Brute (38 page)

Due to the lump in his throat, Aric could only nod.

Gray stood as well and pulled Aric up with him. “Go visit with Maud, Friddy. He’s probably half-crazy after weeks in that hut.” He smiled wickedly. “Ask Kashta to have a talk with you about meditation.”

And without even a nod to the puzzled prince, Gray dragged Aric into the hut and tugged the fabric door closed. Unfastening Aric’s shirt, Gray whispered, “Lie down with me, my love, and let’s celebrate our freedom. And then”—his face positively glowed with wonder—“we have our lives to plan.”

T
HIS
story is one of those that has been churning around in my head for a long time. I’d like to thank some of the people who helped me get it out of my head and into your hands.

I am grateful to my friends Sheree Adams, Jan M. Mike, and Ginny Palmieri for reading drafts of this novel and for reassuring me that other people might love Brute too. Their feedback helped make this a better story. My deepest thanks to Karen Witzke, who polished off the rough edges and made Brute shine. And, as always, my thanks to Dennis, Allison, and Quinn—my cheerleaders, my support staff, and the lights of my life.

K
IM
F
IELDING
is very pleased every time someone calls her eclectic. She has migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States and currently lives in California, where she long ago ran out of bookshelf space. She’s a university professor who dreams of being able to travel and write full-time. She also dreams of having two perfectly behaved children, a husband who isn’t obsessed with football, and a house that cleans itself. Some dreams are more easily obtained than others.

Kim can be found on her blogs:

http://kfieldingwrites.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4105707.Kim_Fielding/blog

and on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kim-Fielding/286938444652579

Her e-mail is [email protected].

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

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IM
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IELDING

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