Read Online A Warrior's Heart (Shields) by Donna Grant - Free Book Online Page A

If everyone knew everything about everyone else, what mystery would life hold?”
    Gabriel chuckled as he continued down the hall. “A philosopher, aye? Secrets or no, you are a mystery for sure.”
    “Do you like mysteries, Gabriel?”
    Maybe it was in the way she said his name, like a whisper of seduction, of knowing his very soul. Or maybe it was because she was a mystery, but whatever it was, he felt a jolt run through him.
    “Why do you ask?”
    She lifted a dainty shoulder and glanced at him through her lashes. “One never knows what a man will like. Some men like innocence, some seductresses, some mysterious, and other men like to be dominated. Which one are you?”
    Gabriel’s heart raced at her words. His blood felt like it was on fire as he tried in vain to forget there was a stunningly beautiful woman walking beside him.
    He finally found his voice to answer, “I like my women honest.”
    She chuckled. “Honesty. How...odd when most men are anything but.”  
    Gabriel watched Jayna as she walked a little ahead of him. What was her game? What was she doing at Stone Crest now of all times? And why the hell did he want her so badly?
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    Soon. Soon it would be his time again to rule Earth. It had been so long since he’d had a form, human or no. He yearned to be able to look at himself in the mirror again, to taste food, to feel a woman’s body beneath his.  
    The small snatches of time he’d been able to gather enough power to appear human were few and far between and they never lasted for longer than half an hour.
    He laughed then.
    They might have taken away his form, banished him to the ends of time, but they never expected him to become so powerful that he was able to destroy realms.
    And they didn’t even know who he was.
    He couldn’t wait for them to see just how he doled out revenge upon the Realm of Nations.
    But until then, he needed to concentrate on Earth. He had assumed it would be easy to destroy, but the Fae had meddled more than they should have and prevented its collapse.
    Yet, he had one surprise the Fae and their special army of Shields weren’t expecting. A surprise that would deal the final blow that would bring down the realm of Earth and the Fae realm with it.
    How he wished he could rub his hands together in anticipation. Instead, he simply existed.
    “My lord?”
    He waited for the creature to come closer. “I’m here. How goes it today?”  
    “They think both the Harpy and the Gargoyle have returned,” it said, breathing heavily.
    “Good, good. Ready everything for tomorrow on my command.”
    “Aye, my lord.”
    He waited until the creature departed before he turned his gaze to Stone Crest castle. They thought him gone, hidden away from view, but he was here, waiting. And here he would stay until his plan was carried out.
    Tomorrow would start it all.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Well?” Hugh asked as Gabriel walked into the solar.
    Gabriel shrugged. Most of the people and servants had either returned to their homes or bedded down for the night in the great hall. “I didn’t learn anything new. Yet. Give me a few days.”
    “We may not have a few days.”
    Mina tapped her finger on her chin. “I think she likes you.”  
    Gabriel was taken aback. “Likes me?”
    “Aye. She flirted with you when she didn’t flirt with any other.”
    He shrugged and glanced at Hugh. “The rest of the men were taken, Mina, though I thank you for the flattery.”
    “She may have something,” Hugh said as he sat back in his chair. “You’ll be close to her in the next few days, and we know that women tend to share their secrets once a man has bedded them.”
    “Hugh,” Mina said in exasperation.
    He shrugged. “It’s the truth, love.” He turned back to Gabriel. “What do you think?”
    Gabriel didn’t want to tell them he thought it was a splendid idea because he wasn’t quite ready to face the fact that he was attracted to Jayna, and only