LITMIR.BIZ

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with metal. Very often, women who have gifts in music or dance can touch and mold the wind with their spirits and have an affinity for the spirit of flame.”

      “So some people feel something special for stone?” I asked.

      “Yes, but usually the people who are linked to stone are also linked to the earth itself. They are attuned to the land and everything that it produces. Some of these earth-linked people have special talents in the carving and shaping of stone. They dedicate their lives to the art of masonry. Through them the shape hiding within the stone lives.”

      “And we have one of these people working for us?” I squinted at the workers, wondering what a stone-linked person would look like.

      “Yes, he traveled deep into the mines of the Sidetha to find the perfect stones for the new construction and now he has returned here with it where he will remain for the duration of the building. I would have presented him to you sooner, but you have not been feeling well.”

      “Tell me about it,” I muttered. “Well, introduce me to him now. I’m curious to meet this stone guy.”

      As we arrived at the work site, the construction temporarily halted so that the men and centaurs could greet me and shout their congratulations. The shouts caught the attention of a small group emerging from the infrastructure of the building. The tallest of the group was my husband, who was clapped on the back several times and included in the builders’ congratulatory frenzy. Dougal and Victoria were with him.

      Alanna nudged me and waggled her eyebrows. “‘I have business near the new quarters, too,’” she said, mimicking the Huntress’s throaty voice.

      “She’s becoming shameless,” I whispered back at Alanna.

      With ClanFintan, Dougal and Vic was a tall gangly man who I didn’t recognize. As the group approached and he got closer, I realized he was way younger than I’d first thought. His thick brown hair was tied back in a cropped ponytail, which gave him a randomly artsy look that clashed surprisingly with the fact that he was clearly no older than sixteen.

      “Good morning, love.” ClanFintan took my hand in his, then bent to kiss me softly on the lips. “How are you feeling this morning?”

      “Better,” I said, my smile warm and meant to reassure him.

      He squeezed my hand.

      “Congratulations, my Lady!” Dougal’s face was alight, and I knew it wasn’t just my news that was making him shine. I thought how wonderful it was to see him so happy. I had been worried that his naturally gregarious personality would morph into something dark and sad after his beloved brother had died in his arms several months ago, but now I could see the sweet openness that reflected his love of life mirrored in his expressive face.

      “Thank you, Dougal. And congratulations yourself on finally talking sense into Victoria’s hard head.”

      Vic snorted at me, but her arm slid intimately through Dougal’s, and he gave her an adoring smile.

      “We would like you to perform the handfast ceremony, Lady Rhiannon.” Dougal asked.

      “It would make us very happy.” Vic smiled softly at me.

      I felt a rush of emotion and had to blink back tears. Hormones acting up, no doubt. “I can think of nothing I’d like better.”

      The pair beamed at me. I swallowed the knot in my throat. Alanna sniffed happily. We were disgusting. No wonder I was puking.

      “Lady Rhiannon,” Alanna said after she finished sniffing. “May I present to you our lead mason, Kai. Kai, the Lady Rhiannon, Incarnate of Epona,” she finished with a flourish.

      The tall, young man stepped forward and executed a low, respectful bow.

      “Lady Rhiannon, I am pleased to be in the service of Epona.”

      His voice was unique—not deep or unusually loud, and way too youthful to be particularly manly, but it had a quality that intrigued me. It made me think that I would enjoy listening to him read.

      “Perhaps more important are the stones pleased to be in the service of Epona?” I asked, finding it impossible to contain my curiosity (mentally crossing my fingers that I was not committing a faux pas in asking).

      “Absolutely, my Lady!” His face brightened and became animated with an eagerness that I wish my students could have emulated. Of course, they wouldn’t have known what emulated meant. Sigh. “I searched the mines of the Sidetha until I found the marble vein that spoke the Goddess’s name. It is from that marble that the support columns of the structure are being formed.”

      “I would love to see that marble,” I answered, intrigued at the notion that stone could have a preference.

      “Follow me, my Lady. I would be honored to show you.”

      “Rhea, Dougal and I are through here. We need to see to the winter supply of grain.” ClanFintan lifted my hand to his lips.

      “Okay, I’m going to check out this stone stuff, then I need to look in on Epi. She’s been restless lately. I’d like to take her out for a ride. Exercise seems to calm her.” I’d known too many Oklahoma women who kept riding through most of their pregnancies to worry about whether it would be safe or not in my supposedly delicate condition. Plus, Epi was not like other horses. I knew she would be extra careful with me.

      “I will meet you back at the stables.”

      “Good day, Lady Rhiannon,” Dougal gave me a quick bow, and then he touched Vic’s cheek in a gentle caress before he followed my husband.

      “If you wait here, my Lady, I will have the workers clear some scaffolding in order to accord you a better view of the main support column.” Kai said, his voice breaking endearingly, as he hurried away, obviously excited at the opportunity to share his love of marble. I nodded at him encouragingly.

      After he was gone, Alanna elbowed me and jerked her head toward Vic. The Huntress was still standing there, gazing after Dougal’s departing form like a lovesick teenager. I caught Alanna’s eye and we quickly surrounded the Huntress.

      “Girl, you’ve got it bad,” I teased.

      Victoria blinked and brought her eyes back into focus.

      “I have no idea about what you are speaking.” She sounded like Miss Priss, but her cheeks were pink.

      “All I can say is that it’s a good thing he’s young.” I grinned at Vic.

      “They do say the young have boundless energy.” Alanna mused.

      “He is not that young.” Vic tried to sound offended, but I could hear the smile that was lurking behind her proper Lead Huntress facade.

      “So, tell me,” I leaned into her side and spoke conspiratorially. For months I’d been dying to ask Vic about centaur sex. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity. After all, we were females, and females like to talk about sex. (Try not to be shocked.) “Just what kind, and how much energy, will poor Dougal need?” I nudged her and winked. “On your wedding night.”

      Vic looked down at me, a little grin pulling at the edges of her full lips.

      “Yes,” Alanna’s deceptively innocent voice trilled, “tell us.”

      “Well…” Vic motioned for us to lean even closer to her, which we did (gleefully). “Have you ever seen horses mate?”

      We nodded.

      “Then you know they bite and squeal and kick when their passion is ripe?” Her voice suddenly reminded me of Mae West.

      We nodded enthusiastically.

      “You know that sometimes their desire is so fierce that the mating is filled with violent, uncontrolled lust?” Her voice shook with intensity.

      We nodded very enthusiastically.

      Breathing heavily,

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