Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)

Leaning in, he speared me with a narrowed look. “You want to explain why Maslin Sol did?”


I shoved one hip to the side. “Yeah, I think he said it’s a little bit of home away from home. You truly do have a hearing problem.”

He blew a breath into my face. “No, I have a mated-bond problem. You.”

“I’m not a problem.” I stared him in the eyes.

His nose touched mine, his gaze fixed. “I want to kiss you so bad.”

“What?” I froze.

“Do you have a hearing problem?”

I dragged air into my lungs. “I think I have a mated-bond problem. You.”

His nostrils flared and he backed up. “Give me your acceptance we end our relationship now. I need to walk away.”

I touched my lips. “Um, I’m liking the kissing idea. Do you think we could do that? You know, kiss. Just this once?”

“Hell, no.” He paced, clicking his fingers. “I’m waiting.”

“For my acceptance?”

“Bingo, Miss Bright-spark.”

I smirked. “Right, Mr. Hot-head.”

“Are you being smart?”

With a silly grin, I crossed to him. “Absolutely. Now, your acceptance.” It was best to get on with it. “Silas, I wish for you to live and to love...to find the woman of your dreams.” I reached out and tweaked his nose. “For her to be completely nosy and anyone other than me. Okay, how’s that for our agreed release?”

“Damn near perfect.”

“Okay, you have your freedom. Go and be happy.” My vision swam. Oh no, I was not going to cry. This was good he was going.

Wiping his thumb across my cheek, he drew away a tear. “You’re crying.”

“Tears of happiness.” I plastered a smile on my face.

He searched my gaze. “Your sister will be my constant reminder of you.”

I clutched the rose tight. “I hope she takes a blade to you, and sets you in your place. After she does, know I wish it were me.”

He laughed. “Jeez, she would slice me up quick-smart if she could. But at least I will be safe from you.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I breathed out. “Goodbye, Silas.”

His lips pressed to my forehead then a soft breeze fluttered.

He was gone.

A knock sounded on my door.

“Just a second.” I set the white rose on my bedside table. It was time to live. Without my mate.

Maslin offered his arm and I took it. “I was in the hallway. Sorry, I couldn’t leave, not when I thought I sensed another in your room. I was worried it was the protector, and I’m afraid I heard parts of the conversation. Do you need to talk?”

“I don’t want to talk about him. Ever. Talk about something else. Anything else.”

He directed me down the stairs. “I was there the day Goldie moved through her rising. You have the same strength she does, though you hold no skills. Your decision to absolve the bond was right.”

At Goldie’s rising a massive crowd had gathered and packed the spectator’s seating, eager to see what level of strength Donaldo’s daughter held. Down on the sandy-floored arena, Goldie had worn her skin-tight black combat leathers and knee-high boots. With one’s rising came three-times the strength, and her power that day had been phenomenal.

One’s rising was the most spectacular event to watch, and Goldie’s just so, as she’d drawn her sword around in an arc of precise movements. Dad, the best, had trained her.

“Hope, the choice you just made will return Saunder’s father to him.”

I dropped my chin as we walked. “I need some time to get over Silas.”

“I’ll give you a day.”

My gaze darted to his. “Huh? A day?”

“That’s right.”

We entered the wide-open foyer on the first floor, my heels tapping on diagonal tiles of midnight blue. Recessed lighting showcased rich burgundy walls filled with breathtaking landscapes of Dralion. I always slowed to admire them, and Maslin did the same. I stopped before my favorite.

“The black granite cliffs of home.” Maslin studied the fine piece of work. The cliffs, an impenetrable force and a natural wonder beside the ocean, stood like sentinels and ran unbroken for ninety miles either side of the palace. “During training, we practiced on the edge of those cliffs. I love being near water.”

“Tell me about your water skill. Something I don’t know.”

He set his hand over mine. “My family came from No-Man’s Land forty years ago.”

The thin band of shifting sands lay between Peacio and Dralion, effectively dividing the two warring nations.

“You’ve never said how they made the move to Dralion before the dome was created.” For now, no one could enter unless they had the teleporting image, one strictly reserved for Wincrests and warriors.

“My father was a young man when the dome was created. He was one of the few who volunteered his services to the warriors to confirm the field was impassable. When they returned from scouting the border between No-Man’s Land and Dralion, they discovered what we call the gray area on Sol land.”