Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

“She’ll understand, but just in case...” His gaze lifted over my head. “Davio, do you and Faith want to return and pack a basket with some of Silvie’s food? I’m not game catching sight of her right now. Tell her I’m sorry, but we’ll eat here.”


“Sure. You build a fire to keep us warm.”

Faith rubbed her hands together. “I love that idea.” She looked at me. “We’ll be back real soon. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I won’t.” Although, I didn’t care one bit for her leaving, no matter how long.

Only, the two of them shimmered and flashed away, and I stared at where she’d been.

“Hey, what’s that on your feet?”

The surf tickled my toes on the tide-line. I lifted my foot, and a shimmery gel coated me from my knees downward. “This is the gel I mentioned when I was in Dralion. It keeps me warm.” I stepped out of the water and with one flick of my fingers, the essence slid to the sand.

“Which means you must have been cold.” He led me higher onto the sand, gathering pieces of driftwood. “We’ll need this for the fire. So, what do you think of Faith?”

“I already miss her.” “Faith.” I called along our link.

“I’m here. Do you like marshmallows?”

“Yes. I love them.” I relaxed my shoulders.

“Have you ever tried marshmallows melted over an open fire and squished between two chocolate cookies? Not everyone has.”

“I like chocolate. I like cookies. Marshmallows are a given.” My mouth watered. “Please hurry.”

A giggle resounded in my head. “We won’t be long. Silvie has her own kitchen in the castle and we’re just dishing up plates. I’ll nab some of my favorite things from her cupboards.”

As much as I wanted to be alone with Silas, I longed to see her, to know her. “Tell Silvie I’m sorry.”

“Will do.”

“Are you speaking to Faith?” Silas drew me toward the sandy bank where it was sheltered from the breeze.

“Yes. She won’t be long.”

He set his armload of firewood on the ground then knelt and scooped a hole in the sand. I settled beside him, removing the husky bark from the largest pieces then dropped them into his pit.

“You two are going to become inseparable. I can see it now.” He took a piece of flint from his pocket and struck his dagger to it. Sparks flew and caught on the husks. “Not something I particularly like.”

“We have eighteen years to catch up on.”

“I know, but when you’re gone, I miss you.” His admission was soft as he blew the fire carefully to life and laid sticks and wood overtop.

“That’s why you followed?” I kissed his cheek.

“Yeah.” The fire crackled, glowing bright as the stars twinkled above.

“Show me how much you missed me.”

“Always.” He grinned and ducked his head to mine.

“Ah-hem.”

We turned to see Loveria standing across the other side of the fire holding onto Faith.

She shot a venomous look at Silas. “I didn’t want to see that, thank you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have looked. Talk about nosy.”

Oh boy, they were back to bickering. “Ah, people. We can be adults, right?”

“It’s okay, Hope. I’ll keep her distracted as I can.” Loveria tugged Faith in beside him as he sat further away. He was coming in to bat for me? Interesting.

“Thanks, Davio.” Silas saluted him.

“No problem.” He flipped the lid of the basket he’d brought, removed two covered plates and set one on Faith’s lap. “Refrain from throwing that at Silas, love.”

She gritted her teeth. “I wouldn’t waste Silvie’s fabulous food in such a way. Sheesh, I just don’t like seeing him touch her, is all.”

Silas took the remaining two plates from the basket and passed me a meal and fork. Mm-hmm. Grilled fish in some kind of white sauce flavored the air, and lightly roasted parsnips and buttered cubes of potato sat at the side. My taste buds tripped over themselves in delight.

“Your sister can surely cook.” I speared a piece of the fish and dropped it in my mouth. I moaned in delight as it melted over my tongue. “I’m going to have to apologize in person when I see her.”

“Oh, that is sooo good.” Faith licked her fingers. A smear of white sauce remained at the corner of her lips.

Silas stroked my arm, tickling my skin. “So the way to your devotion is through your stomach?”

“Uh-huh. What about you?”

He scooped up a wedge of roasted parsnip. “I think you have my devotion nailed.”

Faith made a gagging sound. “Where is my knife, Davio?”

Loveria scratched behind his ear. “I only got you a fork. It was a calculated move.”

“Scaredy-cat.”

“Or a very wise cat.”

I smiled as Faith continued to send Silas dirty looks, not so worried now. For some reason her relationship with him was actually amusing me. It was as if they were feuding siblings, neither able to get enough barbs in.