Beneath a Midnight Moon

Hardane walked beside Selene, only half listening to what she was saying. His thoughts, as always, were with Kylene who was, as always, in the company of one of his brothers, most likely Dubrey.

"What?" He focused his gaze on Selene, realizing she had asked him a question.

She gestured at the bench in a small arbor. "I asked if you'd like to sit awhile?"

Hardane nodded, knowing the time had come to say what was uppermost on his mind.

"You have a lovely home," Selene remarked. "I'm so glad to see it at last. To meet you." She gazed up at him, letting him see how much she admired him, how pleased she was that they were to be wed.

"Selene . . ." He ran a hand through his hair. "I . . . I wish to be released from my pledge."

"What?"

"I wish to marry another."

"That's impossible. We were destined from birth to be life-mated."

"I know."

"Who is it, this woman you wish to take my place?"

"That's not important."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"You had no right to give your love to another," Selene accused, her eyes bright with tears. "You belong to me."

"You won't release me from my vow?"

"No."

Agitated, he stood up and paced back and forth in front of the bench.

"Why?" he demanded. "Why do you wish to be mated to a man who desires another? There will be no happiness between us."

"Women marry for many reasons other than happiness," Selene answered coldly. "I want a home, children, security. I want what was meant to be mine, and I will have it."

"You may have my home," Hardane retorted, his voice as cold as the winter wind, "you may have security. But I will never give you children."

Selene smiled up at him. "I think you will," she murmured confidently. "You're a man, after all. An honorable man. Once we're wed, you'll not break your vow of fidelity. Sooner or later, you'll come to me."

"I will not," he said curtly. Turning on his heel, he left her there, chilled by a terrible fear that she was right.

Hardane sat on the edge of his bed, staring into the hollow blackness of the fireplace. A week had passed since Selene's arrival. It had been the worst week of his life, and tonight didn't promise to be any better. Tonight, during the ball Sharilyn was giving in Selene's honor, Kray would introduce Selene to the local populace. It would give the people a chance to meet Hardane's betrothed, to mingle with the Lord and Lady of Argone, to pledge their loyalty and support to the House of Argone and its heirs.

He did not want to marry Selene. Duty had demanded he spend time with her this past week, that he show her around the keep, get to know her, let her get to know him.

But he didn't want to know her.

Even worse than spending time with Selene had been the torture of watching his brothers pay court to Kylene. Dubrey took her walking each morning. Dace deluged her with love sonnets that praised her beauty. Dirk and Garth sang duets under her window at eventide. Liam wrote poetry.

Hardane swore under his breath. He'd had no chance to spend time with Kylene, no opportunity to speak to her alone. And yet he didn't need to talk to her to know what she was thinking, what she was feeling. He knew. She thought he had deceived her, betrayed her. She was hurt by his lack of attention, pleased and confused by the sincere flattery of his brothers.

Though he'd been tempted to walk in her dreams, he'd restrained himself, his sense of honor refusing to let him be unfaithful to Selene, even though he felt nothing for her. He had, on occasion, tried to walk in Selene's mind, to see her thoughts, but to no avail. His inability to connect with her bothered him greatly, reinforcing his suspicion that she wasn't the woman meant for him.

He stood abruptly, the truth so obvious he wondered why he hadn't realized it before.

Selene and Kylene were twins, but only one could be the seventh daughter; in his heart he knew that Selene had not been the firstborn of the two, but the second.

It explained everything.

Kylene sat in her room, staring dolefully at her reflection in the looking glass, wondering how she would endure the night to come. She would have to smile and look pleased when Selene and Hardane were presented to the people. She would have to bestow a sisterly kiss of affection on Selene's cheek, offer her congratulations to Hardane.

She had to leave this place. She could not stay here, see them together every day, know that Selene slept beside Hardane at night. Tomorrow, she would ask Lord Kray to send her to Bierly or Dunsmere, or even back to Mouldour. She would willingly face the Lord High Interrogator again rather than stay here and watch Selene gather happiness with both hands.

But first she had to get through the ball.

She smoothed her hands over her skirt. Her gown was of pale ice blue, trimmed in white fur. A fine silver chain circled her neck. She had refused Hadj's offer to arrange her hair. Instead, she wore it loose around her shoulders because Hardane liked it that way.

Hardane. How empty this past week had been without him.

A knock at the door told her it was time to make her entrance. Taking a deep breath, she picked up a white feather fan and left her bedchamber, knowing that, if she could get through this night, she could face anything the future might hold.

The ballroom was aglow with the light of a thousand candles. Women gowned in all the colors of the rainbow danced with men clad in starkly elegant evening clothes. Music filled the air.

Feeling shy and completely out of place, Kylene took a place near the doorway, half-hidden by the lacy fronds of a giant fern.

As if by magic, her gaze was immediately drawn toward Hardane. He was dancing with Selene, and Kylene felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight of him. Hardane was dressed in black save for a white shirt that complemented his swarthy good looks and dark hair. He'd never looked more handsome, more desirable, more unapproachable.

