“I won’t have you—”

“Wait.” Larkin interrupted Moira’s furious spate. “A moment. I’d like to speak with Cian in private. Talk only,” he said before Moira could object. “My word on it.”

She pushed a hand through her hair. “I don’t have time for either of you, and this foolishness. Be men then, and discuss what is none of your business or concern as if I’m addle-brained. I have to dress and speak to the troops who march today.”

She strode to the door. “I’ll trust you not to kill each other over my private relationships.”

She went out, slammed the door.

“Make it quick,” Cian snapped. “I’m suddenly weary of humans.”

The worst of the temper had faded out of Larkin’s face. “You think I hit you, that I’m angry because of what you are. I would have had the same reaction, done the same to any man I’d found her with like this. She’s my girl, after all. It wasn’t part of what I was thinking, as I wasn’t thinking in any case.”

He shifted his feet, blew out a hard breath. “And now that I do, well, it adds a complicated layer to it all. But I don’t want you thinking I planted one on you because you’re a vampire. The fact is, I don’t think of you that way unless, well, unless I think about it. You’re a friend to me. You’re one of the six of us.”

Even as he spoke, the flush of temper came back. “And I’m saying clear, me demanding, here and now, what the sodding hell you were thinking of taking advantage of my cousin has nothing to do with whether or not you have a f**king heartbeat.”

Cian waited a moment. “Are you done with that part of the speech?”

“I am, until I have an answer.”

With a nod, Cian sat, picked up his cup again. “You put me in a position, don’t you? Calling me a friend, and one of you. I may be the first, but I’ll never be the second.”

“Bollocks. That’s a kind of way out of things. I trust you as I trust few others. And now you’ve seduced my cousin.”

Cian let out a snorting laugh. “You’re not giving her enough credit. Neither did I.” Idly, Cian traced a finger over the beaded leather. “She unraveled me like a ball of yarn. It doesn’t excuse not making her leave, but she’s persuasive and stubborn. I couldn’t—I didn’t resist her.”

He glanced over at the maps he’d neglected since she’d knocked on the door. “It won’t be a problem as I’m leaving tonight. Earlier if the weather cooperates. I want a firsthand look at the battlefield. So she’s safe from me, and me from her, until this is over.”

“You can’t. You can’t,” Larkin repeated when Cian merely lifted a brow. “If you go like this, she’ll think it’s because of her. It’ll hurt her. If I’m responsible for you planning to leave—”

“I’d decided it before she came here last night. Partially because I’d hoped to keep my hands off her.”

Obviously frustrated, Larkin dragged his hands through his hair. “As you didn’t make it away quick enough for that, it’ll just have to wait. I’ll take you there myself, by air, in a few days or whenever it can be done. But we six need to be together.”

Calmer, Larkin studied Cian’s face. “We need to be one circle. This is bigger than lying with or not lying with each other. And that, now that my blood’s cooler, I can say is between the two of you. It’s not my place to interfere. But damn it,” he continued, “I’m going to ask you one thing. I’m going to ask you as a friend, and as her blood kin standing for her father. Have you feelings for her? True feelings?”

“You play the friendship card handily, don’t you?”

“You are my friend, I care for you as I would a brother. That’s the truth from me.”

“Damn it.” Cian slammed down the cup, then scowled at the blood that splattered on the maps. “You humans crowd me with these feelings. You push them at me, and into me without a single thought for how I can survive them.”

“How can you survive without them?” Larkin wondered.

“Comfortably. What difference does it make to you what I feel? She needed someone.”

“Not someone. You.”

“Her mistake,” Cian said quietly. “My damnation. I love her, or I would have taken her before this for the sport of it. I love her, or I’d have sent her away from me last night. How, I’m not sure, but I love her otherwise I wouldn’t feel so goddamn desperate. And you repeat that to anyone, I’ll snap your head from your shoulders, friend or not.”

“All right.” With a nod, Larkin got to his feet, offered his hand. “I hope you’ll make each other as happy as you’re able, for as long as you’re able.”

“Hell.” Cian accepted the hand. “What the hell are you doing here at this hour anyway?”

“Oh, I forgot completely. I thought you’d not yet be in bed. I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to let us—my family—mate your stallion with one of our mares. She’s in season, and your Vlad would be a fine sire.”

“You want to use my horse as stud?”

“I would, yes, if it’s no problem for you. I’d have her brought to him this morning.”

“Go ahead. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”

“Thanks for that. We’ll pay you the standard fee.”

“No. No fee. We’ll consider this a gesture between friends.”

“Between friends then. Thanks. I’ll just go and find Moira, and let her break her temper over my head as I deserve.” Larkin paused at the door. “Oh, the mare I’ve in mind for your stallion. She’s fetching.”

The quick grin, the quick wink as Larkin went out had Cian laughing despite the mess of the morning.

Chapter 11

A t Moira’s orders, the flags flew at half-staff, and pipers played a requiem in the dawn light. She would do more, if the gods were willing, for those who gave their lives in this war. But for now, this was all that could be done to acknowledge the dead.

Standing in the courtyard, she was torn between grief and pride as she watched the men and women—the warriors—prepare for the long march east. She’d already bid her farewells to her women, and to Phelan, her cousin’s husband.