Von Losontz and von Mir returned to New Orleans with Dreher’s body, promising to come to Bayou Gris once the young man had been properly interred.
“IT IS BEAUTIFUL,” Aria said, standing with Cort among the wildflowers on the hill of memories. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. “I only wish we didn’t have to leave your home so soon after you—”
“There is no reason we cannot return someday,” he said, resting his cheek against her hair. “A queen must have some privileges, after all.”
“And she will make use of them,” Aria murmured, kissing Cort’s bare arm. “I wonder if Alese is still alive somewhere. I would like to come back and look for her someday.”
“If she is alive, we’ll find her,” Cort said.
“There are so many things…”
Cort kissed the top of her head. “I know. But we can live only one day at a time.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I know Carantia will seem strange to you.”
“No stranger than it will seem to you. But we won’t be alone.”
No. Never alone again. “There are places in the mountains I can’t wait to show you,” she said. “Places just like this, where we can run without meeting anyone else for miles.”
“Once Carantia is free,” Cort murmured.
She turned her face up to his. “It will be. You and I will make sure of it.”
He looked into her eyes, and she felt the earth spin under her feet. “You set me free, Aria.”
“I only helped you remember what you had forgotten.” She stroked his chest, wondering how she should tell him. “There is one thing…one thing I haven’t told you yet.”
“What now?” he said, eying her askance. “Bad habits you haven’t told me about? A secret lover? A—”
“A baby,” she blurted out.
The stunned look on his face worried her a little until she saw the joy in his eyes. “A baby?” he whispered. “How long have you—”
“I think I first knew when you came to the hotel,” she said. “It was just a feeling, but it got so much stronger when you were there. I wasn’t completely sure until we got to Bayou Gris.” She snuggled into his arms. “I think he wanted to see his grandpapa.”
“Alphonse,” Cort said in a slightly strangled voice. “He…he’ll be…”
“Are you happy?”
With a whoop he lifted her off the ground and spun her around until she was dizzy all over again. When he set her down and she could stand by herself, she took his hand and lifted it to her lips.
“Our child will have so much to learn,” she said. “But we’re lucky, Cort, we loups-garous. We can see the world through two sets of eyes.”
“Speaking of luck,” he said, still grinning like a madman, “will I be permitted to play the occasional game of poker?”
“Only if you promise to play by the rules. And not win every time.”
“How can I promise that? I found Lady Luck one night in San Francisco, and she can never desert me again.”
Aria closed her eyes, thinking of the life that lay ahead of them. A life that would bring many challenges. A life that would be wonderful because of this man and his love and the child that was coming.
“You never taught me to play,” she said gravely. “Perhaps if you only play with me…”
“Only with you,” he said, “until the end of our lives.”
With a laugh he pulled her down into the grass, and they played all night long.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7442-0
LUCK OF THE WOLF
Copyright © 2010 by Susan Krinard
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