Warrior (6 page)

I dug my fingernails into the green felt on the table. “Slow down.”

My mind couldn’t stretch the distance as he continued. The connection broke like an elastic band snapping. I staggered back. My head throbbed and the loss of his mind sent an ache to the depths of my soul.

“Hope?” A questioning look darkened his eyes. “Breathe through it.” His fists clenched then un-clenched at his sides.

With my chin down, I shot him a narrowed glare. “I did not like that. How long does Faith merge for?”

“Five minutes and then she’s good to go.”

“Out of every three days, right?”

“That’s the maximum. Faith merges more than that, usually whenever she and Davio are together. Her skill is like an addiction. She can’t withhold her mind from his when she’s in his vicinity.”

My head throbbed to reconnect and I could well imagine the need. “I merged for a minute, maybe two. I think I need the five you spoke–”

The solid oak door swung open, and in strode one of the Loverias. I’d seen images of the three men, who all appeared alike, because I’d been told to know my enemy.

This was Carlisio’s grandson. Davio Loveria slanted his head to one side, brown hair wisped with golden strands falling to his shoulders. His dark eyes drew into tight slits as his gaze moved over me. Close to six foot four, he matched Silas in height.

The hairs on the back of my neck zoomed up. My blood heated. Wincrest and Loveria blood warred. On Magio, only our two lines held the rare forethought skill. Combined with our history, it meant their direct line and ours couldn’t come within five feet of each other or the aggression between us rose to fierce levels.

Loveria, in an impeccably fitted black silk shirt and dark pants, breached the five-foot mark, stirring my blood. I stared him down. “Keep your distance, Loveria. You know our past.” A thousand years of battle was impossible to lay aside.

Circling me with slow steps, he set his hand on his side-sword and tapped it. “Carlisio agreed to the release of your warrior. I was there with Silas at the meeting. And I’ll stand where I please since my ancestors won the war and this is my land.” He shot a look at Silas. “Why is she here?”

“Hope has mind-merge so I brought her. It’s thrown up a problem.” Silas crossed his arms with a hard slap. “You better have some good advice. Right now, I could use it.”

Loveria frowned and muttered, “She is a Wincrest and Donaldo is determined to eliminate my line in full. Bringing her here was wrong.”

“You know the bond, Davio. I cannot allow any harm to come to her, and she is your mate’s sister. What can you tell me of mind-merge?”

Loveria’s gaze slashed into me. “Are you sure you have it?”

“Yes, and how does my sister stand your company?” I had not considered the thought of her blood warring with his before, but this close, my Wincrest blood bubbled through my veins like a riot of fire. She must suffer the same as only the two lines of Loveria and Wincrest did.

“She mind-merges. The moment we touch skin-to-skin, the aggression and pain disappear because of the mind to body connection.”

Chills chased across my skin. “She has to merge and touch you? That’s despicable.”

“She has no issues with it.” He planted his feet wide and crossed his arms. “Step back if you can’t handle the heat. Five feet and the tension will dissolve.”

My chest tightened. Loveria was too close, and Silas too far away. I needed to merge with my mate since my head thumped as if horses stampeded within. “I’d rather swallow nails, thanks all the same.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “I can’t believe my cousin is mated to you.”

I blew a hostile breath, right in his face. “It happened, but not for long. Why don’t you leave since you’re not helpful?”

“Whose castle is this?” He gave me a cocky grin. “You are much like Faith, temperament-wise.”

I kicked his shin. I couldn’t help myself.

“Ow.” He hopped about, holding his leg.

“I can’t believe I’m even related to her. Why has she not slit your throat?”

“She loves how I frustrate her.”

Why was he still grinning?

I glared at Silas. “We need to leave, and I need to mind-merge with you.”

He held his position, remaining too far away for me to connect. “We’ve released each other, and now you’re leaving me with no choice.”

I saw his point. He’d made his decision clear from the start and had kept his end of our bargain. What was I doing? “Give me the time I need to mind-merge then take me home.” My mind cried out for those precious five minutes. I’d take that and deal with the rest.

“I’m coming.” He crossed the room “We’ll sort something out.”

As he did, my mind released, connecting and burrowing deep into his.

Oh, the wonder. It was a moment I would never forget. The second I joined with him, every muscle in my body loosened and relaxed, and my mind bedded down in its own sweet little spot. Perfect.

He caressed my arms. “Better?”

I smiled, weakly. “I have a skill.”

He pulled in a deep breath. “A deadly one.”

“Your mind is blocked. I’m just resting within, but not able to see any thoughts.”

“C’mon. You don’t expect me to share?” An incredulous look crossed his face.

“No.” He was a protector. I was a Wincrest. Of course, he blocked.

His fingers dug in. “It feels warm and soothing with you merged. I didn’t expect that.” His nails pricked my flesh. “I don’t like it either.”

Davio cleared his throat. “Remember, it’s only her skill, Silas.” He crossed to the long bank of square-cut wooden edged windows. Outside, moonlight touched on the green garden in front. “What does it matter if she dies?”

Silas peered into my eyes. “It matters to me, Davio. She must live.”

Unable to help myself, I snuggled deeper into Silas’s mind. “My life is not your concern. Alexo watches over me, and always will. I will find a way to bypass this mind-merge.” How, I had no idea, but I’d find a way if it existed.

