Laura Jo Phillips Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought perhaps you would consent to coming to our home with us,” Merrick replied.  “We live in Berria, and many of our Clan members have homes near us so you would not be isolated.”
    “No,” Berta said, shaking her head before he was finished speaking.  “I will not leave the Dracons’ ranch.”
    “Why not?” Merrick asked.  “Do you distrust us?”
    “I do not know you,” Berta replied.  “I know only that here, on the Dracons’ ranch, I am safe for the first time in my life.  So long as the Dracons allow me to remain here, I will not leave this place.”
    “All right,” Merrick replied, sensing that pressing her on this matter would not be a good idea.  “Then we will stay here and get to know you.”
    “I need to think about this,” she said, suddenly feeling very tired.  “If you don’t mind, I would like to return to my bed now.”
    “Of course,” Merrick replied, his voice calm though his heart was sinking fast.  From what she’d said so far, he realized that it was very unlikely that she would decide in their favor.  “As much as we would like to carry you back ourselves, I think you would be more comfortable if we called Jackson.”
    “Yes, I would prefer that,” Berta replied. 
    Merrick nodded to Tor who tapped his vox to make the call.  Within moments Jackson walked through the door, his eyes going directly to Berta.
    “Have you come to an agreement?” he asked Merrick.
    “No, Lord Jackson,” Merrick replied.  “Berta would like to think on her decision.”
    “I see,” Jackson said.  He was not surprised, but nevertheless, he could not help but feel badly for the Falcorans.  They were still a bit young, but youth was not a crime, and they were very good men.  This was not going to be easy for them.
    “I will take Berta home,” Jackson said.  “While you await her decision, you are welcome to stay here, in the Katres’ house.”
    “We thank you,” Merrick said, rising to his feet and bowing politely.  Tor and Jerri did the same, and Jackson nodded to them before lifting Berta in his arms.
    As soon as they were gone, Merrick turned to his brothers.  “What do you guys think?”
    “This is an impossible situation,” Tor said, shaking his head slowly. 
    “Why do you say that?” Jerri asked.  “I don’t even understand why she has to think about it.  She did not argue the fact that she is our Arima, and she clearly understands what that means.  Her DNA will be rewritten during the transformation process, so her age will not be a problem either.”
    “It is not her age that’s the problem,” Tor said.  “The Brethren stole her life from her because she is berezi .  Do you think she will readily agree to us doing the same thing to her?”
    “We don’t want to steal her life from her,” Jerri argued.  “We want to share in it.”
    “I know that,” Tor said.  “ She , however, does not.”
    “Then we will have to find a way to convince her of it,” Merrick said.
    “I don’t think we will have the chance to convince her of anything,” Tor said.  “Not just yet, anyway.  I think that she will decide against us, and send Jackson to give us the news.”
    Merrick sighed.  Tor had an inner sense that was, to date, infallible.  If he believed what he said to be true, then it was as good as written in stone.
    “What can we do?” he asked.
    Tor reached into his pocket.  “We know that our Arima came from Earth with the Bearens,” he said as he pulled out a small black case.  “That means that Berta has had only a few short months of freedom.  I suggest we go quietly when she asks us to.  After hearing her story, I believe she both needs, and greatly deserves, time.  That is a gift that we can give her.”
    “It won’t be easy,” Jerri muttered. 
    “No, it won’t,” Merrick agreed.  “But she is our Arima, and as such, she must come first in all things.”
    “You are correct, of course,” Jerri admitted.  “It means