Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(67)

As Hawke released her and returned to his meal, she forced herself to take a bite of roast beef. If only she possessed a dash of Hawke's certainty, of his confidence in her abilities to pull this off, to be of some use to them.

She swallowed the bite, uncertain her knotted stomach would accept it, then took a deep breath. She'd never been a coward. Never. If they needed her to be able to fight, then she'd learn to fight. If this job was for life, and apparently it was, then she would be the best Feral Warrior she could possibly be, sparing herself nothing. If she didn't last long, so be it. But she'd go down battling their enemy, protecting their backs. And to do that, she had to learn how to wield some weapons.

The first thing she could do was force herself to eat.

Ten minutes later, the meal over, Lyon rose. "The second shift needs to sleep. Kougar, you're in charge."

Hawke held out Faith's chair for her, and she rose along with everyone else.

Tighe came over to her, his eyes kind, and extended his hand. Too far. As if he intended to share with her one of the full forearm greetings the Ferals reserved for one another.

It was one thing to work hard and to do what they wanted, but they all knew it was a lie. That she wasn't supposed to be one of them. She met his gaze, knowing he wasn't mocking her, but feeling that way anyway.

"Tighe . . ."

Though the kindness in his eyes remained, his expression took on a sharpness that was close to reproachful. "Take it, Faith. I don't offer it lightly."

She hesitated, but reached for him. As he grasped her forearm, his hand completely encircling her arm, she barely managed to curl her much smaller hand around the top of his. When he didn't let go, she looked up and found him watching her, his eyes very serious.

"Delaney told me how you refused to get into that car last night as they escaped, how you chose to help Hawke even knowing you were in grave danger. You impressed my wife, and that's no easy feat. You showed heart and courage and a willingness to sacrifice, Faith. Perhaps that was only due to your feelings for Hawke, but my gut tells me otherwise." He clasped her shoulder with his free hand. "My gut, and the fact that you came clean with us about your being marked, even knowing what it might mean for you, tell me you possess a lot of character. A strength that's far more important than any amount of muscle." He released her, his mouth kicking up, flashing a single dimple, though his eyes remained deadly serious. "So, yes, I offer you my respect and welcome. Unless you prove me wrong."

Her heart gave a small, painful thud at the thinly veiled threat at the end of Tighe's surprisingly warm welcome. And for the first time she began to realize the enormity of her situation. She was a Feral Warrior. Once she was brought into her animal, no matter who she'd been before, she would become one of the most powerful creatures on earth. If she used that power for good, to help them, to be one of them, she might find an ally in Tighe. If not, if goddess forbid, the darkness got the best of her, he would be her enemy. Possibly her executioner. They all would.

Except, perhaps, Hawke.

As Tighe stepped back, Wulfe moved forward, offering her his arm as Tighe had, the expression on his badly scarred face closed. When she laid her palm against his massive arm, his dinner-plate-sized hand encircling hers with ease, his expression softened. "Fighting skills can be learned."

She nodded, and he released her.

Fox was next. As he took her arm, he flashed her a smile that had surely slain ten thousand female hearts. "I've been fighting for years," he said, turning serious. "I've trained a lot of warriors, a number of whom came to me without skills. A number of whom were women. I'll teach you everything I know about fighting in human form. But the rest of it, we'll have to learn together."

Vhyper and Kougar stood shoulder to shoulder, watching, arms crossed over their chests. Neither approached her.

"She could be our secret weapon against the Mage," Vhyper said to no one in particular. "We'll send her into battle first, let her slay them with her smile. They'll never notice the rest of us until it's too late."

She couldn't tell if his words teased or taunted, and her cheeks began to warm in a way that wasn't altogether pleasant.

Kougar said nothing, his face expressionless, a gleam in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. He glanced pointedly at Hawke, who'd remained beside her, his meaning clear. If she hurt Hawke, Kougar would kill her. There would be no hesitating, no mercy.

To her surprise, Lyon stepped forward, but he didn't offer her his arm as some of the others had. Instead, he took her hand in both of his. "Don't take our caution personally, Faith. We're at war with the Mage - a war that, if we lose, will mean the destruction of the world as we know it."

"And they're trying to turn me into a weapon against you."

He nodded. "Possibly. But last night, you may very well have saved Hawke. You have my gratitude. And I promise you, we'll do everything in our power to free you from this dark magic. The rest is up to you."

She looked at him, uncertain he meant what his words implied, that they would give her a chance to prove herself worthy of being one of them. It was a long shot, of course. Even if they cured her of the infection, she wasn't the one meant to be marked. But if she proved to be a strong warrior, anyway, they might just let her live.

They were willing to give her a chance. Perhaps it was time she gave herself one. She smiled a quick, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Lyon."