Page 214 of Moon Craving

provide food for their mates along the way. Abigail did not mind because it gave her time

to talk to Guaire.

"What did Niall say about kissing Una?" she asked as soon as she thought the two

warriors had gotten far enough away.

"He said she kissed him. He let her because he saw me coming out of the kitchen.

He thought it might make me jealous. Then he realized how stupid that was, but only too

late to stop it. He saw the hurt on my face and it gave him the first hope he'd had since

realizing I was his mate."

"When did he realize that?"

"Too long ago." Guaire's entire demeanor was one of frustration. "My fear of

revealing myself and his of frightening or overwhelming me kept us apart."

"Perfect love is supposed to cast out fear."

"I suppose it does when you admit it."

"But when you're intent on hiding it--"

"It just causes pain."

Abigail nodded and then said, "Let's make a pact not to regret the past, but rejoice

in our present and future."

"Pact." Guaire put his hand out.

Abigail shook it. "Pact."

When they returned to the fortress, Niall made no effort to hide his longtime

affection for Guaire. Abigail was delighted to discover that the Highlanders were much

more accepting of the love between the two men than her parents or their people would

have been. Everyone but Una.

Abigail knew something would have to be done about the other woman, but it

would have to wait. Talorc had told her that he had something to show her. She waited for

him in the great hall while he and Barr conferred on the soldier's duties for the day.

Finally, everyone else was gone and the only two remaining in the hall were her

and Talorc.

He stopped in front of her, looking her up and down and sending tingles

everywhere his gaze traveled. "I cannot believe you are my mate. You are so perfect for