Silver Collar
Page 22
“His name was Miller, and he was a big gray rogue who had a roaming range from B.C. to Alaska. I was young and out of control when we hooked up. I had no sense and soon fell pregnant. I was pleased enough though. It was all part of the adventure for me. He wasn’t. He attacked me when I was near my time. Some feral males do that. They smell a change. The cubs came too early as a result. Ren helped, and because of her, Mouse made it, but her twin didn’t.”
Emily cradled her close. The story was a simple one.
“I got depressed afterward, and as soon as Mouse was weaned, I left her with Ren. I was always more wolven than woman, and I knew that Ren, with her job and the farm, and all her stability would be the better parent.” Luc had gone back to plucking the bedclothes. “Ren didn’t argue. She didn’t want Mouse raised feral. You can’t bring a cub back from that. And Ren was the one who tried to keep to the Garoul ways more than I’d ever done.” She looked over at Emily for judgment. “I was always around though. I made sure I was there for her as best I could.”
Emily had no judgment to make. These were wolven ways, and the Garouls had a culture and society too complex for her to, as yet, fully understand. Ren, Luc, and Mouse had worked it out for themselves. They were still close, and none of them seemed damaged, except perhaps for the woman in her arms.
“Mouse will always have a home with us,” she said. “She’ll just love her uncle Norman, once he gets used to having witches in the family.” These last words were muttered.
“So this is it,” Luc said. “This is what I came all the way down from Canada for. I wanted something, but I never knew what I was chasing.”
“Ren says you wanted to get Mouse to Little Dip.”
“The virus was scaring me. Ren was baffled. She had no idea how to deal with it. Little Dip was the only place I could think of. But, as usual, it all went wrong.”
“That’s another story for another day. I think you need to sleep now.” Emily heaped the bedclothes around them into a little nest and slid down beside Luc so they lay cradling each other face-to-face. “This is how we sleep. Already, we have a tradition.”
“We’re building our own lore.” Luc smiled back. “And our own den. I want it to be in a tree.”
“Bit by bit, we’ll build our life and our home together. And I don’t care if it’s in a tree, a cabin, or a hole in the ground, as long as its foundations will always be here in Little Dip.” Emily kissed her Were on her human snout and watched over her as she fell asleep in her arms.
The End.
About the Author
Gill McKnight is Irish and moves between Ireland, England, and Greece in a non-stop circuit of work, rest, and play. She loves messing about in boats and has secret fantasies about lavender farming.
With a BA in art and design and a Master’s in art history, it says much about her artistic skill that she now works in IT.
What Reviewers Say About Gill McKnight’s Work
“A departure from the run-of-the-mill lesbian romance, Goldenseal is enjoyable for its uniqueness as well as for its plot. This is a story that will engage and characters you will find yourself growing fond of.”—Lambda Literary
“Gill McKnight has given her readers a delightful romp in Green Eyed Monster. The twists and turns of the plot leave the reader turning the pages to see who is the real victim and who is the villain. Along with the roller coaster ride, comes plenty of hot sex to add to the tension. Spending an afternoon with Green-eyed Monster is great fun.”—Just About Write
“Angst, conflict, sex and humor. [Falling Star] has all of this and more packed into a tightly written and believable romance. McKnight has penned a sweet and tender romance, balancing the intimacy and sexual tension just right. The conflict is well drawn, and she adds a great dose of humor to make this novel a light and easy read.”—Curve
In Green Eyed Monster…“McKnight succeeds in tantalizing with explosive sex and a bit of bondage; tormenting with sexual frustration and intense longing; tickling your fancy and funny bone; and touching a place where good and evil battle it out. …the plot twists, winning dialogue laced with sarcasm, wit, and charm certainly add to the fun. I recommend this satisfying read for entertainment, fantasy, and sex that stimulate the brain like caffeine.”—Lambda Literary
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Table of Contents
Synopsis
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
About the Author
What Reviewers Say About Gill McKnight’s Work
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books