Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(128)

“How can you be upset about losing one game of chess?” Vicki snorted. “You’re always complaining no one can give you a decent game.”

Thorson barked a laugh. “You and Calum can. You’re just too busy.” He nodded toward Gawain. “This one loves the game.”

True enough. And Thorson hadn’t been easy to beat. Gawain anticipated many quiet, winter evenings with this canny cat. “I do love the game. Rematch tomorrow night? At the tavern?”

Thorson nodded, his lips twitching up in almost a smile.

As Calum came out to join his mate, Gawain seized the moment. “I’ve wanted to thank you, both of you.”

Calum raised an eyebrow.

“Sheltering Darcy, making us both feel welcome in town, offering us this house, rescuing her villagers, helping them find new homes. If there’s anything I—”

“No need.” Vicki shook her head. “There’s no—”

“Aye. A debt is owed,” Thorson interrupted. “Cosantirs don’t take payment, but for balance, you could make the Cosantir’s mate one of your fancy cahir knives. She lost hers in that Scythe demon hole.”

Balance—the age-old Daonain Law of Reciprocity. It’d been a while since Gawain had heard it invoked.

Vicki shook her head. “That’s not necessary.”

Actually, he rather thought it was. And from the way Vicki’s eyes had lit, he’d have made her a knife anyway. But it would be good to achieve balance as well. He bowed his head in formal acknowledgement. “The balance is fair. Accepted.”


In the kitchen, Darcy surveyed the wealth of appetizers and felt inadequate. “Gawain made food. So did Owen. I didn’t…because I don’t know how,” she grumbled. “I only remember a few things from when I’d help Mum.”

“I know the feeling.” Emma patted her shoulder. “But I found it’s not difficult to learn to cook the basics and, if you mess up, there’s Angie’s Diner.”

Angie chuckled. “True. But I’d also be happy to teach you. Anytime you’re at leisure, drop in. I love having minions to boss around.”

Bree popped a tiny quiche in her mouth. “Let Angie instruct you on the real food, and I’ll teach you how to make the sweet stuff. I miss having you around the lodge.”

Friends. Warmed, Darcy smiled.

Bonnie slid an arm around her and murmured, “I know a lot of Owen’s favorites. I’ll teach you those.”

Unable to resist, Darcy gave her a hug. “You’re all on.”


Owen had slid the barn door wide open, and he nodded in satisfaction. The three “shops” were ready for viewing. To the left were Gawain’s forges and metalwork—with all magical items tucked away. One of the forges was stoked up enough to warm the barn despite the snow outside. In the back right, Owen’s carvings filled the shelves and crowded the floor. Darcy’s front corner of the shop showed all the equipment and small appliances she was currently repairing.

“You got this?” he asked, looking at Hector.

“I got it,” Hector said confidently. Two days ago, the young shifter had appeared at the barn with Calum’s daughter Jamie and had asked Owen for carving lessons. Owen wasn’t calling him an apprentice…yet…but the kid had a talent.

And, since the cub was broke, they’d hired him to show off the barn during the open house.

“If Jamie’s at the house, I’ll send her over with some food and drink,” Owen said, getting a wide grin. Ah, young love.

At the house, Owen spotted Gawain in the living room, talking with a group of people. Bree was talking with Vicki, so Calum was probably around somewhere, too.

With a screech high enough to break glass, Tyler charged across the room followed by two more mini-monsters—Luke, and Ben’s cubling, Minette. All three were fucking cute.

A second later, they were climbing him like a tree. Smothering his laugh, he looked down at the three. “Who can show me where the Cosantir is?”

They dropped off with small thuds.

“I can.” Tiny chest puffed up with importance, Tyler took his hand and dragged him into the dining room.

Calum was there, talking with Wells and Tynan.

“Excellent job, young male.” Owen lifted his nephew, tossed him in the air, and got a screech of delight.

After a quick hug, the whirlwind dashed back to his friends. “Unc Wen threw me in the air and catched me!”

Turning, Owen gave a slight bow to the Cosantir and nodded to the other two.

Wells had baby Artair in one arm and was letting the cub suck on his finger. “Treharn.”

Owen looked at Calum. “Since we visited my cabin, then got buried in open house details, I haven’t heard what’s going on with the Scythe. Is Darcy going to be safe, or should we consider moving to Canada?”

Calum glanced at Wells. “I believe this question is yours.”

The spymaster looked up from his namesake, and his pale blue eyes turned cold. “Although there are no guarantees in a war like this, Treharn, we plan to locate all the members of the Scythe. And they will be weeded out by the appropriate people.” His gaze turned to the front door where Darcy’s brothers had just entered.

“I see.” The shifter-soldiers would eliminate the humans who had trained them to be killers. There was irony. “In that case, we’ll stay put and be cautious.”