Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

I blinked, barely holding back tears. “You’re my friend.”


“That’s a good start.” He dove with a grin, his feet coming up into the air before he disappeared below the water’s surface.

Palm tree fronds rustled in the breeze. Maslin tugged on my leg, and yanked me under.





Chapter 11




Sitting on the end of Faith’s bed in Dralion late that afternoon, I was not surprised to see she’d been given the bedroom next to mine on the third floor of Dad’s wing. Faith had snuck me in after we’d left the Sol compound. She’d ’ported us both after promising me she’d see any problems with her forethought, and that our mother was elsewhere and wouldn’t spot us. It was just us. Goldie and Maslin had returned to the station.

“How does this look? We’re twins. We should at least dress alike occasionally since we missed out as kids.” She wandered to the freestanding full-length oval mirror and turned side to side in front of it. Her blond hair swung around her shoulders. Even the long length of our hair was the same, and now with her dressed as I was in a pair of white shorts and tank top, no one would likely tell us apart.

“I have a feeling your motives for dressing the same run deeper than that.” Pressing my hands to her violet silk bedspread, I pushed myself up, and joined her. “What’s ticking through that mind of yours, my tricky sister?”

“A plan of intrigue. You took me to meet Goldie and Elizara. Now it’s my turn to bring you to Mum. That’s my plan, and I’m sticking to it. Sorry for the subterfuge.” She sidled closer. “Now, spill on what’s going on with you and Maslin? He’s most attentive. I was surprised.”

“He’s a warrior and family. We’re linked through our Sol line.”

She slowly stroked her jaw. “I felt a touch of the blood-bond with him too. What about Silas?”

“Silas and I are soul-bound. I never want to be separated from him.”

“I understand. I can’t survive without Davio, mind-merge skill or not.”

I blew out a breath. “As much I want Silas, I still understand the danger which lurks with him being a protector. At this moment, those warriors who know of our relationship protect me by keeping my secret, as they will with you. But that doesn’t change the fact our countries are at war.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, and then opened them. “Why can’t our lives be easy? We need to think of our future. We have to find a way to bring peace between our nations.”

“I’ve thought the same, but we have one major obstacle ahead of us. Donaldo. He’ll never tolerate us being mated with Peacians, let alone protectors. Dad only does because he reveres the bond and wouldn’t take from us what Donaldo took from him.” Rubbing my arms, I stared out the window. “We have each other, and we’ll work on the rest, but it will take time.”

“I’ll keep a watch with my forethought. Perhaps I’ll see something in our future which may help.” She dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Which reminds me, I used my forethought when Elizara showed me the album and the portraits of Katerin and Nathwer. I tried to get a fix on them.”

“And...”

“Nothing. I know we don’t physically age, but is there a possibility they could’ve altered their appearance in some way?”

“If they disguised themselves, maybe, but I can’t imagine why they’d think to do that. Katerin was banished and the sentence had already been handed down.”

“So, if there’s no reason for a disguise then it doesn’t look good. I doubt they live.”

“I’d hoped…” I dragged in a deep breath.

“Hey.” Faith touched my quivering chin. “I keep making you sad. I never look this down and Mum will notice.”

“I can’t meet her.”

“Oh yes, you can.” She slung an arm over my shoulder.

“Is there any way I can change your mind?”

“Huh, hardly. You’ll come to learn that fairly soon.”

I groaned. “What’s your plan?”

“You’re going to spend some time with Mum, and I’ll be there.”

“Girls.”

We swung around as Dad strode into the room. Dressed in a midnight silk shirt and black pants, the colors enhanced the equally dark look on his face. “This isn’t going to happen. You’re not meeting your mother, Hope.”

“Why?” Faith edged in front of me. “I know you delayed my meeting with Hope because you saw I’d tell Mum about her. Well, too bad. Mum has to know.”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” His gaze flicked between the two of us and his frown deepened. “Hell.” He stared, then his chest heaved and he dragged us both to him. “You two are finally together. I’ve been watching with my forethought, but being– Look at you.”

Faith wrinkled her nose. “Aw, c’mon, Dad. We’re eighteen.” She speared me a look. “Hope, please, we should be able to work out some kind of guilty parental angle with this. What you got?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always done what he’s said.”