Shades Of Green Read Online Free Page A

two men wearing a resigned expression.
    “Their kind is few and far between, my heart.” She grasped Thal’s hand. “You must see if what they say is true.”
    “But, mother...”
    “Shh...” Her mother covered her lips with her fingers. “Can you not imagine a wood nymph with their strength, longevity and ability to shift into something other than what you see now?” Her mother nodded toward the river. “Get to know them. Then, if you feel as though you can live the life they offer, go to them and never forget where you came from.” Dropping her hand, her mother turned and walked away. “You don’t have to live this life unless you want to, Thal. Your mother has said goodbye to a sister and another daughter. The legends you have heard are true. The nymphs were your kin.
    “There is something about us that draws the other kin from their hiding places to claim us.” Her mother smiled gently. “Who knows?” Turning, she began to walk back to the others. “One day I might find a bear shifter, or two, of my own.”
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    “I feel better now. Are ye ready tae get moving again?” Gaige rolled over onto his stomach and swam toward the bank.
    “Aye,” Kiran replied with a sigh. “Ye know, it’s just our luck that our bonny lass is a wood nymph and too small tae do anything about being our mate than tease us with her perky little breasts and round little ass.” Kiran followed Gairge from the water and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the lass in question glaring at him, her arms crossed over her wee chest and her toe tapping the soft green ground beneath her feet.
    “Ye know, I dinnae take note that your passing awakens the ground where ye walk. Did it do so when all of ye were riding, or only when you walk?”
    “It’s only when we walk.” She reached out and placed her hand against his face. “You’re still warm.”
    “Not as warm as we were,” Kiran added before he shifted back into a bear and rested on the ground for them to climb aboard his back again.
    “It’s good that the green only comes when ye walk upon the ground. The ogres should have a difficult time following us as long as ye stay on our backs.” Gaige glanced around the glade. The nymphs had used the time wisely. They had taken the opportunity to awaken the glade and bring the plants to life. “Will these plants stay alive, or will you need tae return and reaffirm the energy you’ve infused within them?”
    “Unfortunately, someone will have to return within the next three days to rejuvenate the soil, or the plants and trees will again grow dormant.” Thal sighed. “With the ogres looking for us it’s impossible to do. All they have to do is wait in an area we’ve rejuvenated. They know we must return.”
    “Then we’ll have tae cover more area than you can normally cover in a day.” Gaige frowned, then glanced over at Kiran. “Gather up a pack of nymphs and carry them back tae the castle. Get a few of our kin tae carry two nymphs each out into the countryside. Have them spread the green as far and as fast as they can.” He turned to Thal. “Is there a way tae have the green fade faster in parts? Can ye choose tae not give it your all? We might be able tae mislead the ogres into thinking ye can cover more area than ye really can. In three days time, we can take ye back tae the areas where ye laid down the full strength of your magic and then ye can rejuvenate those areas. The more area we can cover, the thinner our ogre friends will spread themselves. It will make them easier to convince that they must live their lives without you or die.”
    Gaige grinned. “I think they would rather leave ye alone than die trying tae possess ye.” He glanced at Kiran who stood with thirteen nymphs and two little people on his back. “What are ye still doing here, ye nit? Get moving.”
    Turning, Kiran jumped into the river and headed upstream. If there was one thing Gaige could say about his cousin, it was