Verdant Basin ingiullik

A familiar siren song floated to him on the breeze. Really, he ought to have known better by now. How many times had this same story played out only to end in heartbreak?

Yet Winterbourne followed the scent. On light paws he pursued the unknown woman, until he came to the edge of a lake — and there, just across the water, she stood pale and lovely and utterly alone. Oh, yes, he knew this story.

And still he stepped toward her, a single tentative step with a questioning look in his amber eyes. He wanted her — but only if she wanted him, too.