... I should take off this ridiculous hood so they can see my face and catch a glimpse at real perfection." (Vincent)"Then you'd just be an enormous man with a hump and a beautiful face," Breccan said.Vincent hissed. "And the fact remains... you do think I'm beautiful," he said as he started to leave.

Yes, I can see why so many are taken with you. You're so, so, so.." Vincent's words trailed off. He gazed off into the trees. "What's the word I'm looking for?""Adorably handsome?" Breccan offered with a smug smile."Incredibly stuck on yourself."Vincent quickly gave his retort. "Seriously, you're not that cute. And I mean that in every offending way possible.

Make it stop," Vincent murmured, coming out of sleep and pulling the blanket over his head. "I think your mutt is howling for you.

We are bastards of the gods, Sorvus, you and I. I once shared the dream you seem to think you are now living. The dream of living here, in Northbrook, the birthplace of our mothers." Thais turned his head to the trees. He heard something. "Such deception.

Hi there. I am the Gwarda, Breccan, the good-looking, sweet one." He winked. "The one thundering, yet, remaining aloof," he said loudly and continued, "is Darius. He's a savage, you know," he said quietly, leaning closer like he was telling her a secret.

Oh, sweetheart, I am the worst male your precious gods could have chosen for you." The expression on his face turned deadly serious. He leaned his face forward and down to get eye level with her. "I will mate no one. Ever. (Darius)

Thais believed that in defeat the downtrodden, courageous soul would rise with the fiercest determination for victory. That is when the true spirit of warriors shined through and soared. A new day would dawn and with it a renewed hope would rise above the blood and the ash, strengthening even the weakest and igniting a birth of revolution.

She knew without a doubt what he had said was true. They were created for each other. Destined for this time of reconciliation. For Keirah, it was a moment, no, it was the moment of a lifetime, and it would forever be engraved on her heart and etched in her soul to be remembered long after forever.

He kissed you! He f@*#king kissed you right in front of me," Wharick growled through his clenched teeth. Kathel looked up from the ground where he was now leaning up on his elbows, far too pleased with his performance and having a look of mischief on his face. "Would you prefer that I kiss her when we aren't in front of you?" he asked sarcastically.

He put his wrists out in front, and as he spoke the words engraved on them, he turned his arms around slowly. "Dum spiramus tuebimur, which in English reads: while we breath, we shall defend," he told her.

He quickly left the room, and when he shut the door behind him he leaned his back against it, tilted his head back, and put his palms to his eyes before bowing his head. "....That was too close," he murmured under his breath..

Are you telling me, or are you asking me?" Kathel said sarcastically."Depends on your answer," Wharickreplied. "Yes, Gwardian. It would be my honor to be your second." "Then I was telling you," Wharick told him.

I may have been born into this world to be the Gwardian, but I was created for you, for us. You are the reason I exist, the reason I breathe. You are the light to my darkness, and without you I am lost forever.

We all have scars, Wharick. Mine happen to be on the the outside," Kathel answered but knew what he said wasn't entirely true. He bore scars on the inside as well.

Hey, look who's alive! I knew you were too tough to leave this f@$#ed up place without a fight, and you do realize that if you had wanted to get into Wharick's bed, there certainly would have been easier ways to get there than getting yourself poisoned," He smiled widely.

Surrounding the two of them was the love they shared but also an overwhelming feeling of fear--fear of a future filled with the emptiness which would consume them if they remained apart. A fear of a future of being separated forever, and it gripped both of their hearts, demanding preventative action.

I'll thank you now, Kathel," Keirah whispered. Placing a simple, soft kiss on Kathel's lips, she turned and walked away toward her cabin, leaving both men stunned in her wake.

Their eyes drifted directly behind her. At the same time she felt the presence of a rather large, imposing figure, then the sudden heat permeated the air around her. He's behind me, isn't he?

Without even thinking about it, she reached out for warmth, reached out for acceptance. She was hurt and as much as she tried to build up the wall of protection and never let anyone in again, Wharick had changed her building capabilities. Wharick had changed her heart.

Even though he knew both of their hearts were taken by others, he recognized beauty when he saw it and appreciated it as any male would.

Kathel, you have the face of a scoundrel." Her eyes drifted slowly over his face and landed for a moment on his full lips. "With lips created for sin.""Keirah," he whispered, gently squeezing her hands. "Talk like that is not helping matters.

Isn't he beautiful? His silky hair, his muscles so strong and powerful yet amazingly, he trembles slightly at my touch, and the more I stroke him, the more he leans into my hand," Keirah said her eyes remaining on the horse. Yes, Keirah, the horse is a fine one," Wharick said as he slowly walked closer to her. "What I said was not to you, Gwarda," she teased, "I was speaking to the horse.

