QUOTE : Your friends aren’t afraid of that little scrap of mist, are they?” Reece asked with a sly smile.<br /><br /> “We’re Trateri,” Buck said, jutting his chin out and giving the other man a crazy grin. “We’re afraid of nothing.”<br /><br /> Eamon grunted, his expression even more severe than usual.<br /><br /> Reece’s lips twisted. “Then, you’re stupider than you look. Only a fool feels no fear in the face of that.”<br /><br /> He jerked his head toward the mist that waved at them with smoky tendrils.<br /><br /> “Doesn’t look too bad to me. No worse than the last time, at any rate.” Buck clapped a hand on Shea’s shoulder and tugged her in front of him. “And you forget, we have this one on our side. She wouldn’t lead us astray.”<br /><br /> A crafty expression dawned on Buck’s face. “Or is it that you’re the one afraid and you’re hoping for a little solidarity on this side?” His face turned understanding. “It’s okay. Not everyone can be as great as us. We understand and will console your pitiful fears.”<br /><br /> He held his arms out and gestured for Reece to come and give him a hug.<br /><br /> Reece looked at her friend like he thought he’d lost his mind. An apt reaction given Buck’s nature. Shea had to conceal a smile or else risk tipping Reece off to the game. It was rare for her cousin to be out-Reece’d, but it looked like Buck was more than capable of matching him.<br /><br /> “Go on,” Eamon rumbled. “His hugs are miraculous. They’ll soothe your mind.”<br /><br /> Reece got an odd expression on his face, and he slowly started backing away from the three of them. This time Shea’s mouth trembled with the need to laugh. She got her face under control and gave her cousin a sympathetic look, her eyes big.<br /><br /> “Yes, cousin. They’ll change your life.” Her voice sounded slightly strangled by the end.<br /><br /> Trenton snorted from where he leaned against the cliff.<br /><br /> Reece gave them a disgusted look and he stalked off without responding. Shea’s laugh burst from her before he’d even gone a few feet. It came from deep inside and nearly doubled her over.<br /><br /> Buck watched her with exasperation. “What was that face at the end? You looked like you were trying not to shit yourself. I’ve told you before that you have to fully commit or you’ll never be convincing.”<br /><br /> “You’re ridiculous,” Shea said, her laughter finally petering off. “Trying to make him hug you. What were you thinking?”<br /><br /> Buck shrugged and gave her a cat-like smile. “I was thinking his face irritated me and I wanted him to go away.”<br /><br /> Eamon lips tilted up as he watched the two of them with amusement. It was the equivalent of a laugh in the normally serious man.<br /><br /> “Pretty impressive stronghold if this is the only way into it,” Trenton said. “I assume few ever breech it.”<br /><br /> “Nothing human anyway,” Shea agreed.