Page 194 of Moon Craving

Abigail played her friend's words back through her mind and understanding

dawned. Guaire had referred to himself as human, not a Highlander, which implied he

knew the true difference between the Chrechte and the rest of their clan. And neither Niall

nor Talorc had known he was aware of their true nature.

The glare he turned on the two bigger warriors was sulfuric. "Do you think I am

blind? I live here with you all."

"That is enough," Talorc bit out with a sideways glance at Abigail.

Guaire's look turned to one of contempt. "By all means, keep your wife, your

sacred mate, in the dark."

"Leave," Talorc ordered.

"No!" Abigail cried. "He is my friend."

"You countermand my order?" Talorc asked dangerously.

"You withhold enough from me; you will not keep my dearest friend."

"What do I keep from you?" he asked, so clearly certain his secret was safe he was

genuinely confused.

That only made her angrier. And as Emily knew, when Abigail got angry, she went

silent, not louder. "It is not worth discussing."

He stared at her, clearly nonplussed. "Abigail . . ."

She glared back at him, as mute as she was deaf.

"I have duties to attend to," Guaire said in an obvious bid to end the stalemate

between laird and lady. "You need your rest."

Abigail smiled her thanks for his concern. Then she gave Talorc and Niall her

meanest look. "You will not hurt him."

Niall jerked back as if hit. "I would not. He is my . . . fellow soldier. I would protect

him always."

Guaire looked about as convinced of that as she was of Talorc's love, which was to

say, not at all.

"Abigail, what the hell is going on with you?" her husband demanded.

"Mayhap my fall addled my brains," she said with unadulterated sarcasm.

Talorc actually looked relieved by the explanation.