FOREVER KNIGHTS: #6 Malevolent Attentions

“A rock.” She confirmed. Nodding solemnly.

“Stop playing games, Woman!”

“He kicked a rock.”

Into a tree.

Danbury shook his head in disgust. “Get to your point.”

“It lodged as deep in a tree as my forearm is long.”

Dammit!

“That’s impossible!” Danbury said.

No. It’s completely possible.

“Unless he’s immortal.”

“Or Cimmerii.” Danbury said with a haughty brow lift.

“Precisely.” Marod said. “I want to be sure.”

“Are you sure you saw all this?” Danbury interrogated. Giving her bleary eyes a skeptical look.

“I did.” She snapped. “I was very close. The fool didn’t even hear me.”

I was busy with Riaura! Alazar was affronted. Realizing he needed to be more careful. For Riaura’s sake.

“How do you intend to find out?” Danbury asked.

“Well, we have the perfect bait.” She nodded to the floor above.

Riaura?

“Fine then.” Danbury dismissed. Lifting a glass to his lips. “Do it.”

What? He felt his breathing deepening and fought to control the beast moving under his skin.

Alazareth had prowled the woods like a hungry wolf. Waiting for her. But lately she’d only go as far as the meadow.

Like now. From the trees of Warlock Grove, he peered through the scatter of trunks to see her standing on the meadow. Gold hair floating in the wind like a banner. Beautiful green eyes assessing the treeline. Looking for me.

To come to me or flee from me?

He’d suffered endless images of her warm and sweating beneath him, atop him. He’d try to focus on other things but the sudden whiff of red roses smelling like her hair would wake his body and he’d be unable to think of anything but her.

He was irritable. My skin feels like covered in ants. It was excruciating being away from her.

As she stood in the meadow, he walked behind trees, circling the edge to see if he could get any closer to her. I could call out to her…

What if she leaves soon as she hears me? That’d crush him. It was shocking to realize how much she’d come to mean to him.

He’d confided his confusion to his brother. That I can’t brush her from my mind like I always did before. And I’ve no idea why.

In his factual way, Bast murmured. “I’d think that means she’s your mate.”

Alazar ceased pacing by the fire to whip his head towards his brother who examined square fingernails while leaned aside the fireplace. “My mate?”

“Your mate.” Bast met his look. “I didn’t stutter.”

“I’m not one to have a mate.”

“We all do. It’s just a matter of finding her.”

“Just because you’re ever the romantic, doesn’t make your theories on lovers true.”

“Don’t be so certain.” Bast said gravely. “I’m quite the lover.”

“That’s not what the last woman said.” Alazareth snapped to check his twin’s pride.

His valkyrie.

Bast laughed coldly at that.

But looking at her now. Breathtakingly beautiful in a sun soaked Fall meadow, he had to wonder. Perhaps you are my mate, Riaura.

Perhaps that’s why I was so drawn to protect you.

His heart sunk when she turned and walked back toward Nightway Bailey. Perhaps not.

How can she cling to me one moment, whispering my name, speaking to me of intimate longings and fears, then avoid me for days?