Skin Walkers Conn (33 page)

“Can I be the best man?”

Aries
pulled back and
turned to smile at James. 

“Sorry, York’s got that honor.”  Conn
looked at the large Celti
c Walker and York nodded proudly
.  “My bride will need someone to escort her down the aisle though.”

James eyes snapped to Aries expectantly, “I can do that.  I’m good at walking.”

Aries laughed through the tears that flooded her eyes and nodded, “I’d be honored if you gave me away
.”

“Yes!” James pointed at both Shane and York simultaneously, “I call first
dibbs
on bride’s maids.”

Shane snorted, “Jesus James!”

“What?” he shrugged
carelessly
.

Aries looked at Conn when his hand on her cheek pulled her attention to him.

“
I’d prefer not to force you.  Much as I hate it you do have the option, but I pray you won’t refuse.  Aries, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?
”

Smiling Aries nodded and whispered, “Yes.”  She leaned forward and kissed him
,
elated that not only was he not going to ask her to return to her home, he was staking his claim and keeping her with him
forever
.

Chapter
33

The Crow’s Nest was packed with revelers who’d just attended the wedding of
Commander
Conn
Drago
and his beautiful bride Aries. 
The pub was located on the top floor of the main esta
t
e house at
Stone
Crow
estates.  The large and elegant reception hall was just
across the hall and after the ceremony the guests crossed
over
to enjoy the reception
held at the pub
.

Conn
, dressed formally in a black tailored tuxedo,
entered with Aries on his arm and a round of cheers went up. 
Conn
shook hands
with several Walkers and Aries
accepted well wishes as they made their way to the bar
.

James smiled and shouted across the
room
, “XO, XO, don’t be a lame-o.  Buy us a beer!”

Conn tried to frown but couldn’t pull it off.  A wide grin sp
read across his features
as he smiled and nodded at
the bartender
Cindy
RedKnife
.  “Get the bar a round.”

James whooped, punching
his fist in the air.

Shifting his arm tighter around his bride, Conn pulled Aries closer and bent to kiss her lips before pulling back
to let his eyes roam her petite frame
.  “What
do you want to drink beautiful?”

Wearing a simple
,
white silk
,
spaghetti stra
p, gown that hugged
her curves,
Aries smiled
up at him in adoration. 
“Nothing for me thanks.”

“Come on, let’s have a toast with the boys.”

“Okay,” she shrugged her shoulders and eyed Cindy.  “Cranberry juice please.”

“Cranberry juice?” Conn crinkled his nose and turned to Cindy, “Make it a vodka cranberry and I’ll have a beer.”  He looked at his bride, “You need so
mething with a little bite
.”

Cindy quickly mixed the drink and handed it Aries before cracking an icy bottle of beer and handing it to Conn.

“To my bride,” Conn hoisted his drink
into the air
and the
patrons of the crowded Crow’s Nest joined in.  He pulled
Aries
tighter against him and kissed her upturned lips before taking a healthy drink of his beer
then
eyeing her.  “Aren’t you going to drink?”

She bit her lip as her brows furrowed.  “No.”

His arm loosened and he pulled back to stare down at her with a worried expression.  “Are you alright?  Are you feeling well.”

“I’m fine,” she whispered looking down, “it’s just…”

“What?”  Conn released her to gently lift her chin until
her eyes met his.  “Tell me Aries, what’s wrong?”

A faint smile quirked her lips, but she appeared worried.  “The alcohol isn’t good for the baby.”

Conn’s mouth fell open and the air rushed from his lungs.  He stared at Aries unblinking before he dropped to a knee.

The people around them silenced at the action wondering if something was wrong.

“Holy shit!” James
, who’d inched closer to the newlyweds,
yelled and turned to the bar, “Did you hear that?  The
XO’s
gonna
be a dad!”
 

Raucous cheers rent the air
. 

Aries placed her drink o
n
the bar and slowly
bent
to cup Conn’s ashen face in her hands.  “Are you upset?”  She chewed her lip nervously. 

Lifting his
shocked
eyes, Conn reached out and pulled Aries quickly into his chest nearly crushing her in his arms.  “No I’m not upset
!
”  He kissed the
top of her head then pulled her back so he could kiss her cheek then her lips before stopping and resting his forehead against hers.  “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Aries supplied with a bright smile.  Her hand reached up to smooth down his
jaw and she sta
red at him, “You can name her.”

“Her?” His eyes widened but his tone was reverent.

Nodding, Aries bit her lip to keep from crying at the joy she read on
his
face.

Conn inhaled slowly, his
brows knitting as he turned serious.  “I love you so much Aries.  I can’t believe I finally found you.”  He lifted a strong hand to place it gently over her belly.  “I vow to cherish and protect you both until the end of my days
and I’ll never forget that you’re more than I deserve
.”

Tears flooded Aries’ eyes and she nodded and whispered, “We love you too.”
  She pressed her lips to his and laughed as for the first time since she could remember tears of joy slid down her face.  “We love you too.”

Exclusive Excerpt

Prince of Cats

by

Susan A. Bliler

Walking through the doorway to the dining hall,
Neomee
passed under the inscription that had been carved into the stone above the door.

