Warrior

by Joanne Wadsworth

  Goldie squeezed my arm. “Yeah, we only do it because we happen to love you a touch more than we hate them.”

  “Thank you. I think.”

  “Right, let’s go, Maslin.” Goldie tapped his back and they headed out, Guy following one-step behind her.

  Loveria grumbled as he strode past me. “I can’t believe I have to follow in the footsteps of warriors. What is this world coming to?”

  “Just keep some space.” I barely held back a smirk.

  “You don’t even have to ask.”

  “Hope.” Silas encircled my waist with his arms from behind then brushed his cheek against mine. “Stay close to me.”

  I leaned into him. “I know I haven’t told you–and I probably shouldn’t–but I guess I’m glad you’re here.

  He nipped at my ear. “We are finally getting somewhere. Say that again.”

  Turning, I kissed his chin. “I was upset when you arrived, but I’m getting over it.”

  “More, and I meant the kisses.”

  “To give you an inch would not be–”

  He kissed me, deeply, and I kissed him back, overwhelmed by the new emotions stirring within me. I couldn’t get enough of his kisses.

  As he broke away, his head came up. “I’m glad I came, if for no other reason than this moment and that declaration. Now, let’s move out before we lose the others.” He gave me a gentle push forward.

  I followed in Loveria’s footprints. Sand crept inside my boots, rubbing and chafing my feet from within. Oh boy, this was going to be one long day.

  I wasn’t wrong.

  Seven hours later, I’d officially seen enough sand to last me a lifetime. And the heat, it blazed hotter and heavier than the outback’s sun ever had.

  The sand sweltered, a vapor rising like steam from the endless orange grains.

  I blinked, attempting to keep Loveria in focus. If I could just keep my eyes on him and that layer of white cloth covering his back, I could keep moving.

  That worked, for now.

  My head throbbed as midday arrived.

  Hell. It was awful.

  Would this trek ever end?

  I sipped water from my flask, which had never left my hand.

  “We can stop for a five minute break if you need to.” Silas’s voice floated to me from somewhere behind.

  “I’m fine.” My head swam. Come on. Push on. Left foot. Right foot. Keep moving.

  I lifted my arms as I swayed, grasping at air.

  “I’ve got you.” Silas scooped me up.

  “Dizzy.” I clutched his face, but several images of it still circled each other. “Ah, you shouldn’t be able to do that.”

  “Do what?” Half a dozen rotating frowns came with his words.

  My eyelids were too heavy and slid shut.

  I didn’t hear his answer. It came from too far away.

  Blissfully in the dark.

  Yet heat surrounded me. So much.

  “Hope, talk to me.”

  A stinging slap on my butt had me dragging my eyelids open. What? Footprints dotted the sand. I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. I dangled down a man’s back and when I pressed my fingertips together, they were all tingly and numb.

  “I can’t stand your silence.” As he walked, his steps jolted my belly into his shoulder.

  “Ouch. I’m not a sack of potatoes, and your shoulder feels like a rock.”

  “This was the best...” His words trailed away as the foggy haze returned and clouded my vision. My head shattered with pain, and then nothing.

  * * * *

  “You can see the encampment from the top ridge of the sand-hill we’re on. At that point, the gray area clears.”

  Loveria’s voice swirled around inside my dizzy head. It was his, because he was too close and firing my blood.

  “Silas, the warriors teleported to the compound after I said I’d come and get you. Wincrest, though, wants to see her niece in the next ten minutes, or else she’ll slice and dice you.” He sounded wheezy, like he’d run.

  “Thanks for keeping quiet about Hope, Davio. She flaked out, and apart from her heart beating too fast, she’s breathing fine.” Silas’s deep voice curled around my senses, even as my head thumped like a drum. I needed to mind-merge.

  Open your mouth. Tell him.

  “Sure thing, but I’ve got to head off the moment we hit the ridge and check on Faith. My mate better not be suffering as this one is.”

  What was Loveria saying? We were almost there?

