Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

“Even when bossy, I should get a proper kiss.”


His gaze moved over my face and his breathing accelerated. “If I kiss you now, I won’t stop. I didn’t like knowing how far away you’ve been from me today. And Zac and Viv are expected at dinner, so we must leave. Belle too. She’s our empath, and she senses feelings, so be prepared for it. She’s more curious than I imagine you’ll enjoy.”

I cocked one leg out. “Then sense this. I can’t think of any place worse than being with a bunch of protectors. I’ll probably choke on my food.”

He turned me toward the door. “You’ll do this for Silvie.”

I grumbled the whole way to the bathroom and gladly shut the door on him. He was mastering bossy quicker than I liked.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed and turning around in front of the mirror. The dress had thin crisscrossing straps over my shoulders and back. The bodice was fitted and the exact shade of violet as my eyes.

“Are you coming out?” Silas knocked on the door.

“Go away.”

He came in and crossed to me. “I couldn’t hear you.”

“Sure you couldn’t.” Sheesh, what a liar.

“I bought something for you, today.” He reached into his pocket and pulled whatever it was out. When he uncurled his fingers, a silver charm, the tiny rose pattern delicately painted in sunshine-yellow, glinted in his palm. “It’s a yellow rose, for the gift of friendship. Will you accept it?”

“Oh my goodness, yes.” Turning around, I swept my hair to the side. “Could you put it on with the other?” My hands shook. I loved it.

As he unfastened the link, his fingers brushed against my skin. He added the yellow rose. “There’s something else I’d like to do tonight.”

I fingered the white and yellow rose charms with a soft sigh, feeling completely lost for words. Well, except one. “No.”

“You haven’t heard my request.”

“I don’t need to. You’re in a dangerous mood. You gave me this.”

“You’re a Wincrest. You live for danger.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of my nose.

“It’s still a no.”

“We’ll see.” His cheeky grin returned, and I was lost. “Next time I’ll know not to ask, just do.”

“I’m hungry. Do we walk or do we–”

Everything darkened, and we arrived in the middle of a brightly lit dining room. Silver-edged emerald curtains adorned the windows and underneath was a seated area with covered pads of the same luscious fabric. Cutlery and glasses sparkled on a long dining table draped with a silver-threaded tablecloth. Beyond, double doors led to another room.

“Silvie’s kitchen is through there, and the rec room is next to that. This wing was designed by Genevy for us younger ones some years ago, and only those closest to Davio have access to it. You’re completely safe from coming into contact with those you don’t know here.”

“Thanks. I think.”

The doors swung open and the two protectors who’d aided Silas in his search for me by the river came in. Zac wore a pair of gray dress pants with a paler shaded shirt, and Viv had dressed in a short black leather skirt and red blouse. She had killer red heels and a dagger holstered along her wrist.

I gripped Silas’s forearm and found his dagger hidden underneath his long cuffed sleeves. They were always armed, but then so were our warriors. Something I was used to.

“Good evening.” Viv nodded at me. “Silas told us this afternoon you have the water skill. Congratulations.”

I eyed the two of them, because being in the same room as protectors, even though they were polite, made my skin crawl. Still, I would be civil. “It’s a skill needed on the station, a valuable one.”

The door opened, and a woman in a red dress, with the longest locks of brown hair crossed the room. She looked just like the lead actress from the musical movie I’d watched on Earth one night. Yeah, the one about an American high school.

Silas whispered in my ear, “This is Belle, our empath.”

She popped a hand over her mouth with a soft exhalation. “Oh, you must be Hope. Silvie just warned me you’d be here. You look just like Faith.”

“So I’ve heard.” There were four protectors in this room, counting Silas. I’d never been around so many. Not good.

Silas smoothed a hand around my waist as I inched closer to him. “Relax. No one here will harm you.”

Gripping his hand, I held on tight. “You’re outnumbered if they decide to attack. It’s not hard to miss that.” To the depths of my heart, I didn’t doubt his protection stood strong, regardless of who we were around.

Belle’s lips lifted. “I sense your connection with Silas is strong. That’s good, but I also feel your concern radiating through. There’s no need. No one here would hurt Silas’s mate.”

Empaths were tricky to be around. They identified emotions with precision and were a pain in the butt. “You shouldn’t pry.”

“I wasn’t prying.” She advanced, and I held up my hands.