Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) (31 page)

Once more, she felt herself at a distinct disadvantage. She eyed him cautiously and then dismissed her apprehension. It would matter little in the morning, she told herself. What harm could come from an innocent flirtation with a handsome man? In all likelihood, she would never see him again.

She nodded politely and allowed him to lead her to a seat near the large vaulted window, which gave her a full view of the crowded room of unfamiliar faces. She gave little thought to the guests. Without question, Lord Lenister held her interest. She watched him walk out the door. She wondered for the moment why was he dispensing attention upon her. She quickly dismissed flattery…that his attraction to her lay with her appearance.

She had long ago comprehended her birth presented a large obstacle to overcome in the eyes of the 
ton, 
even with the title of Lady Eloise D’Arcy Granville, the daughter of the late His Grace, the fifth Duke of Rotheward. She glanced around the large room while she waited. Then suddenly a strange feeling surged through her as if someone were watching her.

She turned her head abruptly and meet the avid eyes of a man standing in the far doorway. He was a short middle-aged man, dowdy, in fact, with red pudgy cheeks, but without question he eyed her intently. He had a familiar look. Then to her horror, his face brightened and gave her a weak smile.

Panic welled within her with the comprehension of why he seemed familiar. 
Calm. Stay calm. Surely he would not acknowledge me. 
Eloise maintained her composure as she sat rigid without a hint of emotion, while desperately trying to assess the situation. Her gaze held firm upon the man. Then he made a step forward toward her, halting only when Lord Lenister entered back into the room.

The stranger nodded to the earl. Eloise straightaway recognized a look between acquaintances. Although for the life of her she didn’t understand the stranger’s presence, she understood the need to withdraw…and quickly.

She rose and gathered up her skirt. With great effort, she exited in a dignified manner out the open side door to the veranda. The warm night gave pause to more than a few guests cluttering the terrace. Ignoring the beauty of the decorative scene, she scurried down the steps into the garden. She escaped only to the far entrance where she collapsed upon a bench.

“Why are you running?”

Her head lowered. She chose not to answer. What good would an explanation do when the words would go unheeded? And what did she owe this man…this stranger?

Lord Lenister stalked up to her and pulled her to her feet. “I asked you a question, Lady Eloise.”

“I needed fresh air, my lord. Nothing more. Pray, release me. You are hurting my arm. I wish nothing more than to retire.”

“And run again? There is to be no more running. I suspected such before my appearance here tonight. Confirmed by the vicomte’s identification. Did you not think that you might be recognized eventually, my dear?”

“I have only a few months more to contend with these functions and then…”

“Then what? What exactly do you have in mind?” Both his hands gripped tightly her shoulders. She had no choice but to look him straight in his eyes.

“Why is it a concern of yours, Monsieur? Why do my actions concern you?” Frazzled, she broke into her native French.

He answered her back the same. “Because I need your help, Mademoiselle. I need your help.”

SEDUCTIVE LIES
 
by Colleen Connally

Book Three, Secret Lives Series

Coming Late 2013

WHISPERS OF A LEGEND

SHADOWS OF THE PAST
 
by Carrie James Haynes

Book One, Whispers of a Legend Series

FREE eBook!

Whispers of a Legend saga: Kela Calledwdele was born with a destiny, a Euchoun with only one purpose in life...to protect. Torn between two worlds, Kela soon discovers she is the hope of both. Now she must find the courage to face the destiny fate has dictated to her.

Kela has always known what path in life she would follow. She was born a Euchoun. Half Witheleghean, a passive peaceful race where magic runs freely and the other half, Sordarin, a valiant warrior race of hawkmen who rule the sky, she knows well her parents gave the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance to live. Yet, in so doing, they have left Kela unprepared to face the dangers that await her. Her instincts are to protect and in this she does, but in so doing it leads her into a world where she knows not whom to trust. In time her power matures and grows stronger when she bonds with a Sordarin warrior, Cono. She learns well why she holds the power. An evil as no other before, Asmeodai, has emerged but all is not what it seems as a dark cloak encompasses her family. Betrayal, distrust, treachery leaves Kela alone. She is torn by her desire for Cono and the purpose, the path, she has been given to follow. And when another emerges within her world, one who seemly wants only to help her along her path, she is pulled further away from her Sordarin.

Shadows of the Past, Book One of the Whispers of a Legend is the first in nine installments of the saga. It is a journey of a young woman’s battle to embrace her destiny. Whispers of a Legend follows Kela along this conflicting path, where as a young woman unsure of her ability and her confidence in facing the challenges before her to where she emerges as a strong leader who learns to lean upon her own strength, to stand not behind, but side by side with her warrior.

The legend, they say, is whispered within the winds along the magnificent Preda Mountain Range, the words and deeds never to be forgotten of the Time of the Nuxvenom.

Little children sing to the glory of the Sordarins. Young lads praise their heroes of the past with dreams of following within their footsteps. Old men bask in the deeds of another time, a time when the Sordarins crushed the impending threat and once more Scarladin was safe.

The mighty Sordarins, rulers of the sky! The people look high up in the clouds and see their warriors soaring under the sun and know they are safe and secure in their world; they never to have to worry about the threat of the Arachnideans or the dreaded Asmeodai, the ones whose quest seeks only to destroy all the Sordarins have ever known!

The Sordarins have slept well over the years secure in their knowledge the Great One watches over them, knowing that the legends hold a mighty warrior will emerge if threatened again, born with a destiny only to defend their world.

