We passed each other going back and forth.
As the hours rolled on, the humidity rose off the charts. Hope and Silas rode the perimeter of the grassy river belt, keeping the cattle contained as more herded cattle arrived. Gee, it was lucky the other warriors were so busy they hadn’t yet asked about the two extra hands. It helped Silas had his Stetson low and Cole the cloth over half his face.
At the homestead the smoke continued to blow in, thick with red outback dust swirling within. I scrubbed my eyes with my knuckles. The bitter, choking haze clogged my throat and wiped out my vision. Such a raging, suffocating heat. I groped the walls of the paneled corridor and fumbled along until I reached the end stall. This should be the last one. I unclipped the catch and stumbled inside.
“Where are you, Lieska. I can’t see a damn thing. There’s more smoke inside these stables now than outside.” Cole’s voice pounded down our link.
“I’m here. Last mare. I won’t be long.” I coughed and spluttered. “Are you keeping the foals calm?” They fought the foreign restriction, but at least they were safe.
“I’ve got them sorted, just. I’ll head back to the river with this last colt. You better be right behind me.”
“Yes, right behind you.” I plucked my sweat-soaked shirt from my skin.
I patted the air then knocked into the horse. With my foot. Damn, she was on the ground. On my knees, I stroked the mare’s slick neck. She snorted then whinnied as if in pain. Oh hell. One in labor. ’Porting a mare in this condition was asking for trouble.
Gasping for breath, I worked at soothing her first.
A precious minute ticked by. Two.
“Lieska?” Cole’s voice echoed in my head, yet as if from a distance.
I coughed and wheezed. I had to get this mare out of here. My throat tightened and constricted.
“Answer me.” His tone held a deadly bite.
I fought to get another breath in, managed a pitiful amount of air. Focus. ’Port her. You’ve done everything you can. She has to go like this.
My lungs burned.
My vision swam, and then nothing.
* * * *
My chest exploded with pain as a crashing weight came down on it.
“Damn it, Lieska. Breathe.”
A hot mouth covered mine, pushed air deep inside.
My lungs were on fire.
Another thump over my heart, then another, and another.
Argh, that had to be Cole, and he needed to stop that pounding.
“Breathe. Now.”
I wanted to, just so I had enough air to yell at him.
Light flared behind my closed eyelids, shoving away the last of the darkness.
I dragged air in, and it scraped painfully along the sides of my throat.
“That’s it, love. Take another breath.”
He held me, surrounded me. Everything I wanted.
“Cole?” I croaked his name.
“You truly are the most difficult mate.” Hoarse words. “I swear you will never put your life on the line like that again. Do you hear me?”
“Not quite sure.” I shoved open my heavy lids, and his beautiful gold-flecked gaze searched mine. I coughed. “Something about hearing you, but I can’t do that if you leave me.”
“Take a drink. Your voice is far too scratchy.” Water dribbled over my lips. Nice. I opened my mouth and more trickled down my scorched throat. “It’s just as well you fast-heal. Hurry it up.”
Could he get more demanding?
Still, I kept lapping at the cool water, each sip going down easier, smoother, better.
“That’s it.” Lips pressed to my forehead. “I don’t want to leave you either.”
“We need to—” I coughed, cleared my throat and tried again. “We need to talk.”
He lifted me higher in his lap then brushed his lips over mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“As it appears, I’m a little hard to get rid of.”
A tear welled in the corner of his eye. “When you were in danger, my soul cried out for yours. I’m sorry, Lieska, but I can’t give you up. I think I’ve known it all along.”
“You can’t?” I clutched his sooty shirtfront. “I’m struggling too. But how can we make this relationship work?”
“We’re hunters. Nothing will truly stop us if we desire it.” He smiled, and I’d never seen him look so happy or determined. “Say you’ll hunt with me. We’ll pursue this bond. You hold the other half of my soul, and I yours. I’ll never want anyone other than you. Agree. Say yes.”
I wanted him too, so badly. “I do like kissing you. You promise to keep that up?”
“You have my word. So is that a yes?”
I grinned, and unable to help myself, murmured, “Kiss me and find out. I dare you.”
He looked deep into my eyes, bent his head and kissed me.
My heart soared and my soul called to his.
Oh, I had my mate, and I’d never let him go.
It was time to live my life, with him.
The hunter had succeeded in the hunt.
Chapter 5
I leaned against Cole’s chest as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. We stood at the edge of the mighty river, which pulsed with life. Ducks hidden within the reeds cackled and took flight. Their wings brushed the glistening surface as they swept across the wide expanse to the other side. Above, the skies were a brilliant blue without even a wisp of cloud.
The outback had returned to its most striking, the back-burning operation a huge success. Within days the firefighters had stamped the fires out, more than a fortnight past. Now the cattle, thousands of head, grazed along this green belt and far into the distance.
“I love this place.” I wriggled against him, so at peace.
