Free Midnight Whispers - Paranormal Romance by Catherine Bullard Page A

father reading the morning paper at the
breakfast table and my mother sewing.” Her throat tightened with tears, and she
looked down, finding herself unable to speak any more.
    “I wouldn’t
know what that kind of life is like,” Bryce admitted, “but I do know what it’s
like to lose your parents. A few years ago, my parents were slaughtered by
hunters. For a long time I couldn’t get a handle on my grief and I allowed it
to consume me.  But I realized that I was dishonoring their memory by
throwing my life away…by not treasuring every moment…every second.”
    “I’m so
sorry, Bryce,” Kyra whispered, feeling the connection between them now, more
than ever.  “I’m surprised you can stand to look at me, never mind any
other human.”
    “If you and I
had come together right after my parents had died, I wouldn’t have been able
to. And even now it’s not easy… but my instincts tell me you’re not one of
them, and I’ve always trusted my instincts.”
    Not knowing
what to make of that statement, Kyra stood. “I… perhaps it would be best if you
walked me back to the entrance now. I know I’m not welcome here on a good day,
and that today, after your people have been attacked, is even worse. Perhaps I
should come back in a few days.”
    Bryce was
surprised to find he did not like the idea of Kyra leaving, but he nodded. “I
don’t think it would be good for either of us for you to miss a few days. You
were supposed to come yesterday, too.” And he’d been unreasonably disappointed
when she hadn’t shown up.
    Kyra lowered
her eyes. “I was seen by one of my neighbors on my way to the forest, who asked
me to join them for a ride. I couldn’t get away without the risk of being
followed. It’s possible it might happen again, and there isn’t much I can do
about it save for coming at night”
    Bryce nodded,
her words only assuring him further that she was not responsible for the
attack—she wasn’t lying about what she said, which meant that she had no
intention of leading enemies to their village. “I’ll walk you out.”
     
    ****
    The next day
her aunt did not take her afternoon nap—she declared loudly that they
were very behind on the chores and the winter preparation for the house, and
she and Kyra ran themselves ragged. By the time night had fallen, Kyra was so
exhausted that she fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep as soon as her head
hit the pillow, and didn’t wake until her aunt finally shook her awake,
admonishing her for being a lugabed.
    Oh ,
Kyra thought crossly as she dressed and went about the morning chores, if
only she knew!
    Still, the
good night’s sleep put her in a relatively cheery mood, and she whistled
through the day’s work. They finished up the winter chores, and by the time
mid-afternoon rolled around her aunt was ready for a nap again.
    “Go enjoy
yourself, Kyra,” she said, and Kyra noticed that her face seemed a bit pale. “I
just need a bit of rest.”
    As soon as
Kyra stepped outside, she noticed Jake walking toward the house.  It
looked as though he had a slight limp, his shoulders slumped, and his steps
careful.
    “Well,
hello,” he smiled, his eyes bright. “It’s been a few days, so I thought I’d
drop by. What are you up to?”
    Kyra raised
her eyebrows, but couldn’t help but smile. “I was just heading out for some
fresh air. What happened?”
    Jake grimaced
and pulled up his pant leg to show a bandage wrapped around his leg. “I had to
lay low for a bit after I came away with this bit of nastiness—mother
wouldn’t let me out of bed, never mind the house.”
    “Oh, Jake,”
Kyra breathed, “How did this happen?”
    “Two of our
newer dogs got into a fight, and I managed to place myself on the wrong end of
a pair of jaws while trying to break it up,” he said. “Unfortunate, but
thankfully not life-threatening. Hurt like nobody’s business.”
    “I’m sure it
did.” Kyra frowned. “You really shouldn’t have walked all the