Great Cat thou art the avenger of the Gods

the judge of word

the keeper of the people

the guardian of the temples

and
the protector of the holy Circle

thou art indeed the Great Cat

Neomee
entered the hall and walked up to place her platter in the center of a long wooden table.  She kept her chin down as her eyes cautiously lifted to scan the Cats sitting at one of several oblong tables
that occupied the dining hall.
Each of the men was impossibly larger than the next.  Each with their chiseled torso and dark eyes facing stoically forward sitting erect as statutes waiting for the food to be placed before they’d relax their postures and eat.

Not bad scenery
. 
Neomee
bit her lower lip to hide a smile as she placed her platter of fruit on the table.  Her eyes were focused on the black speckles that most Cats had painted on their broad shoulders. 
Cheetahs. 
Backing away from her placed platter, her elbow hit a carafe of wine that sat on the table.  As she watched in horror the carafe tipped, spilling its entire contents on the
Cat closest to her. 

Without thinking,
Neomee
pulled up the hem of her gown and began brushing the wine from the Cat as best she could, “
Amon
, I’m sorry.” 
Neomee’s
flimsy white
tunic
did little to absorb the red wine that covered the chest, lap, and legs of the Cat. 
Neomee
didn’t stop wiping as the Cat stood, the wine that had puddle in his lap, now poured
from his leather kilt.

“Please forgive me.  I-I…,” raising her eyes to the Cat,
Neomee
froze in place when her eyes met his. 

Dark brows furrowed over eyes the color of onyx. 
Neomee
stood only to his muscled chest, which she noticed was marred with several white scars that resembled claw marks.  A square jaw line and pronounced cheek bones were set in the most handsome face she’d ever seen.  He was a bronze God and she couldn’t stop staring at him. 

While
Neomee
struggled to formulate a coherent sentence, the Cat’s stare bore into her, his full lips set in a grim line gave no hint of emotion.  Was that electricity she felt coursing through her veins? 

Look away damn you! 
She cursed herself even as she tore her eyes from the Cat and realized that her hands were still stroking down his long lean frame.  She quickly released her hem, dropped her hands to her sides and her eyes to the floor.  Slaves were never to raise their eyes from the floor, and it was unheard of for a slave to even consider speaking to a Cat, let alone touch or even look at one. 

Shaking her head at her loss for words, she couldn’t even formulate a title to tie to her apology, as no slave had ever addressed a Cat directly.  Meekly she offered the only title she was permitted to use.  “Master, please forgive me, I meant you no disrespect.  I…,”  Her words were cut off as the Slave Master’s opened hand collided with the side of her face, sending a blinding pain through her that caught her off guard and sent her sprawling on the dirt covered
ground.   

Raising her head defiantly to glare at the Slave Master,
Neomee
debated on punching him in his manhood. 

The Slave Master eyed her incredulously, “You disrespectful...,” he again slapped her upturned face.

Just take the punishment! 
Neomee
knew the entire dining hall was watching the spectacle.  She was trying with all her will to coax herself into being submissive, but was so angry that it was a losing battle. 

Slowly rising to her feet to stand between the towering Cat and the menacing Slave Master, she licked at the trickle of blood that was seeping from the corner of her mouth.  She knew she should have stayed cowering on the ground, but it wasn’t in her.

“I apologized.  It was an accident.”  She finally lowered
her eyes and fought to keep them locked on the floor.

The Slave Master barked, “It was an accident?  Is this how you address me?”

Leaving her chin low,
Neomee
raised her eyes to scowl up at the Slave Master.  Seconds passed and she refused to supply the term ‘master’ that he sought.

“I’ll show you who’s in charge.”  Angrily, the Slave Master lifted his hand to slap
Neomee
a third time, but just as his hand was about to collide with her cheek it was halted.

The Cat standing beside her caught the Slave Master’s hand before it could connect. 

“Prince!  Please forgive me.  I only seek to punish this impudent slave for her great disrespect to you.”  The Slave Master was bowing repeatedly in a disgusting display of submission.  “Please Prince.  If you permit I shall take her to the quarters where I promise you Prince, her punishment will be severe for having interrupted your evening meal.”

Prince?  Great!  Of course he’s a Prince.  I wouldn’t spill wine on just any old Cat now would I. 
Neomee’s
frame was taut with tension as she wondered if the Cat was in fact a Prince or if that was the title given to all the Cats.

“Leave it.”  The Cat’s growled command left the Slave Master confused.

The Cat dropped the Slave Master’s arm and crossed to stand directly in front of
Neomee
as if to shield her from the Slave Master’s view. 
Neomee
couldn’t see the Slave Master over the Cat’s massive frame.  She eyed the three black stripes painted down the expanse of the Prince Cat’s impressive back.  The stripes accompanied by the speckles painted on his broad shoulders were distinctly similar to the pelt pattern of the king cheetah. 

The Slave Master reached around the Prince and grabbed
Neomee
roughly by the arm, “Yes Prince!  As you wish!”

The Prince Cat locked strong fingers around the Slave Master’s wrist.  “Leave her!”

“
Prince, yes!  Yes, my Prince.”  The Slave Master backed away from the Cat and exited the room.