to talk to the Captain. You go get his supper ready. He has to be hungry after his walk in the woods.” He followed Havyn out of the kitchen and through the dark cold guts of the castle until they stepped into the front entranceway.

  Havyn trotted up the main staircase and strolled into his bedroom. He laid Faye Lynn’s small form on his bed. “What did Tate tell you, Ned?”

  “That you were right, Captain. The man who sold you that falcon is already dead. They found him a while ago under a patch of trees at the edge of town. His money gone and his throat slit.” Ned walked to the fireplace and lifted the poker. “You said this morning you thought the hawk’s owner wouldn’t keep his money more than a day. And you were right.” He stirred the ambers and added more logs to the fire.

  “Yes, but I didn’t think the thieves would kill him. I thought he would spend it on spirits and women.” Havyn was more concerned how the news would affect Faye Lynn than about the event of his death. Her father hadn’t treated her with kindness, but she still cared for him.

  Also, he’d hoped to question the man about how he’d acquired Faye Lynn. She couldn’t be his real daughter, which meant he found her somewhere. Now, the opportunity to find out more about her past had diminished.

  Sadie sauntered through the bedroom door. “It’s a shame. Here a man has a little luck come his way, and thieves rob him of not only his money but his life as well. It’s a sign of how bad our world is coming to.”

  A silver tray in her hands, she stepped to the table by the fire to set it down. “I was a thinking you might be wanting something for that poor little pup. A bit of milk and some soft chucks of bread will help fill the wee one’s stomach.”

  Havyn turned. “Excellent idea, Sadie, I’ll have dinner in my room, too. That way, I can keep an eye on our guest.”

  “Rightly so, sir. You don’t want any puddles on the floor.” Sadie placed a bowl and plate on the table. “I’ll also bring some charmed paper to help with the problem if you’d like?”

  “That might be helpful, Sadie.” Havyn turned at the sound of Faye Lynn rustling on the covers. He didn’t wish an audience for her transformation into her human form. In a whisper, he added, “We should probably be quiet so she can rest.”

  Sadie smiled and stepped to the door. Ned followed.

  After the door closed, Havyn sat on the bed to stroke Faye Lynn’s back. “Little one, why don’t you wake for a moment and eat a bite?”

  Her eyes opened. She stretched her legs out in front of her, studied him for a moment then surveyed the room.

  Being in different forms, he couldn’t hear her voice in his head, but he could see her desire to transform. He stood and stepped to the bureau. She’d ask for something to wear after she changed.

  The rich scent of her transformation filled the air. He found her a shirt and turned to see her lying naked across the bed. His cock swelled at the alluring picture she created.

  Her brown messy hair swirled around her head. One lock curled its way around her breast, highlighting the rose tip. Her velvet skin moist from her conversion begged for his touch. With her legs spread wide, the pink petals of her sex called him closer.

  Tempted, he directed the tip of his finger over her knee and up her inner thigh. She turned to him and opened her arms. A sweet smile crossed her lips. He couldn’t deny the welcome her invitation offered.

  “Don’t you think you should eat first? Because if I step any closer to you, we’re not getting out of bed for a very long time.” He directed his hand to her ankle to keep from dipping a finger into her moist heat.

  She smiled and sat up. “If you want to eat, we can. But I’m feeling well rested after my nap.”

  His gaze embraced her naked form. Lust lit a fire in his loins. He could imagine himself buried deep inside her, enjoying the sweet bliss of her pussy and pounding out the pulsing urges screaming through his cock.

  He handed her the extra shirt. “You can wear this while we eat.”

  “Thank you,” she said after slipping the garment over her head. “Most of the time, when I’m a bird, or uh, in another animal form, I don’t mind being naked, but as a human, I...”

  Confusion clouded her eyes. Humans were taught to be ashamed of their natural form. An attitude shape-shifters didn’t share. Her father must have inflicted this antiquated opinion on her.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Havyn held out his hand to help her from the bed. “Let’s see what Sadie brought you to eat.”

  A soft knock on the bedroom door announced his dinner’s arrival.

  “Captain, should I leave your food outside the door?”

  “Thank you, Ned. That would be great.” Havyn suspected Ned guessed Faye Lynn was in the room. They’d worked together in the war and knew each other’s secrets.

  “Who was that?” Faye Lynn sauntered to the table where chunks of bread overflowed from a porcelain plate. Milk filled a shallow saucer.

  “Ned.” Havyn studied the items on the table. “This isn’t enough
food for you. Let me bring in the tray from the hall.”

  When he returned from retrieving the additional food, his gaze sped hungrily over Faye Lynn. Dressed in his shirt, he couldn’t see her form, but she looked as sexy as always. The hidden curves under the soft surface of the fabric teased his mind with erotic images. Her lush breasts accented her narrow waist. Wide hips added balance to the package. But her womanly scent stiffened his cock into a painful ache. The animal appetite racing through her blood demanded more than just food.

  He set the tray on the table and lifted the cloth to reveal their meal. A large bowl of stew, consisting of cooked meat and vegetables, bread and a mug of strong ale enticed his palate. The tasty aroma sent a rumble of hunger through his stomach.

  Picking up his spoon, he offered it to Faye Lynn. “Why don’t you eat first, little one?”

  She shook her head. “No, that’s your dinner.”

  He pulled out the chair. “We can share.”

  Again she balked and stepped away from the table. He took her hand, uncertain as to why she would refuse his food. She had to be starving.

  “There’s enough for both of us.” He sat and tugged her onto his lap. “You can even decide who gets what.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Meaning you want me to feed you.”

  He grinned.

  She took a chunk of bread and dipped it in the stew. The morsel disappeared into her mouth. Repeating the process, she turned. “Now, one for you.”

  Her fingers brushed his lips, and the morsel landed in his mouth. He savored the taste and licked his lips. She offered him another bite as soon as he swallowed.

  In a rush, she ate and fed him. With her strong ache for food, he didn’t talk or try to slow her pace. Instead, he guided his hands along her body—between her legs, under the oversized shirt to caress her breasts, then down her back and over her backside to play along the seam of her ass. He longed for her to feast on him after she satisfied her appetite for food.