was a dangerous thing he did, but for both their sakes, it was a necessary action.
Especially since both halves of him wanted the same thing-they wanted the
Claiming where Channon would entrust herself to him, the ceremony that would
bind them together for eternity. It wasn't something to be taken lightly. She would
have to give up
everything to be with him. Everything. And he wasn't sure if he could ask that of
her.
It would be unfair to her, and he definitely wasn't worth such a sacrifice.
He saw the happiness in Channon's eyes and smiled at her.
But his smile faded as he looked around the town and saw all the innocent lives
that would end if something went wrong.
Bracis had shown a rare streak of intelligence when he had set up this exchange.
Sebastian was forbidden by his Sentinel oath to transform into his dragon form or
to use his powers in any way that could betray his heritage to the humans. To the
innocent, he must always appear human.
Bracis had sworn that the Katagaria would come in as humans to make the
exchange and then leave peacefully. Unfortunately, Sebastian had no choice except
to trust them.
Of course, Bracis knew the extent of Sebastian's powers, and the Katagari male
would be an absolute idiot to cross him. And though the beast could be stupid,
Bracis wasn't that stupid.
As soon as they reached the stable, Sebastian helped Channon down, then
dismounted behind her. He pulled his hauberk lower so that no one could see just
how much he craved the woman before him.
Channon watched as Sebastian removed his huge broadsword from his horse and
fastened it to the baldric at his waist. She had to admit the man looked delectable
like that, so manly and virile.
The chain mail sleeves fell from the shoulders of the leather armor, clinking ever so
slightly with his movements. The laces of the hauberk were open, showing a hint of
the hairs on his chest, and all too well she remembered her hours of running her
fingers and mouth over that lush skin.
And as she stared at the small scar on his neck, she ached to trace it with her
tongue. This man had a body and aura that should be cloned and made standard
equipment for all men. Prideful and dangerous, it made every female part of her sit
up and pant.
Stop that! she snapped at herself. They were in the middle of town and ...
And she had other people to study.
Yeah right. Like they were really more interesting than Sebastian.
He adjusted his sword so that the hilt came forward and the blade trailed down his
leg, then pulled a leather bag from the saddle. A youth ran up to take his mount.
"What day is today?" he asked the boy in Old English.
"It be Tuesday, sir."
Sebastian thanked him and gave him two coins before relinquishing his horse to
the boy's care.
He turned toward her. "You ready?"
"Absolutely. I've dreamed of this my whole life."
Channon held her breath as he led her through the bustling village.
Sebastian looked behind him to see Channon as she tried to watch everything at
once. She was so happy to be here.
Maybe there was hope for them after all. Maybe bringing her here hadn't been a
mistake.
"Tell me, Channon, have you ever eaten Saxon bread?"
"Is it good?"
"The best." Taking her hand, he pulled her into a shop across the dirt road.
Channon breathed in the sweet smell of baking bread as they entered the bakery.
Bread was lined up on the wooden counter and in baskets on tables all over the
room. An older, heavyset woman stood to the side, trying to move a large sack
across the floor.
"Here," Sebastian said, rushing to her side. "Let me get that."
Straightening up, she smiled in gratitude. "Thank you. I need it over there by my
workbench."
Sebastian hefted the heavy sack onto his shoulder.
Channon watched, her mouth watering as his hauberk lifted and gave her a flash of
his hard, tanned abs. His broad shoulders and toned biceps flexed from the strain.
And when he placed the sack on the floor by the
Especially since both halves of him wanted the same thing-they wanted the
Claiming where Channon would entrust herself to him, the ceremony that would
bind them together for eternity. It wasn't something to be taken lightly. She would
have to give up
everything to be with him. Everything. And he wasn't sure if he could ask that of
her.
It would be unfair to her, and he definitely wasn't worth such a sacrifice.
He saw the happiness in Channon's eyes and smiled at her.
But his smile faded as he looked around the town and saw all the innocent lives
that would end if something went wrong.
Bracis had shown a rare streak of intelligence when he had set up this exchange.
Sebastian was forbidden by his Sentinel oath to transform into his dragon form or
to use his powers in any way that could betray his heritage to the humans. To the
innocent, he must always appear human.
Bracis had sworn that the Katagaria would come in as humans to make the
exchange and then leave peacefully. Unfortunately, Sebastian had no choice except
to trust them.
Of course, Bracis knew the extent of Sebastian's powers, and the Katagari male
would be an absolute idiot to cross him. And though the beast could be stupid,
Bracis wasn't that stupid.
As soon as they reached the stable, Sebastian helped Channon down, then
dismounted behind her. He pulled his hauberk lower so that no one could see just
how much he craved the woman before him.
Channon watched as Sebastian removed his huge broadsword from his horse and
fastened it to the baldric at his waist. She had to admit the man looked delectable
like that, so manly and virile.
The chain mail sleeves fell from the shoulders of the leather armor, clinking ever so
slightly with his movements. The laces of the hauberk were open, showing a hint of
the hairs on his chest, and all too well she remembered her hours of running her
fingers and mouth over that lush skin.
And as she stared at the small scar on his neck, she ached to trace it with her
tongue. This man had a body and aura that should be cloned and made standard
equipment for all men. Prideful and dangerous, it made every female part of her sit
up and pant.
Stop that! she snapped at herself. They were in the middle of town and ...
And she had other people to study.
Yeah right. Like they were really more interesting than Sebastian.
He adjusted his sword so that the hilt came forward and the blade trailed down his
leg, then pulled a leather bag from the saddle. A youth ran up to take his mount.
"What day is today?" he asked the boy in Old English.
"It be Tuesday, sir."
Sebastian thanked him and gave him two coins before relinquishing his horse to
the boy's care.
He turned toward her. "You ready?"
"Absolutely. I've dreamed of this my whole life."
Channon held her breath as he led her through the bustling village.
Sebastian looked behind him to see Channon as she tried to watch everything at
once. She was so happy to be here.
Maybe there was hope for them after all. Maybe bringing her here hadn't been a
mistake.
"Tell me, Channon, have you ever eaten Saxon bread?"
"Is it good?"
"The best." Taking her hand, he pulled her into a shop across the dirt road.
Channon breathed in the sweet smell of baking bread as they entered the bakery.
Bread was lined up on the wooden counter and in baskets on tables all over the
room. An older, heavyset woman stood to the side, trying to move a large sack
across the floor.
"Here," Sebastian said, rushing to her side. "Let me get that."
Straightening up, she smiled in gratitude. "Thank you. I need it over there by my
workbench."
Sebastian hefted the heavy sack onto his shoulder.
Channon watched, her mouth watering as his hauberk lifted and gave her a flash of
his hard, tanned abs. His broad shoulders and toned biceps flexed from the strain.
And when he placed the sack on the floor by the
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