"You are very handsome, but that means nothing to me. How you make me feel seduces me, not your face or your body. You could be an ogre, and I would want you, Broden." She intertwined her fingers with his. "Kissing you almost enslaved me." (Swoon--she had me at "but that means nothing to me")!
Broden Mag Raith is the handsome one of the clan, although his voice is not. As with his clanmates, Broden's lover, French woman Mariena Douet, falls from the sky and lands on Nellie Quinn in the nick of time during a Sluath/clan battle. Unlike the other fallen women, Mariena arrives with a "don't mess with me" attitude, which I love, when she awakens from her fall. The first person she strikes out at is Broden with a knife to his throat. The strongest of the clan, Broden, doesn't resist Mariena for his fear of hurting her.
Not what Broden expected, he cautiously observes Mariena when he thinks she's not paying attention only to find that she is always paying attention and aware of her surroundings. Mariena's domestic skills may be lacking, but her skills as a fighter and protector are as strong as any of the Mag Raith. The clan accepts Mariena and her particular set of skills though she hides her most powerful asset. Soon Broden discovers Mariena's power, but it may be too late for them as another trap is sprung at Dun Chaill.
Broden's not the only one who awaited Mariena's arrival. The Watcher has been waiting for her arrival, as well. Cull believes Mariena could prove useful to him and his plans of revenge against the Sluath demons. Meanwhile, Galan Aedth's search for the clan continues as he plots his vengeance against Prince Iolar. Prince Iolar senses Galan's disloyalty and has plans to deal with the druid.
There is not a lot of action in this story, but the dialogue between Broden and Mariena is both humorous and steamy.
On my Were Scale of Hotness, 4 stars.