The Centaur's Bride by Tamsin Ley

Author:Tamsin Ley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781545108390
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2017-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

HAPTER SEVEN

Black was on his feet in an instant, ears alert. He’d heard the horses shifting uncomfortably, but had ignored it. Now he wanted to kick himself for growing careless. For losing himself so completely in the mind-blowing sex. He bent to help Renee to her feet.

She rose, pressing herself against him, her sweet scent mingling with the night air. Her voice trembled. “Was that a woman?”

“Mountain lion.” Giving her a reassuring squeeze, he let go and moved to stoke the fire back to life. “It won’t come near the fire.”

Renee scrambled to find her clothes, pulling her tank over her head. Black dug in their gear and pulled out the .45 he carried for protection. He’d only had to use it once before, to warn off a bear that had been coming too close to the barn. “I’d better bring the horses in.”

As he reached for his jeans, terrified whinnies from the wild herd cut through the night. The distinctive high pitched cry of a foal set Black’s limbs trembling. No. Shifter herd or wild brethren, it didn’t matter, he had a driving need to protect, especially the young.

He thrust the gun toward Renee. “You know how to use a gun?”

She stared at the weapon as if it might bite her. “N-no.”

Still holding the pistol, he spun toward the herd’s cries. His centaur form was stretching the seams of his control, bucking to be released. He took Renee by one shoulder and turned her toward the blaze, thinking fleetingly about leaving the gun. Better not. A gun in inexperienced hands could be more dangerous than helpful. “You’ll be safe here. Keep the flames high. I’ll be back.”

“Wait! You’re going out there naked?”

The power of the shift vibrated uncontrollably inside him. He called over his shoulder, “I’ll be fine!”

Bounding from the camp, he held the change at bay until he was clear of the firelight. He couldn’t allow Renee to see, not only because Lori forbade it, but also because he wasn’t ready to expose himself. She’d think he was a monster.

The wildcat screeched again, the echo tapering to nothing as it routed its prey. Black’s shift seized his muscles and bones, splitting his legs and shifting his elongating spine backward. He paused only long enough to stabilize his new footing, then galloped across the moonlit sagebrush, hooves thundering against the dry ground. His blood burned with the need to protect. He let his ears guide him. The wildcat had gone silent. It’d made its mark.

Heading for the pocket of unnatural silence, Black galloped forward. The sky outlined several horses in starlight. Millie’s familiar slumped back stood at the outer edge, bravely facing into the night. He’d assumed the nearby group was a herd of wild cousins. If he’d known it was shifters, he might not have so readily made camp nearby.

Millie nickered in his direction, calling for aid. He drew close, scanning the group. Millie’s baby was nowhere in sight. “Where’s Ivy-Jane?”

The mare nickered again, hopping her front hooves up and down anxiously.

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