Silas backed away. “I’m not sure it’s wise for you to continue to be merged and to deepen our connection. Since Faith can’t hold the mind-merge over the distance of this room, I’ll head over there.”
My mind clutched his. “I don’t know. I feel like I need more time.” I held onto the pool table, and didn’t dare grab him. He moved farther away, and as he did, my mind pressed outward, needing to maintain the hold.
I dug my fingernails into the green felt on the table. “Slow down.”
My mind couldn’t stretch the distance as he continued. The connection broke like an elastic band snapping. I staggered back. My head throbbed and the loss of his mind sent an ache to the depths of my soul.
“Hope?” A questioning look darkened his eyes. “Breathe through it.” His fists clenched then un-clenched at his sides.
With my chin down, I shot him a narrowed glare. “I did not like that. How long does Faith merge for?”
“Five minutes and then she’s good to go.”
“Out of every three days, right?”
“That’s the maximum. Faith merges more than that, usually whenever she and Davio are together. Her skill is like an addiction. She can’t withhold her mind from his when she’s in his vicinity.”
My head throbbed to reconnect and I could well imagine the need. “I merged for a minute, maybe two. I think I need the five you spoke–”
The solid oak door swung open, and in strode one of the Loverias. I’d seen images of the three men, who all appeared alike, because I’d been told to know my enemy.
This was Carlisio’s grandson. Davio Loveria slanted his head to one side, brown hair wisped with golden strands falling to his shoulders. His dark eyes drew into tight slits as his gaze moved over me. Close to six foot four, he matched Silas in height.
The hairs on the back of my neck zoomed up. My blood heated. Wincrest and Loveria blood warred. On Magio, only our two lines held the rare forethought skill. Combined with our history, it meant their direct line and ours couldn’t come within five feet of each other or the aggression between us rose to fierce levels.
Loveria, in an impeccably fitted black silk shirt and dark pants, breached the five-foot mark, stirring my blood. I stared him down. “Keep your distance, Loveria. You know our past.” A thousand years of battle was impossible to lay aside.
Circling me with slow steps, he set his hand on his side-sword and tapped it. “Carlisio agreed to the release of your warrior. I was there with Silas at the meeting. And I’ll stand where I please since my ancestors won the war and this is my land.” He shot a look at Silas. “Why is she here?”
“Hope has mind-merge so I brought her. It’s thrown up a problem.” Silas crossed his arms with a hard slap. “You better have some good advice. Right now, I could use it.”
Loveria frowned and muttered, “She is a Wincrest and Donaldo is determined to eliminate my line in full. Bringing her here was wrong.”
“You know the bond, Davio. I cannot allow any harm to come to her, and she is your mate’s sister. What can you tell me of mind-merge?”
Loveria’s gaze slashed into me. “Are you sure you have it?”
“Yes, and how does my sister stand your company?” I had not considered the thought of her blood warring with his before, but this close, my Wincrest blood bubbled through my veins like a riot of fire. She must suffer the same as only the two lines of Loveria and Wincrest did.
“She mind-merges. The moment we touch skin-to-skin, the aggression and pain disappear because of the mind to body connection.”
Chills chased across my skin. “She has to merge and touch you? That’s despicable.”
“She has no issues with it.” He planted his feet wide and crossed his arms. “Step back if you can’t handle the heat. Five feet and the tension will dissolve.”
My chest tightened. Loveria was too close, and Silas too far away. I needed to merge with my mate since my head thumped as if horses stampeded within. “I’d rather swallow nails, thanks all the same.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I can’t believe my cousin is mated to you.”
I blew a hostile breath, right in his face. “It happened, but not for long. Why don’t you leave since you’re not helpful?”
“Whose castle is this?” He gave me a cocky grin. “You are much like Faith, temperament-wise.”
I kicked his shin. I couldn’t help myself.
“Ow.” He hopped about, holding his leg.
“I can’t believe I’m even related to her. Why has she not slit your throat?”
“She loves how I frustrate her.”
Why was he still grinning?
I glared at Silas. “We need to leave, and I need to mind-merge with you.”
He held his position, remaining too far away for me to connect. “We’ve released each other, and now you’re leaving me with no choice.”
I saw his point. He’d made his decision clear from the start and had kept his end of our bargain. What was I doing? “Give me the time I need to mind-merge then take me home.” My mind cried out for those precious five minutes. I’d take that and deal with the rest.
Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)
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