Chevalier sat in his study with his eyes closed. He was concentrating on Emily, and could feel how she went from alone and confused to almost exhilarated. He tried to concentrate, tried to focus to find the source of the change, but he wasn't quite able to get it. He suspected, that over time, the bond would become stronger and he may be able to tell her thoughts or to see through her eyes. Now, though, he relished in the feeling of completeness and of belonging that engulfed her. It was too much, he had to know what she was doing that had filled her so completely with joy.
He wasn't surprised to find the small guestroom to be empty, but he was able to track her out to the barn. He stood against the barn door and watched her work. He was surprised that that small body could work as she did and was fascinated by how doing so made her feel. Chevalier smiled as she took a pitchfork full of hay and tossed it onto the ground in front of some of the cattle. She slipped off the cowboy hat she wore and ran her sleeved arm along her brow. He didn't like how the cowboy hat shaded her eyes, he preferred when he could see them.
Chevalier quietly slipped back into the shadows of the barn when Emily glanced in his direction. Her human senses weren't too off, the feeling she was being watched was correct, but when she couldn't see anyone, she turned back to work.
Emily was enjoying being out with her cattle again. She was able to release her mind and focus on them. She liked how her muscles strained beneath the heavy hay and looked forward to the soreness it would bring the next day. She was doing more than normal, somehow the pain caused her mind forget the deception. She groaned slightly under the weight of the hay on the pitchfork, but was still able to push herself to throw it.
With the cattle fed, she headed into the barn and began mucking out Patra's stall. She kept turning around, the feeling of being watched was stronger in here. She dripped with sweat as she cleaned the stall meticulously and then re-filled it with clean straw. Once there was clean water and fresh oats, she went out to the cow pasture to get Patra, who was munching lazily on hay.
Patra saw Emily coming and stepped away from her.
“Come on, Patra, it's time to go back inside,” Emily said, walking casually up to the horse.
Patra reared slightly and took a step back.
Emily frowned, “What's wrong girl?”
She reached a hand out to her, but again, Patra moved away.
“You ole pregnant fool, come back here,” she called, running after Patra when the horse took off.
Chevalier was glad he was a long ways off in the barn, he was laughing.
Emily got just a few feet from Patra and was able to grab the bridle finally. Patra nipped at the rim of her hat, “Stop that,” she told her, and started to walk.
She landed on her butt on the hard ground as Patra set her feet and wouldn't move. Emily stood up and pulled harder at the reins, but Patra only looked down at her. She finally walked over to the horse, “What is your problem today?”
Emily pulled hard against the reins, and Patra took one step and then stopped and whinnied.
“Come on!”
She leaned back, her entire body pulling against the stubborn mare, “Fine… be that way.”
Emily left Patra out and headed back for the barn, “Stay out here all night, see if I care,” she called back, but the mare was already pulling at the grass.
When Emily got into the barn, she took off her hat and slammed it into the ground, growling. The tiniest noise escaped Chevalier as he laughed from his perch above her. She spun toward the back of the barn, but didn't see anyone. Giving up, she kicked her hat at the wall and stormed off to the house.
Emily opened Kyle's door and peeked inside. She saw he was awake and he smiled at her from the bed.
“How are you?” she asked, stepping inside and shutting the door.
“Never better,” he replied as he repositioned and grimaced.
“I thought heku didn't get hurt,” she said, and sat down on a chair by the bed.
“Well… mortals can't hurt us, but we're pretty good at injuring one another.” He watched her.
“Good to know, I guess. I owe you another thank you it seems.” She leaned toward him.
“I couldn't just let you leave that mad, Em. I'm glad I was there though. So enough about me… how are you?” He watched her intently.
“I wasn't hurt at all, I'm good.” Her eyes told a different story.
“I'm not talking about what happened on the mainland and you know it. Are you talking to him yet?”
She shrugged.
“I'll take that as a no. I've been thinking about that quite a bit this morning, and I'm not sure it's as bad as I first thought.”
“Are you kidding me? Kyle, I drank blood!” She wrinkled her nose, fighting back a gag.
“Is that the real problem?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Well no… he lied to me and I trusted him,” she said sourly.
Kyle nodded, “If he'd told you, would you have done it?”
Emily shook her head.
“Are you sure about that? You are as in love with him as he is you. I have a feeling you would have done it anyway.”
She looked at the ground, “At least if I had, it would have been my choice.”
“Fair enough… but didn't he spare you the agony of having to decide?”
“You're on his side now then? Is that it?” she asked, getting mad.
“I didn't say that.” His voice was almost pleading, “I just said that he's good for you, I can see that and I wish you would too. I wouldn't punish him for too long for one bad judgment.”
“He lied to me!” Her voice faltered.
“He loves you… he lied to protect you. I'm not saying it wasn't wrong, but look at it from his side. Would you lie to him if it would save him the pain of making an impossible decision?”
Chevalier stood outside the door and listened. He'd planned on going in to talk to them both, but Kyle's words hit him and now he just stood by the door, awestruck.
Emily didn't answer.
“Just give him a break, ok? I've known him for almost 950 years and I've never seen him like this, the way you make him. I hate to use the word happy, but it's close. I've no doubt he doesn't want anyone to know you two are bonded, it would show he has a weakness… a very human emotion.”
“That or he's embarrassed to be married to a<