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of the Redhand family who knew his secret. Claw suspected, but only Aisha knew
for certain. Kynyr only called her Gram aloud when no one else could hear.
"What's wrong?"
"Gram, someone told me that you and Claw had a Wild
Cousins' Courtship."
"Yes we did. I made Claw work hard for his rights."
"That's why I need to talk to you."
"If you're thinking about having one, the male can't propose it, nor can he
declare it. It's a bitch's prerogative."
"I know that much. I asked her to marry me and then she threw that at me."
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"She?"
"Kady."
"I heard the rumor, but I was not certain whether to credit it or not. I
approve of Kady."
"You do?"
"My father was a farmer. I wasn't high born, but I was well reared. I was
considered a beauty when I was young and that's what caught Claw's eyes."
If Truth Dies [Lycan Blood Vol III]
by Janrae Frank
241
Kynyr looked thoughtful, trying to pick his words. "Why would a bitch want to
Call Courtship?"
"I can't speak for Kady, but I can speak for myself. That may or may not help
you."
"Tell me about it?"
Aisha smiled and patted his hand. "I had had a dozen proposals of marriage
before Claw showed up at my father's farm to buy some stock. He noticed me and
started trying to get me into bed with him. I kept refusing and finally he
proposed marriage. But by that time I was feeling ...
dyspeptic toward the entire notion of marriage ... so I
proposed a Wild Cousins' Courtship. I was always very good in the forests and
was certain that he would never be able to catch me."
"You didn't want him to catch you?"
"Absolutely not. I figured that I would lead him a merry chase through the
woodlands for a year and then he would have to shut up and leave me alone."
"But I thought you loved him."
"I do. But not at first. Over the course of the chase, we became close. I
started to care about him. The final day neared and soon we would never see
each other again."
"What happened?"
"I pretended to stumble and landed in a bush. Claw mounted me and the rest is
history."
"If I have any other questions, can I ask them?"
"Of course."
* * * *
If Truth Dies [Lycan Blood Vol III]
by Janrae Frank
242
"CAHIRAAAH!"
Kady flinched and nearly dropped the jar she held. She turned toward the door
and stared at the finely dressed old lycan standing just inside the door with
a golden-headed walking stick in his hands. He wore a plum colored velvet
waistcoat, a white silk shirt, black jacket, black knee pants and plum hose.
She had never seen anyone dressed like that before in her life.
"Cahira!"
Kady put the jar down on the counter and approached him.
"Can I help you?"
"I will speak to Cahira and I will speak to her now. Do you hear me? Now!" He
pounded the floor with his walking stick.
"And who should I say..."
A half-strangled squeak came from the hallway door, dragging Kady's attention
from the angry lycan. Cahira stood there, looking startled and ready to
faint.
"Sheradyn, what are you doing here?"
"You lying little bitch." Sheradyn strode across the room and shook his
walking stick at Cahira. "You didn't tell him."
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"Who?"
"Kynyr! You didn't tell him that Tarrant was his grandfather."
Tarrant? Tarrant Redhand
? Kady ducked her head and went back to shelving jars, trying to appear
oblivious.
"Please calm down, Sheradyn. I have a perfectly good reason." Cahira fluttered
her hands at him.
"You'd better or I'm going straight to Claw." He struck the floor again.
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by Janrae Frank
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"Come upstairs with me and I'll make you some tea and we'll talk."
"I wouldn't mind a bit of sherry." Sheradyn stopped pounding the floor, and
rubbed the rounded head of his stick, the anger fading from his expression.
"I've got brandy."
He sniffed and straightened his waistcoat. "That will have to do."
Sheradyn followed Cahira into the hallway. Kady stole a glance at them. Her
head whirled.
If Tarrant is Kynyr's grandfather ... then Kynyr's a prince and I called
courtship on him. I can't keep putting him off.
The pieces started coming together. Kynyr was rich and educated because he was
a prince. Kady felt as if she were walking in a dream. That was the secret he
refused to tell her. All of her fears melted away and vanished into a Faery
tale.
* * * *
Sheradyn leaned back in his chair, sipping his brandy.
"Really, Cahira. I think you're taking this curse business much too seriously.
Weems was in no shape to lay a curse when he spoke those words. He had a
silver spike through his stomach, for Heaven's Sakes. He was out of his mind
with pain."
"That's what Caimbeul said."
"He's here?"
Cahira nodded. "So's Baroucha."
"I knew about her."
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