Kylene looked at her sister. Wearing a gown of emerald green trimmed in white fur, Selene looked every inch a princess, a perfect mate for Hardane. Her eyes glowed as she gazed into Hardane's eyes.

Kylene looked away, unable to bear the sight of the two of them together. Soon, too soon, Selene would be Hardane's bride. Try as she might, she could not find it in her heart to be happy for her sister. Instead, she was torn with envy, so jealous she was almost sick with it.

She couldn't stay here, she thought, she couldn't listen to Lord Kray announce their official betrothal, couldn't lift her glass and join with the castle guests as they toasted Selene's health and happiness.

She was turning to leave when she felt a hand on her arm. She stilled instantly, knowing who it was that stood behind her. She would know the touch of his hand in the dark.

"Kylene."

"My lord."

"Look at me."

"No. Please, let me go."

"I can't. Dance with me."

"I don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

It was useless to argue. Helplessly, she let him draw her out onto the dance floor. It was heaven to be in his arms, to look into his eyes, to see him smiling down at her.

Before she quite realized what was happening, he had danced her onto the balcony. Taking her hand, he led her into the shadows.

"Kylene, we have to talk . . ."

"You never told me you had brothers," she said.

"And a sister. You'll meet her one day."

"Perhaps," Kylene said evasively. "Can all your brothers change shape as you do?"

"No."

"Can your mother?"

"Of course. I inherited the ability from her."

"How does your father feel about that?"

"I never asked him."

"Oh. I guess-"

"Kylene, stop it."

She looked up at him in wide-eyed innocence. "Stop what?"

"Stop your babbling. I know how you feel."

"Do you?"

"I never meant to hurt you."

"You promised me . . ." She turned away lest he see her tears. It didn't matter what he had promised. She'd known he could never be hers, that she could never be his. It had all been a silly dream, as tangible as a will-o'-the-wisp.

Hardane placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know what I promised," he said, the hurt he'd seen in her eyes making him forget, for the moment, what he'd brought her out here to tell her.

"Always and forever, you said," Kylene whispered. "Why did you make me hope when you knew it could never be?"

"I meant what I said. I'll not let you go again."

She whirled around to face him, tears of pain and fury shining in her eyes. "You can't keep me here against my will! I won't stay and watch you marry my sister. I won't, and you can't make me!"

"I'm the heir of Argone," he reminded her, his anger rising to match hers. "I can do whatever I wish."

Her rage melted like snow in the sunlight. "If you care for me at all, you'll let me go."

"Kylene, listen to me. Haven't you figured it out yet? You and Selene are sisters, twins."

She looked up at him as if he weren't very bright.

"We've only Selene's word that she's the firstborn. I think she's lying. Wait!" He held up a hand to silence her protest. "Just think about it. It's the only explanation that makes sense. It explains why I can read your thoughts, but not hers, why I can walk in your dreams. She isn't the firstborn. You are."

Kylene stared at him in speechless wonder. It sounded so logical, so sensible, she wondered why it had never occurred to her, but even as she grasped at the idea, she pushed it aside, afraid to hope.

"Surely if I was the firstborn, Selene would know."

"Of course she knows," Hardane said, his voice harsh.

"But . . . but that means she lied to you. To me."

Hardane nodded, his eyes dark with unspoken anger.

"But there's no way to prove it. Only her word against mine."

"There's a way, lady," he said, gathering her into his arms. "There's always a way."

"What is it?"

"You'll have to wait until the day of the wedding to find out."

"Why?"

She felt his arms tighten around her, as if to protect her.

"It's a test, of sorts," Hardane replied, his voice low and strained.

Kylene drew back so she could see his face. "What kind of test?"

"I can't tell you. It's a closely guarded secret, meant to insure that the heirs of Argone marry only the bravest and the best of women. Or, in this case, the right woman."

"Hardane? Hardane, are you out here?"

Kylene moved out of Hardane's arms, a guilty flush heating her cheeks at the sound of her sister's voice.

"Oh," Selene said, her gaze darting from Kylene's flushed face to Hardane's impassive one, "there you are, Hardane. Your father is ready to make the announcement."

She held out her hand, but Hardane refused to take it.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" he asked brusquely.

It was all Selene could do to keep from flinching under his cool stare. "Of course." She glanced at Kylene. "Dubrey is looking for you. I shouldn't be surprised if he proposes soon."

The sooner the better, Selene thought, annoyed. She'd seen the adoring look Kylene had bestowed on Hardane, the barely concealed jealousy in Hardane's eyes when he heard his brother's name mentioned in connection with Kylene's.

Selene placed a proprietary hand on Hardane's forearm. "Shall we go?"

Hardane shrugged Selene's hand from his arm, nodded briefly in Kylene's direction, and returned to the ballroom. Wordlessly, Selene turned to follow him.

Kylene stared after them for a moment, her mind in turmoil. Knowing she couldn't bear to hear Lord Kray announce Hardane's forthcoming marriage, she made her way to her bedchamber and closed the door.

Hardane thought she was the firstborn twin, that she was indeed his betrothed.

Could it be true?

Oh, please, let it be true!