You know you really have to beware of gypsies in these parts," he said teasingly, dismounting from his horse...Keirah gave him a small smile that she didn't quite feel. "Good thing I have the Gwarda here to protect me," she teased back.

He was the most wickedly handsome creature she had ever seen in all her days. His hair was black as night, his stature large, his muscles were etched with precision into his smooth skin, every last ripple chiseled into wicked perfection.

One day, when you are sitting with my sister, Mahgen, around a fire, and you're feeling how perfectly right it is to be next to her, this moment, this tease of desire between us, will be long forgotten.

A warmth spread throughtout Keirah's body, in part from the closeness of Kathel, but mostly because she knew that he had meant Wharick. Kathel hadn't even spoken Wharick's name, but at the very inclination of her mate, Keirah's body had responded.

There are so many reasons why I should not kiss you right now. Believe me when I tell you that only moments ago those reasons played out in my mind, but for the life of me, at this very minute, I cannot recall even one of them," Kathel said.

If he sees you unclothed, I will have to kill him," he spoke in her ear. She didn't know if she should believe him or not, but she took no chances. "Tell him to leave, then," she said calmly but sternly.

A slow, knowing smile came over Keirah's face. Her heart filled with happiness, believing the Gwarda gypsy sitting next to her at this very moment was worthy of her beloved sister.

Kathel did not back down at all. "Well, Keirah told me she was suddenly unattached, if you know what I mean. And I figured, what the hell, why not have a go at her myself," Kathel said enthusiastically.

Even among the ugliness of evil that resonated throughout the green hills and flowering landscape, Northbrook was simply breathtaking to those who took the time to appreciate it.

I'm pleased to know you realize she is mine, gypsy. Care to explain why it is that I find you here in the Gwarda arena and touching what belongs to me?

You're causing the world to spin again, Keirah," Wharick teased about her druid gift with nature. "You out of control? Do you need something to settle you down? he asked.

The fact that he got to save the Gwardian's mate and managed to piss him off at the same time, well that was just a bonus and pure luck of circumstance. After all, he had gypsy blood inside of him and could not stop the satisfaction he got from pissing people off.

Kathel smoothed out his shirt in an exaggerated manner. "It was the least I could do. I owed her one," he said referring to when Keirah saved Willow. He looked at Keirah and winked. Yeah, so not the thing to do right now, Keirah thought.

You may run from the calling, but, you will find no real peace until you fulfill your destiny.

Truth was she liked that he came after her. She liked the thought of being under submission to him in an intimate way. It was a welcome desire which Wharick alone sparked.

I do not belong to anyone! Certainly not to a self-centered, brute of man, err...being or whatever it is you are, person!" she fumbled.

Darius did not take the bait, showing no signs of anger or irritation. "So, what you're saying is that you ugly f@*ks are not half breeds and that makes you superior? Please, do wow me with your druid sorcery.

Oh, don't look at this frail, old druid like that, Solomon. I may be slow in my movements, buy my mind is sharp as a dagger's tip." Lazerin smirked.

You will answer this day for your treason." Then he added solemnly, "You break my heart, brother." Before Eyramus could blink Thristan was gone.

Had Keirah and her sisters known what was set in motion the day their stones appeared and how personally they would be affected by it, they would have still fought the darkness, still battled for what belonged to them.

Love knew no bounds, knew no limitations. It looked beyond the unseen realm and reached in for a taste, for a moment of regenerated happiness, and in that moment fate was altered and the destinies of many were changed. Their land, their Northbrook, they discovered, was a very magical place.

Love knew no bounds, know no limitations. It looked beyond the unseen realm and reached in for a taste, for a moment of regenerated happiness, and in that moment fate was altered and the destinies of many were changed. Their land, their Northbrook, they discovered, was a very magical place.

You have family, only a brother you clearly don't like to speak about. Fine. That's all right." She ran her fingers through her hair. "But don't ever say dreams are a waste. It's a miracle I can still speak of dreams and futures after all I've been through. There's love in this world, Thristan, love that can encompass the heart abiding in humans' mortal, fragile bodies. And there are stupid little humans like me, dreamers, who believe one day they'll find it.

Such anger. Do you want to talk about it?" Vincent called out. When there was no reply, Vincent picked up the whistling where he'd left off, smiling at the success of wreaking havoc on Darius. Vincent didn't hate Darius, or any other Gwarda for that matter, he simply got pleasure from messing with the race.

If measuring by this earthly realm's time then it's been years but in the unseen realm above known as Vehaven, it has been but a moment.

Vincent made his way closer to the group and shuffled his feet while he watched them embrace. Breccan's head remained buried in the huddle while his large hand reached out, grabbed Vincent's good wing, and pulled the archangel into the fold.