Silas drew me closer. “Faith has forethought. If she brings up her mate’s image, she’ll catch sight of you in her vision since it’s very strong. She sees images as if she were there in person. I doubt you want her seeing you here with Davio, and if that’s the case, you and I need to leave.”

“I need another few minutes with you. It really does take five to recharge. I can feel it.”

“We’ll go to my room. Yours might have angry warriors within. Later,” he said to Loveria.

Darkness enclosed me, and he ’ported.

We arrived where he’d said. A massive bed pressed against one wall, an ocean-blue comforter with the swirling colors of the sea, spread on top. Four plump white pillows rested against a headboard made of dark wood with an
SC
delicately engraved along it. Beside the bed, a black leather jacket lay as if tossed carelessly on top of a wooden chest with the same insignia on the front.

“Take a seat.”

I crossed the room to a padded couch of beige, with floor length curtains of the same velvety fabric tucked in behind. I smoothed my hands over its softness. “I know this mind-merge is unexpected, but would you permit giving me five minutes every three days to deal with it?” I was at his mercy. “I’d quite like to live, and so far it doesn’t sound like there’s a way around this need for the merge.”

“Our souls are bound even though we’ve released each other. You know I’m driven to give you whatever you ask.” Heaving a deep breath, he eased onto the couch beside me. “That being the case, yes. Although we’ll designate a place to meet, and I’ll zap in and out. The less time we’re in each other’s company, the better.”

“Thank you.” I clutched his hand. “I mean that.”

He stared at our joined hands then tore his gaze away. “Faith said your mother, Kate Sol, was left at an orphanage in New Zealand at three days of age. Are you aware of this?”

“No.” I sat straighter. “What can you tell me?”

“The nuns who ran the home said your grandmother’s name was Katerin Sol, and they named your mother after her. Katerin promised to return, but never did, and your mother grew up with no family, no knowledge of her Magioling ancestry.”

“I’ve studied the skills of my people since my early teens. You can be sure I’ll focus my attentions on this ability to mind-merge. There has to be someone who knows something, and I’ll find them.”

Katerin Sol. Sol was a common family name, as was the given name Katerin. It wouldn’t be easy to track Katerin Sol’s heritage based on her name. But this mind-merge skill was unheard of, so likely quite rare. I might discover more if I combined the two and followed that track.

Easing back into the thick cushioning, he sighed. “Why does Alexo’s request to delay meeting Faith matter so much? Don’t you wish to know your sister? I can’t imagine not knowing mine.”

“You have a sister?”

“A twin. Her name is Silvie.” He said her name softly.

“You’re close to her?”

“Yes.”

I shouldn’t ask such personal questions, only I ached to know more about him.

“But we were talking of your sister, not mine.” He squeezed my hand.

“I do want to meet her, particularly now we share the ability of mind-merge. But she’s been through so much. She’s come from Earth and discovered she has a father she never knew about, along with receiving strength skills, and then a rising to complete and above all else, she’s had to contend with Loveria as her mate. You said she nearly died. And Alexo is trying to forge bonds with her and my mother.” I inhaled, ever so slowly. “He always sees the bigger picture. Do not forget he has forethought.”

“Faith would want to meet you.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I do. My sister and yours are close and she told me Faith longed for family. It was only ever her mother and her.”

I gave him a small smile. “You sound as if you care about her.”

“Like I’d care about a stone under my shoe.”

I laughed. “Then stop concerning yourself over her.”

“She attends high school in New Zealand, in Te Puke. It’s a town near the coast. She’s also a couple of months shy of her final exams. Wouldn’t you like to know more?”

“Yes.” I edged forward.

“She’s stubbornly feisty. In an aggravating way.”

“Oh, she sounds just like a Wincrest.” Perfect.

A roll of his eyes made my smile widen. “Hell, yes. She’s one, through and through. I can’t believe we’re now dealing with two of you, which means twice the aggravation.”

I knocked my shoulder against his. “Hey, five minutes is hardly having to deal with me. And on that note–” I stretched out my legs and stood. “–you can take me home. Our five minutes is up.” I pulled him to his feet.

“Yeah. Where should we make that safe location to meet?”

“My bedroom. That would be best.” Well, not best, but I had little choice.

“We’ll make it every other night. Faith’s headaches begin on the second day. You don’t need to deal with them if you don’t wish to.”

“Headaches?”

“Bad ones, which is why I’m offering.”

Ah, the bond was at play. He couldn’t see me harmed.

“As you wish.”

“I do.” He bent over me, the moonlight filtering through the windows grazing his cheeks. “What of Maslin Sol? I won’t tolerate you having any close involvement with him. I don’t like him, and that stands.”

I laughed, and then as he shook his head, realized he was quite serious. “I’m pretty certain it’s only me who has to like him. I told you he’s a friend.”

“Your need to mind-merge only works with me, your mate.”

“I understand that.”

It went without question that most mated men got incredibly possessive over their women. That was part of the bond. Yet we had both accepted we walk away from it. Unless...

I couldn’t help myself. He didn’t wish for descriptions of men, so I pushed to see what his reaction would be. “There’s the enchanter, Guy Moyer. Coal-black hair and pale blue eyes tinged with swirling silver. He’s not with anyone. Or Killian might be interested in me. He’s one of Dralion’s leading eight. Massive man, who carries around a metal mallet and kills just for the sheer pleasure of it. Although, I wouldn’t be able to hide from him the fact I needed to form this mind-merge. It’s not a secret I’m prepared to keep from my future–” I let the end hang. “You know.”