Page 44 of The Ranger

Lany handed the little Sarian to her. “He’s been looking forward to seeing you both again. It’s been what, a whole three days?”

Makama laughed and cuddled the adorable creature. Vale thought he was cute as well. In aI’d rather wrestle an alligatorsort of way. Tylahs, though adorable, was the most venomous Sarian in the Muiraran kingdom. One bite and you were a goner, even if you were Muiraran.

But like all Sarian, he also had a calming effect on Muirarans and humans alike. He watched Kwaku and Markhel battle with the others, an occasional ohsssk or yikessssk, escaping him.

The two huge men fought each other another ten minutes before Markhel began to wind down, stretching and breathing differently. His heart was full at last. Vale shook his head and took Makama by the hand. “How is this ever going to work?”

“I don’t know.” She petted Tylahs, then headed for Markhel.

“Darling? What are you doing?” Vale trotted after her.

She went up to Markhel and offered him Tylahs. “Would you like to hold him?”

Markhel wiped some wet hair off his face as he looked at the little black Sarian. He was no bigger than a tiny kitten, his fur soft and fluffy. Tylahs looked at him with his big amber eyes and batted his eyelashes.

Markhel smiled.

Vale thought he might faint! “He can crack a smile.”

Makama rolled her eyes then handed Tylahs over.

As soon as she did, Vale looped her arm around his. “Isn’t that something?”

She gave him a playful smack on the arm. “No one can resist Tylahs. Markhel, have you never held him before?”

“On occasion.” He cuddled the Sarian to his chest as Tylahs purred loudly. “He is… comforting.”

“Yes, young cub, he is,” Kwaku drawled. A laugh followed, a small one, but in the short time Vale and Makama had been in the palace, he’d learned to listen to Kwaku’s different laughs, chuckles, and various other sounds of amusement. They were a language all their own. Not only that, but Dallan had warned him.

Markhel let Tylahs climb to his shoulder and sit, then nodded at Vale and Makama. “I hope I did not hurt you.”

“Nah,” Makama said with a dismissive wave. “We’re good.”

He arched an eyebrow at her, then looked Vale over. “You will heal.”

“I know, but it’s a good thing Kwaku showed up, or you’d have had no more than a snack with us.” Makama pulled away, catching Vale’s attention. He let her slip her arm from his and head for the water. “You might have to explain why your dress is sopping wet when we return to the hotel, darling.”

“We will take Markhel back to town with us,” Zara said. “Let your mate feed.”

Makama glanced at them over her shoulder, smiled at Vale, then sat on the ground and started taking off her shoes.

“Thank you.” Vale went to join her. As soon as he did, he turned to watch the others stroll into the meadow toward a wagon and horses.

“Thank goodness we don’t have to do that again.” He sat and pulled off his boots. Makama was already stripping down to her chemise and bloomers. He smiled as she stepped into the water, then went deeper, and began to swim.

“Oh, this is nice.” She dove beneath the surface and disappeared.

“And best of all,” Vale said as he continued to strip. “There are no alligators.”

* * *

“Wow you’re reallymad at him, aren’t you?”

Shona looked up from the note she was writing. Kitty gave her an expectant look mixed with just the right amount of sympathy. She could always count on Kitty to make her feel better. At least her Muiraran father had that right. But it was the reason he’d brought Kitty to the palace that had her writing a note to Dallan.

Her father had sent Vale and Makama into a potentially dangerous situation. Markhel was there, and he was a powerful warrior aside from being the king’s ranger. But there would be times when he’d be incapacitated, and what good would he be to them then? Okay, so Kwaku was there too, but was he up to his full strength? She should have asked Zara when she was with her. Instead, Zara kept asking her questions and talking about other things. Had she done so to keep her distracted?

She scribbled down where she and Kitty would be. She could just as easily speak to him heart to heart but was too ticked off and didn’t want him running to find out why. Let him take care of whatever business he had around the palace first. Oncehefound out Philip Brennan might be sniffing around Clear Creek while Vale and Makama were trying to help Markhel, then everyone had better watch out.