“I noticed.” He rubbed his chin over the top of my head. “Though it’s still far too hot today. I think I should stick around and make sure none of those fires decide to flare up again.”
“Good idea.” He wouldn’t hear a complaint from me. Whatever time we could steal to be together, was the best. “Did you wanna see CCC. The newborn colt’s become quite attached to you.”
After Cole had saved me, he’d returned to the stables and rescued the laboring mare. She’d birthed her foal and I’d named the young one Cool Calm Collected after the man who’d saved her.
“I’d rather become more attached to you.”
I turned and kissed him, my heart filled with love. How could I have ever wanted to give him up?
“What are you thinking?” His hunter eyes gleamed.
“That you deserve a reward for capturing this warrior.”
“What kind of reward?”
“Trust me. You’re going to love it.” I wriggled out of his hold and stepped back.
“Where are you going, my love?”
I kept moving, one step at a time.
He stalked me.
“Chase me and find out.”
Laughing, I ’ported.
He’d catch me. I had no doubt he would.
And his prize?
A lifetime of hunting me.
I hope you enjoyed that glimpse into Joanne Wadsworth’s Magio-Earth series. Please feel free to search for the other full-length novels now available.
Magio-Earth Series
Protector
Warrior
Hunter
Enchanter
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Wadsworth/e/B00AVRVIBM/
Protector
Magio-Earth, #1
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling—thanks to her warrior father she’s never met—does her own skill of forethought dev
elop.
Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate—an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.
With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?
Warrior
Magio-Earth, #2
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Hope Wincrest calls the Outback of Australia her home away from home. She is a princess of Dralion from the planet Magio, where the two leading nations are at war. While in the Outback, Hope is warned by her warrior father—who holds the prophetic ability of forethought—that she is about to meet an enemy protector. She doesn’t expect him to be her soul-bound mate, a man she must now work with to piece together her unknown mother’s lost heritage.
Peacio’s Silas Carver follows the calling of his soul to Australia, only not all goes as planned. Discovering Hope is his mate has him demanding his release from their bond. She agrees, but only if he first helps her learn about her mother.
Hope must lay her life in Silas’s hands during a journey which takes them deep into foreign lands. Waging a battle of the heart, and of the land, can the young mated pair find their place with each other?
Sample Chapter 1: Enchanter
by Joanne Wadsworth
Magio-Earth, #3
Unbelievable. My best friend had some nerve. Sprinting down the edge of the football field, I had to get away from my urge to crush Faith like the dry grass beneath my sneakers. I dodged the running back with eyes only for the rugby ball and hoped he’d slow Faith enough for me to get away.
“Silvie Carver, slow down,” Faith yelled.
“You have forethought. You should have seen this coming.”
“I didn’t know you’d get this angry.”
“I didn’t know you’d dump this kind of news on me.”
Chasing me, she ducked and dodged around the team. “Your temper should come with a warning.”
“I’m a redhead. Get used to it.” Hah! Faith’s forethought was what needed a warning.
“Okay, so I shouldn’t have just blurted out my problem.”
“Ya think?” I made a beeline for the far gate.
“Let me try this again. It’s not like my forewarning has happened yet.”
“But it’s going to.” She was gaining on me, had hardly lost a breath, while I panted madly.
“Damn right it is. My skill is so freakin’ annoying. Flaring up all over the place, and at the worst times.”
“Your king is a tyrant. I have my own king and country to worry about. I want nothing to do with yours or Dralion. Noth-ing.”
“Best friends forever, Silvie. He’s my grandfather and I need your help to figure this all out.”
Now I had the stitch. It shot down one side. Skidding to a stop, I clutched my ribs. “Ugh, I really need to get more exercise.”
Faith whizzed past then jogged back. “Thank you. I just need you to listen.”
“I’m not listening. I’m unfit, if you didn’t notice.” It was alright for her, being so highly skilled and all. She ran every morning at dawn just to get rid of her excess energy. Me, I snoozed. No use rolling out of bed until absolutely necessary.
“I’m really sorry about this coming disaster.”
“The disaster is Donaldo Wincrest.” Heck, saying his name out loud was enough to set me off. “I can’t stand him. Your grandfather’s always sending his warriors onto Peacio’s shores, with my people in the firing line.”
“We can’t choose who we’re related to.”
“It’d make life a lot easier if we could.” Bummer, though, that she’d found out she was a Wincrest. Eighteen years and she’d never known.
“At least we can choose who our best friends are, and you’re mine.”
“Geez, I hate your forewarnings. Why can’t we just have a regular school day? Death and disaster should be off limits.”
“My forewarnings don’t work that way.” She squeezed my shoulder. “My father is the last person any of us expected him to be, but I love him and I’m dealing with the cards dealt.”
“I’m dealing too, but not if it involves Dralion.”
“C’mon, pleazzze.”
I didn’t dare look into her eyes. Those stupid pleases of hers niggled at my heart and got me every time. “My king sent me to Earth to watch over you when we were kids, not your newfound family. Carlisio Loveria wouldn’t appreciate it if I ended up getting my nose stuck in the enemy’s business.”