  “You go be with Faith.” A hand smoothed down my calf. Was Silas still carrying me over his shoulder?

  I winced as my stomach bumped into bone. Ow. Yes, definitely his shoulder. I scraped one eye open.

  “Yes, I can feel my skills returning.” Loveria let out an elated sigh. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Take care.”

  My mind fully awakened and targeted on Silas’s, connecting with the precision needed for the merge. Oh yes, I adored my mate’s mind right now. So deliciously all mine. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

  He slid me over his shoulder and propped me on my feet. “About time you woke up.”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help the nap.”

  “Missed you. Really missed you.” He kissed me, so fiercely I almost fainted again. He pulled back, a bare inch, his gaze darting all over me. “How do you feel? Your heart’s finally beating right. I’ve been so worried. You won’t ever do that to me again. Do you hear me?”

  I flicked out my hands as they tingled, as blood raced through and returned to them. Even the red patches of sunburn on the backs of my hands healed with my restored skill. I sighed and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Righto, but you deserve some more lip action, and not the telling-off sort.”

  No sooner were the words out than he took my breath away with a soul-claiming kiss. So hot. His need swirled through me as I dug my mind deeper into my sweet spot.

  Oh, I was not leaving his mind, or his mouth.

  He stroked along my shoulders, down my sides and over my hips.

  My heart raced.

  “Hope.” He murmured my name. “I can’t ensure your safety unless I’m with you.”

  I snuggled closer, wanting those soft lips back on mine. “I want to neck some more.”

  He exhaled, the sound so sweet as his breath stuttered a little. “Say that again.”

  “I want to–”

  “Hope Wincrest.”

  Damn. Goldie.

  She stood on the highest ridge of the sand-hill, her blond hair whipping about her shoulders. “Your ten minutes is up, Carver. Get over here now.”

  I snagged Silas’s hand and trudged toward her. “We’re here?” Oh, of course we were. Duh. Where was my head? Kissing Silas had certainly scattered my thoughts.

  Silas’s fingers firmed around mine. “Davio said the Sols are just over the hill.”

  I slogged to the top of the rise. Below, on a stretch of long, flat sand, hundreds of brightly colored tents with striped awnings rippled in the wind. A four-post-high corral with horses and a three-post-high holding pen with cattle was closest. The animals’ bawling carried on the breeze. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Look at the children,” Silas said.

  At least a dozen small children scurried in and around the tents playing tag, their flowing white tunics covering them from their necks to their knees. A boy with black hair chased a girl with blond ponytails. She skipped around a market stall, an open-air tent which held baskets of fresh fruit. Oh my. The sight of apples and oranges made my mouth water.

  “There.” Silas pointed. “A line of people are waiting.”

  It was as he’d said, and then two dark-haired men wavered into sight not far from the line of people. They appeared out of nowhere, carrying a wooden pail in each hand. A small amount of water sloshed over the rims as they passed them to those in the crowd. On their heels, two more arrived and others within the crowd surged forward to take the water.

  I smiled as t
he teleporters promptly disappeared. “They’re bringing water for the others.” My fingers curled so tightly into Silas’s palm, I was sure to leave a mark. “Tell me this isn’t a mirage?”

  “It’s not. Food and shelter awaits.”

  “Some of them could be my mother’s family and related to me.” I was eager to get there. “Where are Maslin and Guy? I don’t see them.”

  Goldie answered, saying, “Maslin went straight to his grandparents’ tent. Guy teleported home, but he has the image and can return with ease. So can I.”

  “Are you leaving?”

  “Of course not. I’ll stay for as long as you need me.” She patted my arm, her gaze narrowed on Silas. “Although you can leave. I’m sure you’ve had your allotted five minutes. I know I’ve seen enough of you today.”

  He sent her a sharp look. “Your niece and I are mated. I have accepted the bond, if you had not heard.”

  “Huh, there is accepting the bond, and then there is desiring the bond. Perhaps you should leave since you don’t yet know the difference.” She eyed me. “If he doesn’t treat you right, I’ll hurt him.”

  She would. And I loved her for it.

