Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

“It needn’t have. I’m always among my own.”


“That’s what worries me. Maslin Sol has intentions toward you. The way he looks–”

I clapped a hand over his mouth. “He knows you’re my mate and my life is tied to yours. You do not have the right to tell me who I may or may not have as friends.”

He let out a huff of breath, which burst into my palm. He plucked my fingers free and said, “You are impossible.”

“You are worse.”

“I missed you today.”

“Because you like arguing with me so much?”

“That’s right. No one can quarrel with me like a Wincrest. It’s all rather refreshing, knowing you and Faith.”

I almost laughed. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“I apologize if I said things I shouldn’t have.”

I tapped my ears. “Now, I know I didn’t just hear an apology.”

“You heard fine.” He brought my hand to his chest as he slid in closer. “Carlisio has accepted my decision.”

“I’m not anyone’s decision. We are soul-bound, and that is a relationship. I mean a non-relationship, in our case. The fact I have mind-merge is just an added problem.” I wanted to tug my hand back, yet that would only cause a scene. Goldie had now extinguished her corner lamp and settled for sleep. Guy and Maslin stood like sentries.

“Hope.” My name was a bare whisper on his lips. “This is all because of that damn image you saw in my mind.”

“We’re mated and yet you wish for another. It hurts.”

“I do not desire another woman, only the concept of who she would be.”

“You were against us being together at the start and released me, requesting I do the same. After I merged my mind with yours, it threw what was between us up in the air.”

“No, I kidnapped you because I desired to see more of you.”

“Nah-ah, you saw red and that’s all.”

“I aligned our hearts because I wanted our relationship to gain in strength.”

“Only after I saw that image in your mind.”

“You formed a telepathic link of trust with me. We connected. You needed me, and I will always come.”

“Ha, I did not ask you to come. You did that on your own.”

He raised my fingers to his lips, kissing them one by one. “Exactly. I cannot stay away from you. Set that image aside, for me.”

“I’ll set it aside when I know it’s me you want.” What? Oh drat. I hadn’t just said that out loud? Nooo, I couldn’t have. My cheeks heated and I hauled my hand free. “I-I need a minute.”

I was stronger than this. I didn’t need a man to want me because I asked it of him.

Reaching over me, he flicked off the lamp and plunged our little area into dark. “Every hour we are together, strengthens our bond.” With his lips near my ear, he murmured softly, “Thank you for coming and sleeping over here.”

“Move to your own mattress.”

“I need a minute.” He nuzzled my neck.

I sighed. He did not need a minute. The lout was impossible. Which meant I wouldn’t be able to move him if he didn’t want to go.

What an insufferable bond.





Chapter 6




I walked outside into the eerie stillness of the desert. Dawn had yet to break as I slogged through the sand around the side of the church with a flask of water and bar of soap in hand. “Catch up, Silas. One would think you’re nervous.”

“I am, considering what’s about to happen. I can shave without your help.”

No, he couldn’t. Loveria had returned from the washroom with nicks all over his face and without his fast-healing they would remain there for the day to come. “Loveria said there’s no mirror. Since that’s the case, I’m shaving you. I won’t see you bleed unnecessarily.”

He came alongside me. “There’s the door, right where Davio said it would be.” He turned the knob and shoved it open. As he stepped through the doorway, he swung his lamp about. “There’s barely enough space in here for one, let alone two of us. How about–”

“Let me in.” I pushed past him. Oh, the room was tiny, maybe seven foot square.

Setting his lamp on the stone counter, he peered into a bowl carved into it. “There’s no plumbing.”

“This is the desert. We should be grateful there’s a washroom at all.” The basin was plugged with a chain stoppered to a smooth round stone, and underneath the countertop, a grate had been cut into the floor. “Oh, that’s very clever.”

Silas removed a small towel from over his shoulder and dropped it beside his lamp. “I’m not sure about this.”

“I’ll do a good job.” I angled his head to the left as I inspected the sharp red-gold stubble. “We’ll need lots of soapy water.” I uncapped the water flask and poured a little into the plugged basin then dipped the bar of soap in and lathered it up. Nice. I smoothed the froth over his jaw. “Dagger, please.”

“Have you ever done this before?” He slid it free from the sheath on the inside of his wrist and passed it across to me.

“Sit.”