Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(52)

“But it would be far better if it weren’t necessary,” Shay finished for him.

No, it would be far better if she weren’t here at all. Her throat closed. “I’ll be careful. I’m very sorry.” Her delight at gaining the branch seemed awfully far in the past. Her victory had turned to bitter dirt in her mouth. She’d risked the safety of all these people just to make things easier for herself.

The huge male was right—the Scythe were already looking for her. How could she have been so thoughtless? So selfish?

As she turned to leave, she glanced at Owen.

He frowned. “Darcy.” He took a step forward, reaching for her.

No, she didn’t want to hear the disappointment in his rough voice. Fleeing like the cowardly person she was, she hurried into the lodge and up to her room.

She wouldn’t come down until she’d thought through everything and knew she could do better.

Until she wouldn’t disappoint anyone again.


As Darcy—the little tinker—fled into the lodge, Owen shook his head and dropped his hand. He’d been reaching for her, wanting to take her hand, to pull her closer. From her shattered expression, he’d known she was judging herself far harsher than any of them were.

He glanced at the others. “I need to give her Calum’s news.”

Shay nodded, his eyes worried. “I hope we didn’t make her cry.”

Owen froze. Cry? She’d wept before, and the pain of hearing her tears had almost fractured his chest. “She…wouldn’t be crying.”

Ben’s gaze held sympathy. “Good luck, cat. You’ll need it.”

He would, dammit. She was already upset. What he had to say would make it worse. By the God, this was like going into battle without claws or teeth.

When he knocked on her door, there was a sharp inhalation, then silence.

“Open the door, little cat. I have information I need to share.”

The door opened, and he looked down at her. Such a tiny female. Her head barely reached his shoulder. No tear streaks showed, thank the God.

The way she wouldn’t look at him was less heartening.

He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head. “Darcy. No one is angry with you.”

“Of course you are. I put the entire town at risk—first with my escape, then with sheltering here, and now with being stupid and lazy and careless.”

Yes, this young female would always judge herself more harshly than anyone else. Way to go, Treharn. He should have sent Gawain to talk to her. His brother was far nicer, far better with the words females considered so important.

Hugging her had worked before, when she’d been suffering the aftermath of a fight. Maybe she needed him to hold her. Carefully, he put his arms around her and pulled her against him.

He feared she’d pull away, but after a shuddering breath, she leaned into him. Her trust was a heady gift.

Rubbing his chin on top of her head, he tried to think of the right words to ease her guilt. “Risk is made up of many parts. Aye, the Scythe are undoubtedly searching for you because you escaped.”

The sound she made held despair.

“Yet, because you escaped, we know what happened to Dogwood. We know the Scythe exist and are targeting shifters. It’s extremely dangerous for us to be unaware of an enemy, aye?”

“Oh.” She relaxed infinitesimally.

“With your information, we’ve learned how the weasels work and have an idea of where to search for the captives. You’ve told us what dangers we’ll run into in getting them free.”

Now her weight was fully against him, all warm skin and soft curves. He ran his hand down her back and—

Don’t get distracted.

“Being in animal form close to the lodge—yeah, you fucked up.”

She flinched.

“Everyone fucks up, kitten.” He huffed a laugh. “Since ancient times when the Fae’s Wild Hunt shifters first bred with humans, every Daonain cub has fucked up and been scolded for being reckless. Me, included.”

He knew he was getting through when she looked up. Her damp dark eyes could break his heart. “Are you sure? Shay was so angry. And you were—”

“We wanted you to see that. Like any cub who indulges in risky behavior, you got nipped. Because it is dangerous.”

Her head moved against him in a nod. “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

“I can.” He stroked her hair—thick and soft as a cub’s pelt. “New shifters are prone to being careless. The animal mind is all about visible danger, not future threats. Eventually, the animal/human thinking finds a balance, but it takes a while.”

Her arms crept around his waist, and she…snuggled…against him, and it was nice. Very nice.

Sometimes females hugged him during the full moon, but this was different. Not sexual. He pulled her closer, oddly pleased to know she found comfort in his arms.

Unfortunately, with his news, she was going to be upset all over again.

“By the way, I stopped at the tavern to ask Calum for an update on your villagers.” He realized he was holding her snugly against his body. “Since you said females died in the prison, Tynan searched the police records of unclaimed bodies.”

Her breath hissed out. As she stepped back to look at him, she wrapped her arms around her own waist. “Wh-what did he find?”