The Pearl Savage (43 page)

Authors: Tamara Rose Blodgett

Tags: #Romance, #Mystery, #Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Young Adult

BOOK: The Pearl Savage

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Of course
Clara understood. She wanted nothing more than for she and Charles to
come to an understanding.

Sarah
interjected, “She is sovereign here. Charles needs to quit acting
the fool and allow her to rule, Clarence. It is he that needs to
defer to her.”

Clarence
turned with a glare on his face and she stepped uncomfortably close
and his anger eased, his face softening before her closeness. “I
know well your friendship. However,” her hand reached out and ran a
gliding finger down the front of the royal purple vest that he and
the rest of the small guard contingent wore, “you must be cognizant
of how his feelings muddle his intent.”

Clarence
tracked her hand, utterly forgetting Clara’s presence, she noted with
amusement. Sarah was playing a very dangerous game. Clara was not
sure of Sarah’s true feelings for him. And as she thought it, Philip
came charging up on his horse. His eyes took in the scene of Sarah
with her hand on another man. His brows shot down over his intense
eyes, his steed’s hooves dancing in nervousness underneath his
massive body.

Sarah
snatched her hand away from Clarence and he woke as if from a dream,
startling.

“I was
coming to fetch the Queen and Sarah,” he said in way of
explanation.

“Yes, I
see that was so,” Philip said with amusement laced with anger
riding the prominent planes of his face.

Sarah
smoothed her linen skirt and adjusted the neckline on her thin cotton
blouse that needed no adjusting.

Sarah was
always nervous in the presence of Philip. Bracus’ brother was the
largest of the Band, even more so than Bracus and Matthew. He
dismounted, his head above the shoulder of his horse. The muscles in
his forearms bulged as he slung the reins over the horse’s neck and
took it by the bridle, mindful of its mouth.

His gaze
went to Clara and he nodded. “Clara.”

Clara
nodded back. She had an easy alliance with Philip. After he had
stepped down as a contender for her hand, there had been no reason
not to. As this year had passed, she had come to realize he may have
his heart set on Sarah.

But Sarah
would have none of it. She avoided all the Band and seemed determined
to skim the surface of civility with them. It was an infuriating
dilemma. One of the many tasks she had to address.

Philip
caught her gaze and she held his for a defiantly swollen moment then
turned to Clarence. “Our Queen is in apt hands, let us go to the
camp.”

She
turned to look disdainfully at Philip. “I assume you and the others
have readied it?” she cocked a brow in his direction.

His jaw
tightened in response to her subtle rankling of him. “It is done.
That is why I rode here.”

She
smiled up at him. “Good, clansman.” The insult was not lost on
Philip and his fists clenched.

Sometimes
Clara thought for all Sarah’s intellect she could not see what was in
front of her face. The Band were not males to be toyed with. But
warriors with an objective of clarity: kill to protect.

Those
violent biological imperatives, part of the very fabric of their
nature were not to be played as a musical instrument.

Sarah
looped her arm through Clarence’s and strolled off, giving a backward
smirk to Philip.

And Clara
had thought her amusements with Clarence dangerous!

Philip
regained his composure and addressed her directly, “Clara, as I
mentioned to your friends,” he exhaled forcefully and she
controlled her expression, “the camp is ready for the night.”

Clara
nodded and he helped her mount the horse. When they were upon the
steed’s back her eyes found Matthew’s. His legs were spread far
apart, his hair floating on the breeze, eyes pressing on Clara like
an erotic weight.

Philip
dug his heels into the horse’s sides and they moved forward, toward
the forest.

Toward
the men.

The
Savage Blood,
available
now!

A Love Letter to My Readers:

As
of March 31, 2011, it’s been a year now since my first book,
Death
Whispers
, was published. I’d like to take this opportunity to
thank each and every one of you that has supported my writing.
Without my readers, I would not have an audience for my work.
Many of your emails, support via recommendation, encouragement and
critical feedback/reviews have allowed my improvement as a writer and
as a human being. Words are an inadequate thanks for the depth of my
gratitude to you. Please know how much your support has meant, and
will continue to mean in the future to come.

Thank
you, from the bottom of my heart~

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Acknowledgments:

I’d
like to thank,
You
-
my reader
, for
reading my stories!