“I can’t ask anyone else.” She tweaked my chin. “Hey, you’ve gotta look at me.”
“No.” Her voice was pitched just right too, making my “no” not nearly strong enough.
“You’re a sister to me, and Magio is all so new.”
Damn. Not the sister card. Stand strong. Don’t fold.
“Silvie, the battle between our nations, and the fact I have a mate I can’t speak about, is difficult, but at least I have you. We’ve always stuck together.”
“I can’t go against my country. Ask your mate for help. Davio loves slashing his sword around. Just mention Wincrest’s name, and my cousin’s your man.”
“I can’t tell Davio about my vision.” She paced in front of me, clutching the sides of her denim miniskirt. “I’ve already used my forethought and factored him into the problem. The results weren’t pretty. He’s one totally obstinate prince. I need you, not my mate.”
“Yours and Davio’s relationship is strong. He got over who you were related to. Give him more credit.”
“I do, but we have to take such care.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t work through this forewarning without you. This fight isn’t mine, yet I’ve been dropped into the middle of it.”
And it appeared, so had I. So not fair when I couldn’t keep ignoring her plea. We’d grown up together and always had each other’s back. “Argh, okay, give me some more information so at least I can think about it.”
“Is that a yes? We stick together?”
“It’s give me more information.”
“You won’t regret this.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“Right.” The wind blew her long blond hair about her face. She flicked it away. “So I got to the part before about Donaldo being involved.”
“Yeah, your tyrannical king who knows how to throw everything into chaos.”
“Just try to put your frustrations aside.”
I breathed deep, instilling some calm for Faith’s sake. Discovering her father was Dralion’s Prince Alexo when he’d returned to Earth for her and her mother had been difficult, but it hadn’t destroyed our friendship. Our eighteen years together counted. “Okay, I’ll try.”
“What happens, is Donaldo makes an announcement soon. One which involves Hope too. Heck, I still can’t believe I have an identical twin sister. It’s just as well our blood-bond cemented the moment we came together.” She blew out a long breath, as if needing a moment to calm herself. “Okay, so saying yes to me, is saying yes to her. We both need your help.”
“How is Hope involved?” I adored my brother’s new mate. I had to keep her safe.
“My forewarning affects so many people if I don’t get it sorted. Hope and Silas. Davio and me. We’re just the beginning.”
“Grrreat.” With all four of my closest involved, I barely had a choice. “Lay the rest of the details on me, and be gentle. Gen-tle.”
“Hope and I are in Donaldo’s grand dining room.” Sweat popped up along her brow and she wiped it away. “There’s a formal dinner and the leading eight are seated.”
“Dralion’s elite fighting force, right?”
“Yes.”
“Lovely.” Not only was her king involved, but the fiercest of the fierce. How could she possibly think I could help? I had no skills. “Your forewarning was bad enough with Donaldo in
it. Now you’re adding the leading eight?”
“Only two of them, Killian and Abelard.”
“Oh, only two.” Sheesh. “That’s so much better then.”
“You ready for more?”
“No.”
“Killian makes his demand clear, that he’s there to court me. Abelard rises and states his desire to court Hope, except a lot more brutally than what I just said. Things get pretty heated.”
“Holy moly. Do I even want to know what happens next?” I didn’t, except best friends didn’t let each other down. “No. Don’t answer that. Just tell me.”
“My skill doesn’t work on me, and my forewarning kept blurring because I couldn’t keep my focus from myself. Then when I finally shoved it back on Hope so I could get some clarity, Donaldo stood and boomed his agreement. Killian and Abelard are slayers.” Her face paled. “They kill the enemy just for the sheer pleasure of it.”
“Wincrest is such a dictator.”
“Davio and Silas—” She gulped. “The war between our nations already rages. Hope and I want to see peace prevail. I can’t have this problem added to it.”
“Hold on. You’re only eighteen. Why would Wincrest agree to a courtship this soon?”
“No one knows Hope and I have mates, and it’s not like we can spill the news. My guess is we’re fair game in Killian and Abelard’s eyes.”
“What about your father or aunt? Can’t they help?” Alexo and Goldie were loyal to Wincrest, but they also revered the bond. Alexo had lived without his wife for eighteen years, fearing Wincrest would find and remove her. He’d never inflict the same pain on his daughters. It was probably his only redeeming quality, in my eyes.
“Nothing changed when I factored them into my forewarning, yet the moment I did with you, bingo, the forewarning dissolved. Somehow, you’re the key. It’s you who has the ability to halt what’s about to happen.”
“How am I the key?” I wobbled, and she propped an arm under my shoulder.
“You’re the last person I want dragged into Dralion’s business, but I can’t prevent what’s about to happen, and it seems no one else can, other than you.” She shuddered. “I don’t want Killian courting me, not when I’m mated to Davio. My soul is bound to his, and I’d never survive losing him.”
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