Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

I rolled my eyes. “Dad, that’s not helpful. I asked when I’ll meet my mother.”


“The day you and Faith were born, you arrived tangled together, arms and legs holding onto each other when the doctor performed the caesarian and delivered you both. Faith is not the eldest. Neither are you. You were born together.” He tapped my chin. “You will find each other again, and soon. It shall be as it was then. Your bonds will be renewed as if never lost, because your blood-bond with your twin is the strongest I’ve foreseen. Afterward, I will surely speak to your mother of Katerin Sol and No-Man’s Land. There are so many issues. We will take them one at a time.” He darted a look toward the palace. “I have to go, now. I’m sorry I can’t stay, and that neither can you. Look after her, Goldie.” He shimmered out of sight.

Kicking the space he’d been in, I growled. “This wait is excruciating.”

Goldie passed me my boots. “Yes, but you have a fantastic skill, and I wonder if more will come. You should have asked your father when your rising will begin. He may have seen it.”

One’s rising was the completion of our skills coming together. It was an occasion we honored and celebrated, because as our rising began, an overpowering assault wreaked havoc on all our senses. Adrenaline pumped through our bodies, causing an all-time high. Hormones swung, but most of all, strength-levels three-times greater than normal hit us. Only those closest to us could best aid us in draining the excess energy spiraling out. So, yes, I should have asked about it.

“Boots, and ask him another time.” Goldie dragged up one of my legs by the cuff of my jeans. “The station doesn’t run itself, and you have a lot to do.”

“You mean I have to fill all the watering holes?” I tugged on my boots, hopping about.

Her eyes brightened, the violet all Wincrests shared shimmering to a sparkling amethyst hue. A dangerous hue, in her case. “C’mon, don’t tell me you’re not up for it.”

“There has to be at least fifty watering holes, and half that number completely dried out.”

“Think how happy you’ll make Maslin.” Goldie’s laugh was a tinkle of sound. “Oh, he’s going to be over the moon.”

And without waiting for my answer, she took me with her through the dome room and on to the dusty red plains of home.

Yeah, Maslin was delirious. I worked at transferring river water with his teleportation aid until the night sky was a thick blanket of black.

It was the longest day, and later that night after having filled half of them, I collapsed on my bed, all of me covered in mud and dirt.

“Hope.”

I lifted one eyelid. Oh, what a sight. I lifted the other.

Mmm, Silas looked as gorgeous as ever in a pair of butt-hugging black jeans and a white cotton t-shirt stretched tight over his broad chest. “You look sooo good. Come here.”

“You need to get up.”

“I would, but my legs are dead. And I’m dirty. Don’t tell me you missed the state of my dress.”

“You don’t look like any princess I know.”

I sighed and merged my mind with his, sinking into sweet oblivion. “Being a princess is completely overrated. Seriously, it is not at all like those fairy tales make it out to be. There is no crown, no glass slippers, and surely no prince.”

“Up with you. I’ll be your prince.” He scooped me from the bed, his lips softly touching mine, and he ’ported us.

I glanced around his bedroom as we arrived. His bed looked completely inviting, only, he headed in the wrong direction and away from it. “This princess wants the bed. Where are you taking me?”

“I’m starving and Silvie cooked. You’re getting changed so we can have dinner.”

“You made your sister cook?”

In his dressing room, he set me on my feet. “She’s amazing. I told you she’s been accepted into the university’s food technology course. It’s like a culinary school.”

He tugged his mucky t-shirt over his head. I zeroed in on the splendor of his rippling muscles. Oh boy, Silas had muscles on top of muscles. “You train with the sword daily?”

“Usually.”

Delicious. I licked my lips. I could certainly stare at him all day.

He removed a starched dress shirt in the palest shade of blue from the rack and pulled it on. Drat. I’d lost that sweet view.

“You should be showering. You stink.”

“What?”

“You should–”

I slapped his arm. “I heard you. I wasn’t asking you to repeat yourself. A little more tact wouldn’t go amiss.”

“Sorry.” He nuzzled my cheek. “I can’t stand you being away from me, but right now I can. Is that better?”

“Not much, but it’ll do.”

“Great. I’ll master this bossier side of me yet.” From the side where my clothes now hung, he selected a violet spaghetti strap dress of mid-length with a flared skirt and a pair of matching heels. He passed the clothing to me. “Silvie doesn’t like her guests turning up late, and you’re not moving. Bathroom’s that way.”