Autumn Moon Read Online Free

guard.”

Three

    Elen froze in the doorway of Dylan’s office, having overheard a murmur of male voices as she approached, unable to distinguish the conversation until she rounded the corner. But the last damning bit registered all too clearly:
I’m assigning you as Elen’s personal guard.
Blood pounded about her temples as she stared at the back of Cormack’s head and realized who’d been assigned.
    â€œAbsolutely not!” She barely breathed through her outrage. Even worse, she regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, because a tiny part of her—okay, not so tiny—wanted him back in her life. But she wanted him there by choice.
Not
by assignment.
    Conversation ceased. Her brother, wise to her wishes, immediately cleared his expression. Cormack, not so wise, looked appropriately guilty.
    And so absurdly beautiful, she despised him all the more.No, “despise” was the wrong sentiment, for she could never feel that way toward him, but his rejection had hurt. And he
had
rejected her at a time when she’d needed his understanding the most.
    Now he regarded her with hooded eyes the deepest color of blue, as if all the delphiniums in her garden had propagated to form the richest shade and gifted it upon him. His hair had grown past the unruly stage and hung about his shoulders in a mass of auburn waves. Even now, her hands itched to explore its texture.
    His build, large as a wolf, and just as large as a man, had been honed over the last few months. Wide shoulders tapered down to a trim waist. She could only imagine what waited under his serviceable navy sweater and worn jeans.
    â€œYou will either accept a guard at your cottage,” Dylan said, drawing her attention away from pointless musings, “or you will move into Rhuddin Hall.” The worry in his voice softened the order but also warned that his mind was set. “Those are your two options.”
    A terse reply hovered on her tongue, but she held it back. As the leader of this territory, his orders required respect; as her brother who’d sacrificed much to keep her safe, he would always have hers. Moreover, her wish for privacy was a petty thing when dragons delivered invitations to dance. “I need to speak with you alone.” The matter of Cormack must wait, for they had more pressing concerns. She walked around the desk to stand in front of Dylan. “It’s urgent.”
    â€œDoes this urgent matter involve your welfare?”
His
voice came at her from behind, deep, masculine, and curious—as if he had the right to insinuate himself back into her life without even a hint of remorse.
    â€œPlease leave, Cormack.” Elen had only heard him speak one other time. It affected her now as much as it did then.She couldn’t concentrate with him in the room. “This doesn’t concern you.”
    â€œI disagree.” The obstinate man didn’t budge from his chair. “As your personal guard, everything in your life concerns me.”
    She could only stare. He’d changed in more ways than fur to flesh. The wolf she remembered would have respected her wishes.
    â€œStay if you must,” she said in a flippant tone, as if this new attitude didn’t disturb her in the least. When, in actuality, her heart beat in a rhythm so frantic she feared he might hear it. Gathering her composure, she handed the letter to her brother and waited while he read.
    Tight-lipped, Dylan placed the parchment on his desk. “Who delivered it?”
    â€œYou should be asking me
what
delivered it.” Elen gave a brief accounting of the conjuring of clouds.
    He remained deep in thought for several moments. “You’re not leaving Rhuddin Village to face him alone, if that’s what you’re planning in that head of yours.”
    â€œIf that were the case, I’d already be gone.” Not that the idea hadn’t crossed her mind, but running would only make her