  Silas stroked the hilt of his ever-present sword. “I will stay.”

  “Figures.” Goldie slammed her hands on her hips.

  “Um, can we have a minute, Goldie? I’ll meet you at the Sol camp.” Best to separate the two of them as quick as I could.

  “I’ll scout around.”

  “Thanks.” She flashed away and I faced Silas. “My headache has gone and I feel strong again. You don’t have to stay. You must have work you’ve set aside.” Of that, I was certain.

  “There are several projects I’m overseeing.” He tightened his hold on my hand. “I can’t leave you right now. Don’t ask me again.”

  I rubbed my cheek against his shoulder. “I should be down there.”

  “I’ll ’port us to the area near the stalls. That’s where the most people are.”

  I burrowed deeper into his mind as everything darkened. We reappeared a foot from a basket of gorgeous red-skinned apples. This was real. I was here. “Where do we start?”

  “There’s a crowd coming. Maslin Sol brings them. Damn, it’s impossible to tell who the elders are when we don’t physically age.”

  Yes, all looked young, and now a dozen people dressed in light colored tunics encircled us, the girl with the blond ponytails dashing in and around them all.

  Sweat dampened my palms.

  Silas eased in behind me, covering my back as those surrounding us murmured softly between them.

  Maslin broke through the crowd, drawing two people along with him. “Hope, I told my grandparents of your skill.” He extended one hand toward a man with bright copper hair and brown eyes, and were it not for the slightly darker tone of his skin, I wouldn’t have been able to tell grandfather and grandson apart. “This is Menalew Sol.”

  His grandfather smiled. “Welcome to the compound. I look forward to getting to know you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” I dipped my head respectfully.

  Maslin set his arm around the shoulders of the woman who stood at his other side. “My grandmother, Merie.”

  The petite woman had a dash of freckles across her smooth skinned nose and long auburn hair coiled into a braid that dangled to her hips. “Maslin has spoken of you. Welcome.”

  “Thank you. I’m truly glad to be here.”

  More people arrived, including Goldie, who reappeared at my side.

  Menalew cleared his throat. “Maslin told us of your plight and your skill of mind-merge. We have one of the elders searching for Elizara Sol. She is the youngest sister of Katerin, who left our clan thirty-six years ago. I knew your grandmother. We played together as children.”

  I clutched at my chest, my heartbeat fluttering all over the place.

  “Relax,” Silas snapped along our telepathic link. “Our hearts beat in tandem. It’s incredibly uncomfortable when yours doesn’t keep good time.”

  “You’re the one who aligned our hearts. Deal with it.” I reached for Goldie and pulled her closer. “This is Goldie, my aunt, and behind me is Silas.”

  Menalew welcomed Goldie.

  Silas groaned. “What kind of introduction is that? Behind me is Silas?”

  “What would you have preferred?” I itched to move. “This is real, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. You’re nervous. I’m not surprised.”

  “Pinch me now so I know I’m not dreaming.”

  “Gladly.”

  I jumped as his fingers nipped my waist.

  Goldie nudged my arm, her gaze moving beyond the crowd. “Look, I think that’s Elizara Sol.”

  I was up on my toes, searching as all hushed.

  A woman clutching the folds of her white robes dashed forward. She had golden hair, silky and long, pinned with a jeweled clip, which sparkled in the last rays of the day. Chestnut-brown eyes, the edges rimmed with a lighter shade of milk chocolate met mine.

  My chest tightened and Silas mumbled something, his words lost to me as I blinked back tears.

  “Don’t cry.” Elizara’s voice wobbled as she stepped up to me. “I’m overjoyed. They said you are Hope, my sister’s grandchild.” She clasped my face between her shaky hands. “Katerin was outlawed from here, but I can come to her. Where is she?” She peered over my head.

  Trembling, I gripped her hands. “I’m sorry. I’ve never met Katerin, and I don’t know where she is. My father raised me in Dralion. I live on the same station in the outback as Maslin.” She must not know where Katerin was either.

