Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(24)

She was naked…in front of two males.

“What are you doing?” Jerking away, she ripped the quilt from the bed. She’d barely managed to wrap it around herself before her legs gave out, and her butt landed back on the bed. She stared up at the two huge males. She couldn’t even stand on her own and…

Both of them looked at her as if she were crazy.

Gawain frowned. “What’s the—”

“She’s scared.” Sniffing the air, Owen took a step back. “Why are you scared?”

“I…you…”

“You’re men, and she doesn’t have any clothes on. Duh, guys.” A blonde woman stood in the doorway, hands on her hips. “Didn’t you tell me she spent the last decade with humans? Humans don’t do naked.”

“Really?” Gawain tilted his head. “How do they mate then?”

The woman choked as she started laughing and held up a hand for patience. Her shoulders were still shaking when she said, “Why is for later. Please ask Shay, not me.”

Gawain frowned. “But—”

“For now, how about you help her, with the blanket, to the bathroom before she bursts?” The blonde grinned at Darcy. “I’m Breanne—or Bree—and I left a T-shirt and sweatpants beside the sink. They’ll be big, but they’re comfy.”

Fears fading, Darcy smiled back. She’d forgotten so much about the Daonain. Of course, shifters would be comfortable with being naked since clothing didn’t trawsfur.

A new fear slid into her heart. Would she ever be able to fit in with the Daonain again?

She would. She was free now; she could manage anything. “Thank you, Breanne. That’s very nice of you.”

The blonde made a throwing away gesture. “All part of the Wildwood service. If you’re up to it, come on downstairs after you eat. Or take another nap, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

As she disappeared, Gawain bent down. “Let’s try this again.” His arm wrapped around her waist, and he lifted her to her feet, supporting her when her knees wobbled. “The bathroom is at the end of the hall.”

Owen still hadn’t said a word. Brows together, he watched her with the same wariness she watched spiders.

She bit her lip. “Owen. I’m…uh…sorry for over-reacting. And for how you were hurt rescuing me. I meant to say thank you. Are you all right? Did the healer fix your leg and wrist?”

His brow furrowed and then he nodded. “Aye, I’m fine. Thank you.” He glanced at Gawain. “You got this. I’ll be downstairs.”

As he stalked out, she stared after him in dismay. It was pretty obvious he didn’t like her. But what had she done?

“Come on, catling. Your food is going to get cold.” Gawain’s deep voice held the rolling sound of thunder. Firmly, he guided her down the hall and into the bathroom.

The bathroom had a shower—and she could feel every bit of grime sticking to her skin. Could smell her own fear and pain sweat. She almost shook with the longing for hot water and soap.

Gawain still stood in the doorway. “I’ll wait for you here.”

Looking into his blue eyes, she saw only concern. Oh, she really did like him. “Honestly, I can manage—I’m not dizzy any longer. And I’m sorry I kind of yelled at you.”

The sun lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile. “Not to worry, sweetling. However, neither Owen nor I are familiar with human customs, and we’re to be your mentors. Will you tell us if something makes you uncomfortable so we can work around it?”

Hugging him wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? No, her brains were surely scrambled. She nodded instead. “I will. Thank you.”

As he strolled down the hall, she closed the door. Shower, shower, shower.

*

Wrist throbbing, Owen sat on the lodge’s back patio, nursing a beer and a bad mood. The little female had grabbed the blanket and looked at them as if she were a bunny cornered by hungry wolves.

Then, he’d braced for hysterics, for screaming, for her to throw things as their mother had. Instead, she’d apologized. And acted as if she was worried about him. Him, a cahir.

Why couldn’t she behave like a normal female?

Maybe he didn’t know what a normal female was. Bree hadn’t yelled at him or Gawain either; she’d laughed.

Come to think of it, he knew other good females. His own sister, for one. Then there was Ben and Ryder’s mate, Emma, who’d taken on a hellhound to save their tiny girl.

And Vicki. Despite her small size, Calum and Alec’s female could give any male a run for his prey. He’d understood right away why the two males had chosen her for their mate.

Gawain walked onto the patio, beer in hand. “Did you see how both females turned red?”

Owen started to grin. “They did. It’s a pretty color on a female. But who ever heard of being embarrassed for not having on clothes?”

“Eh, human customs. Who can figure them out?” Gawain took a good gulp of his beer. “Do they wear clothing to bed, then? Even when they’re mated?”

Owen snorted. “Brawd, you’re asking the wrong shifter.”

“She kicked me out of the bathroom. Is that a human deal, too?”

“She’s not in her bed?”