But subtle changes have emerged. Little by little fear begins to resurface that their world; their very existence is once again threatened. They look to the skies anxiously awaiting their warrior; questioning perchance if the Great One has forgotten them.

I know this how? For I am the one born to defend their world. I, Kela Calledwdele, was born a Euchoun. I am their warrior
.

EXCERPT

The trail back to the cottage was well worn, but a long walk. I didn’t care. I needed the time. The sounds of the Forest surrounded me. Sounds that now I found comfort in. Suddenly over head a shadow appeared silhouetted the ground beneath me from the moonlight. I look up as I climbed over a small rocky hill. I glanced upward wondering who was leaving the castle.

In the moonlight, his wings spread wide over the cloudless sky. He circled over head. My eyes lay mesmerized upon the Sordarin who within moments landed before me. He did not say a word at first. He just stood there, too close, too tall, too dark. He smiled at me.

“Are you heading somewhere?” Cono smiled a wide arrogant grin.

“Should you not be back at the castle with everyone?” I said. “My destination is not your concern. Now, please go along with your flight. I have no intentions of detaining you.”

“You’re not,” he reached out and touched my face. I recoiled. I have never been touched in that manner for any reason. “I have waited for this opportunity to talk with you without everyone’s ears.” He paused for a moment, glancing down at my bare feet. “The slippers weren’t comfortable?”

My eyes flamed. To be ridiculed! I stepped around him. His arm halted my progression. “You walk unprotected in the dead of night?”

“You don’t know me well,” I answered blandly. “I’m not afraid. Of what? Why would someone try to harm me?”

“I can think of a few reasons,” his eyes glanced over me in a way that made color rush to my cheeks. Happy at least the night’s dim light hid my embarrassment.

I faced him in the night. “I can well take care of myself. I have been trained well.”

“In that I don’t question,” His head tilted to hold to my eyes I had tried to divert. He looked upward. “It is a grand night for a flight. Do you not think?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Then it is time to find out.”

Without another utterance, his arms rounded me and upward he soared. My arms instinctually clutched his neck. He laughed heartily. “It is better than blasting at me. Much better.”

At first I dug my head into his chest. I closed my eyes and faced the wind. Oh, the taste of what freedom! Slowly I opened my eyes. I drank in the feeling, the sight and the remembrance of once before flying high in the sky with the one that held me. I wanted it to go on forever for the Sordarin warrior who held me to bring me out of Forbidden Forest. Instead he lit upon the cliffs high above the Forest.

His arms released me and I stood along the edge. So tiny all beneath my gaze. Oh, the beauty. I turned to find his eyes dancing upon me. The anger igniting within me only moments before dissipated.

“Thank you,” I uttered. “This is so beautiful.”

“It is,” he agreed as he stepped closer to me, so close I could feel his breath upon my neck.

His arms rounded me, pressing my face to his. My lips pulsed beneath his touch. My whole body did from his proximity and gaze. I gritted my teeth. Why was I doing acting like a fool! His dark eyes considered me. They lured me. Their color deepened. He smiled vaguely.

He looked handsome with the moonlit highlighting him in the darkness. I had no time to consider my situation when he lowered his head. His lips touched mine delicately and kissed me softly. His lips lingered a moment, rested only an extra instant. He cupped the nape of my neck with his strong hand and kissed me again. This time, I responded back.

My body trembled with his touch. The kiss, his closeness, his kiss provoked something inside of me that caused me to forget for a moment all around me. When he broke from me, I stared up at him in shock. I would have stepped back but his arms held me tightly.

“I don’t want you to fall.”

My eyes widened with fascination of the depth of feeling he evoked within me. Finally, however, I realized he was playing with me. “Let go,” I said. “You may do this often. But I will not be treated such. I may look as though…”

He shook his head, then kissed me again. “I have never done this before, nor wanted to with anyone else.  I told you I wanted to talk with you. I want to understand all that you have been through for the last four years. It may well have been four years, but I remember well the power surging through you. And in all it may show conceit, but I believe well that you are stronger with me by your side.”

“I don’t understand what you are saying.”

“I’m saying I witnessed a Euchoun almost destroy the entire Royal Unit with one blast when I touched her. I fought along side of her when she helped destroy an Arachnidaens leader. I have dreamed of a girl in a mist for years. I have felt a pull toward something I can’t explain until I saw you when you saved your sister. Did you not hear me when I called to you? I did not speak a word, but you heard me. Didn’t you?”

I stared strangely at him. I nodded only. I had heard the words and trusted him. “I did, but in all, Cono, I know all I have been trained to do. Your words…Johannes says that I’m too naïve. I will not be used. I know what my purpose is and will complete it…”

“With me.”

“With you?”

“Kela, can you not understand? From the beginning it was you and I. Within you now, even though you words say different, you do not fear me,” his hand caressed my face. “No, you don’t fear me. You feel the pull, the call within us. Us. Kela, we are bonded and have always.”

“Bonded? With you? You want to be bonded with a girl? I know of no other except my brother. Johannes thought perchance I was to battle alone…,” My voice waded for he shook his head.

He reached down and took my hand in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. “You have a power within you that few have seen. My grandmother has always been believed that the bond was between us. With following you within the tunnel that night, the blast when we retrieved you, and if the legends hold to be true, it will be needed. Do you doubt me?”

“I know of no other bonds that find one in another’s arms.”

“In that I’ll admit. It may play that I should keep my hands off of you, but in that also Kela I feel drawn to you as I have never been drawn before. Tell me you don’t feel it also.”