Warrior (14 page)

I grinned as I drew the blade along the next portion from his ear to his chin. “Don’t be a spoilsport.”

“Is that lamp providing enough light?” His gaze darted toward it.

“I wouldn’t move, if I were you. I like this mouth of yours and I don’t want to cut it up, no matter how smart it is.” I ran the blade right under his nose.

“You like my mouth?”

“Don’t speak.”

“Can’t help it.”

I set the knife to the other side of his face. “There is nothing you can say that I won’t guess at. Zip the lips.”

His fingers curled into my sides. “Right now, I’m wishing I wasn’t so fastidious with keeping my blade so sharp. I think I felt a nick.”

“I told you to be quiet.” I tapped his jaw shut and slid the blade along his neck. I inspected my work, dabbing along his skin with the towel as I cleared the last of the suds away. “Okay, I think I’ve got it all.”

Taking the blade, he sheathed it. “I think I wet my pants.”

I chuckled. “You did not.”

“I like seeing you laugh.” He pulled me back to him. “So, how’s your head? This is the start of the second day without your mind-merge. Faith usually gets a headache around about now.”

“There’s no headache, unless I count you.” I slid my arms around his neck and rubbed my nose against his.

“The second day is when she begins to suffer. You’re not supposed to be parted from me for too long. That’s the way of your skill.”

“I can handle a headache when it comes. Stop worrying.”

He stroked my back. “As the second day ends and the third begins, you’ll feel worse. The headache is not one Faith can fast-heal. She has to mind-merge with Davio. One time she got so dizzy on her second day, she passed out. I thought she’d over-imbibed on the drink. Her headache was that bad.”

“I said stop worrying.”

“I watched her body shut down. There was blood everywhere. Her lungs filled and she coughed it out. She survived the ordeal by mere minutes after she mind-merged with Davio.”

“You are here.”

“I will never watch that happen to you.” He pressed a hand to my forehead. “You already feel a little hot.” He snatched up the lamp and supplies and spun me toward the door.

“Ah yeah, we’re in the desert, Mr. Observant.”

“Which means we should hurry since we’ve a long way to travel. Davio also needs to return to Faith before the day is out.”

“The sun isn’t up yet.” Although along the horizon a hint of light gave evidence sunrise was close. “Hey, why did Loveria risk coming with you when he should have stayed with my sister?”

With one hand on my elbow, he guided me back the way we’d come. “Davio would never place Faith’s life in danger. Carlisio would have had forewarning, and Davio would not have come if that were the case.”

Carlisio Loveria held the same skill as my father, although a weaker strain, as only those children born of the mated bond could hold the full strength. His parents had not been soul-bound.

“Alexo’s forewarning never indicated any harm coming to me, only that I’d be missing.”

“Which means we shouldn’t chance that future.” Silas extinguished the lamp as the sun peeked over the sand-hills. He increased his stride, tugging me along. “We were raised together, Davio and I. We are as close as brothers. He came because of me. I see the others. Everyone appears ready.”

Loveria stood further away, holding out two packs. “No nicks, cousin. Lucky.”

“More than you know.” Silas shrugged one of the packs on and slipped the other over my shoulders.

“You do not sound grateful, and I couldn’t harm you even if I wanted. Sheesh, you have a thick head.” I yanked the soft white hood of my cotton shirt over my head. Long fluttery sleeves and a loose style allowed whatever breeze blew to cool my skin. Everyone had dressed in them, because the hoods gave plenty of protection.

Goldie, Guy and Maslin had their packs on and Goldie raised a hand and motioned me toward her.

I headed her way. “Hey, it looks like everyone’s ready.”

“Yes. Maslin’s going to lead the team. We’re heading due west. You can follow with–” She rolled her eyes and coughed. “Ah, them.”

Well, at least Goldie was a touch more accepting today. “Thank you for keeping your blade at bay.” I glanced at Guy and Maslin. “All of you. I appreciate it.”

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.”