  “Oh, I had hoped. The elder who came for me said you had mind-merge.” She closed her eyes and the lightest of touches brushed my mind then drew away. “I feel a link from you to the one behind you.” She scrutinized Silas. “You are connected strongly to him. Good. You cannot be without him.”

  “How did you do that?” She’d tracked my merge to Silas, somehow, although she hadn’t intruded.

  Her lips tipped upward at the corners, a small smile forming. “You have much to learn and I will gladly teach you. Within this desert clan, some have mind-merge, although that knowledge is kept close to home. We cannot have outsiders know of the greatest weakness of these few, because reliance is the way of the skill.”

  “I want to know everything.”

  “Then you will need to stay, but to begin, Katerin was exiled. Her mate, Nathwer, left with her thirty-six years ago. What of you?”

  “My mother was abandoned in an orphanage on Earth when she was three days old. The nuns named her after her mother. Her name is Kate.”

  “Your mother is well?”

  “Yes, and she recently returned to live in Dralion with my father. I have a twin too, but my mother raised Faith in New Zealand.”

  A murmur came from those assembled, their collective voices whispering, “Her mother mustn’t have mind-merge.”

  “No.” I answered them. “Kate also never knew Katerin Sol. Her mother never returned for her.”

  Heavy gasps. Lots of them. Our children were adored above all else, being raised within villages by their immediate and extended family. None was ever abandoned as I had just described.

  “If we’d known of your mother’s whereabouts, one of us would have retrieved her from Earth and brought her here. I’m so sorry.” Large tears slipped from Elizara’s eyes.

  “No, it’s okay. You didn’t know.” Her pain quickly became mine as our blood-bond cemented. She was family, without a doubt.

  “How many in your compound hold this ability of mind-merge?” Silas wound his arm around my waist.

  “Four, including me. Over the years, we’ve lost many from it. Our soul-bound one holds our life in their hands. Although those who have that skill and of telepathy are far more fortunate.”

  “Why?” Anything that could shine good will on my skill was an answer I needed.

  “If we hold telepathy, and our mate does too, then we can use t
hat connection to weave the mind-merge along. Once this weaving is learned, it releases the strict three-day rule. Have you heard of that?”

  “Of the three-day rule, yes. But not the weaving along the telepathic connection.” My chest swelled and my heartbeat nearly bounded from it. “So there is a way around the death sentence?” This was the best news.

  “That’s correct. Of the four of us here with mind-merge, two have telepathy, as do our mates. Our lives are much easier.”

  Silas cleared his throat. “Hope and I have a telepathic connection.”

  Elizara clapped, beaming at us. “Wonderful. I will teach you how to weave the merge along the link, Hope. It takes a little practice to perfect for there is an intricacy to the method. The twin you spoke of, is she telepathic?”

  I slid my hand into Silas’s. I had to take care not to expose who Silas and Loveria truly were. The Sols knew Maslin was a warrior, and warriors and protectors did not mix. Silas was here, but I had not said he was from Peacio. Davio, though, was a different matter. He was a prince and his name known, the chance of a connection being made far greater if I spoke of him.

  Silas threaded his fingers through mine. “We cannot speak Davio’s name. It is one passed down through the Loveria line. We must keep quiet. As yet we don’t know these people.”

  “That’s what I just thought.”

  To Elizara, Silas said, “Faith and her mate are both telepathic, but neither have successfully forged a link with the other. I know it’s unusual, but it’s what’s happened.”

  “Oh.” She pressed her hands to her mouth. “They must keep trying.”

  “After hearing this news, I’m sure they will.” He squeezed my hand. “A Wincrest and a Loveria mating is unheard of. Their blood wars too greatly, and even though they trust each other because of their mated bond, fundamentally their blood continues to fight. Davio believes this is what’s halting the formation of his telepathic link with Faith.”

  “We fight.”

  “Not like they do. I am a Carver. My mother and Davio’s are sisters. There is no direct Loveria blood flowing through my veins. It is only Loveria and Wincrest blood which battles in close contact.”