Charlotte Boyett-Compo- WIND VERSE- Hunger's Harmattan Unknown (top business books of all time .TXT) 📖

furtively throughthe stand of trees. She watched it move with quiet stealth toward the cave’sentrance, completely unaware of her presence there at the stream.

As cautiously as she could, she set the cupof tea down and stood. She mentally cursed herself for she’d brought no weaponwith her. The threat that was moving toward the cave entrance both angered andalarmed her. Her mate was inside and sleeping, unaware danger was lurkingnearby.

Moving just as carefully and silently, shefollowed, her hands doubled into fists at her side, her naked body tense andprimed for a fight. If her ancestors could fight unclothed and unarmed, shethought, so could she.

She stopped when the figure stopped.Holding her breath, she stood perfectly still as the one she’d been followingslowly turned and looked straight at her. She didn’t think she could be seenfor she was hidden beneath the spreading branches of an orange tree. For thelongest time there was no movement from either the dark figure or Shanee. Therewas no sound. Finally, the one at the entrance to the cave seemed to be contentthere was no danger and turned around, sweeping aside the hanging curtain ofvines that hung over the cave entrance. As the vines parted, moonlight glintedoff something in the figure’s hand and Shanee’s heart accelerated. She lungedforward, intent on tackling whoever or whatever was trying to gain access toher home and Ailyn.

Startled by the sudden rush of sound behindit, the figure sprang aside and started to dart back into the lush foliage tothe side of the cave, dropping whatever it had been holding. It turned back,bent down to scoop up what it had dropped and it was at that moment that itcame face-to-face with Ailyn Harmattan’s bride.

Shanee was running so hard she nearlyslammed face first into the cave. Her hands slapped against the rock but yearsof military training pivoted her around, expecting the figure to attack her. Itwas only a few feet away from her—its face fully lit by the moonlight—and whatshe saw made the Amazeen cry out in shock.

Time stood still as Shanee stared with wideeyes and opened mouth at the nightmarish form. Her heart seemed to have ceasedbeating and for the first time in her life knew what true fear was. She nearlyfainted when she felt strong hands on her shoulders—tightening almostpainfully—and dragging her back against a rock-hard body. She would havescreamed had not Ailyn’s soft voice shushed her.

“Good eve, Jules,” she heard her husbandsay.

The deformed man half hidden in the thickbushes moved backward another step and made a grunting noise as he straightenedout of his crouch. He was clutching something metallic against his broad chest.

“My lady-wife was intent on protecting me,”Ailyn said. “She is an Amazeen.”

Shanee could not take her eyes from themonstrosity facing her. Over seven feet in height with very muscular arms andlegs, he had pale gray flesh covered in what appeared to be wiry tendrils thatcovered him from head to toe. He had leathery lips and a broad, flat nose witha triple row of vented nostrils thrust out from beneath almond-shaped blackeyes that had no pupils. His ears were pointed and twitched like those of acat. His very large hands had exceedingly long fingers though his thumb wasshort and flanged out at the tip. One thick, strange-looking plait of jaggedscales fell from the top of his head to just below his hips. He wore abreechclout over his genitals and it was obvious to her that he was very wellendowed.

“This is Shanee,” Ailyn said.

There was a low, warbling grunt from Jules.He took another step back as though prepared to run at any moment.

“Would you like to come inside?” Ailynasked.

The horror that had once been anexceedingly handsome man shook his head vehemently, his long plait whipping asthough it were a viper.

Shanee shook off her husband’s grip andstepped forward, stilling when Jules once more stepped back. She held out herhand. “Hello, Jules,” she managed to say. She tried to smile but her face feltfrozen.

Jules looked down at her hand then cockedhis head to one side. His dark eyes were like stygian pools in his cinereousface. When she came closer, he thrust what he was holding out to her.

Taken aback by the sudden movement, Shaneejumped. Her gaze fell to the thing in his overly large hands and she had tocaution herself not to cringe when she saw the long, pointed red claws thatgrew from his fingers.

With another grunt and one step towardShanee, Jules straightened to his full height and his chin lifted. He moved hisoffering toward her.

Shanee realized what he was holding out toher, what had flashed so dangerously in the moonlight, was an eight by tenpiece of flattened tin. Her forehead wrinkled as she reached for it. In herhands it was very warm and she realized that like Ailyn and all Reapers, hisbody temperature was much higher than a humanoid’s. She felt her husband moveup behind her.

Jules seemed to be swaying back and forthfrom foot to foot and his movement reminded her of a little boy anxious for hismother to see what he had brought her.

She held the flattened tin so she could seeit clearly in the moonlight and her lips parted. She stared at the surface ofthe tin then slowly lifted her gaze to Jules. “You did this?” she asked.

The hideously deformed man bobbed his headand grunted again.

Shanee turned her head and looked at Ailyn.“Look,” she said.

What she held in her hand was anintricately designed and executed punched and pierced tin portrait of Ailyn andShanee looking at one another during their Joining. They were holding handswith the waterfall and the lake in the background. The portrait was solifelike, so perfectly precise and carefully crafted with an oval Gaelachknotwork pattern enclosing the couple. At the top left corner was an ancientCladdagh symbol and on the top right was a trinity knot of entwined hearts. Onthe bottom left corner were their names and on the bottom right the date. Thecraftsmanship was superb, the most beautiful thing either Ailyn or Shanee hadever seen.

“Oh Jules,” she whispered. “It isexquisite.”

Ailyn met the other man’s eyes. “Thank you,my friend. We