Read Online Any Price by Gail Faulkner - Free Book Online

heritage. Knowing what he felt about that was a huge issue for her.
    Very deliberately Kenna grasped his wrist. The immediate connection hit them with an emotional rush. The exchange demanded complete honesty. It didn’t matter what words they used, the existence of profound reaction could not be denied, reasoned away or discounted.
    In that moment of touching, Lore felt the frightening loss of control Kenna experienced when he’d only been trying to take care of her. The depth of her rejection of his actions was bitterly direct. Pain arrowed through him and Lore’s big frame shuddered at the fear she’d felt. Instead of binding them, his actions had made her feel desperately alone, destroying her trust in him.
    At the same time, his deep need to provide for her shot through Kenna. He’d been giving her the comfort he could in a situation that was causing her pain. Removing her pain was almost an obsession.
    The connection left them no misconceptions to hide behind.
    Lore faced her. “I will never intentionally hurt you, baby. I frightened you instead of comforting you. I’m sorry.”
    Her head averted, eyes closed, Kenna felt his response. Everything in him reached for her and yet he held himself rigidly in check. He wanted to overwhelm but he chose to wait for her acceptance. It seemed he’d learned something.
    “You removed my choice. We didn’t work through the problem. Even with the advantage of a connection that gives us this amazing understanding, if you choose to simply fix things instead of talking to me, I will always be a victim.”
    She was arguing with what he hadn’t said. That connection he wanted so badly told her he didn’t feel what he’d done was wrong so much as he felt how he did it was unforgivable. That he had hurt her, even unintentionally, was excruciating to him.
    “Stop it,” she commanded softly. “We can’t take this. Both of us are wounded and we experience each other’s pain. You behaved as your nature dictated by taking charge. That’s not going to work with us. It will always destroy me.”
    “Kenna, look in me,” Lore growled. “I will never remove your free will in matters that do not involve life and safety. If ever the need arises to do so, you will know I share any pain you bear. Please understand that I cannot surrender the drive to protect. Look at my soul. Our connection shows me a priceless woman I would pursue had we been normal people. I’m guilty of forgetting that possessing you is a privilege, not a right that is naturally mine.”
    Kenna struggled with his view. The man was something she’d never encountered before, his reactions completely differed from her scope of normal. He did not behave in a way she recognized. But that was her problem as much as his.
    At no time did he look for help. He fully expected to provide what was needed in every situation. In her world, normal people dialed 9-1-1 when they needed help. He brought the help and he was easy with that responsibility. He viewed her discomfort as his responsibility and found a way to relieve it.
    Accepting his explanation only fixed one issue for Kenna. It wasn’t even the most dangerous one as far as she was concerned. His other problem was her. Her heritage being common knowledge to some segment of the population was a problem and he would have to do something about it.
    “And the thing about people knowing I’m the descendent of their missing queen?” Kenna questioned softly.
    Lore looked into her eyes a minute before a rare, gentle smile touched his lips. “That’s what you’re worried about? Did you come here to reclaim a throne?”
    “No. I’m here because it was my grandmother’s last request that I attend this festival. I planned to have a look around and hightail it home.”
    He didn’t move. “Too bad. The plan has changed,” he informed her solemnly.
    Kenna’s hand tightened on his wrist. “You’re not going to ask me about it?”
    “It matters, honey. But not as much