asked.
“Yes, love. She has had a rough day,” Samantha replied, sounding relieved.
“Child? You may look at me.” His voice was gentle, and I found myself
slowly opening my eyes. Samantha seemed to trust him, and that was all I had to
go on right now.
I looked up at a man of about 40, with kindness behind his sharp blue
eyes. Those same eyes widened when he saw mine. I noticed that he was handsome
(in that older man way) and had black hair that was beginning to gray. Wings
the rich color of gold were visible over his shoulders, and it took every ounce
of self-control not to stare at them.
After holding his gaze a few seconds, I closed my eyes again and
quickly stood up because I did not want to be at a disadvantage.
He broke the silence, “Welcome to Roya, Jacque.”
The town must have gotten its name from the Royal Mountains Samantha
mentioned earlier.
“Glad to be here,” I said sarcastically without holding out my hand
for him to shake.
Since I had reclosed my eyes because of Samantha’s advice, I decided
that would be a big enough excuse not to shake hands. Regardless of their
kindness, I was still brought here without my consent.
“I am the Marshal of this city, and Samantha is my mate.” Is the
Marshal like a president? Does that make him important? Wait, did he say mate?
It barely snagged my attention. I guess I have had a rough day.
“Nice to meetcha,” I replied, reopening my eyes.
“If you’ll come with us, we can show you to your rooms. We live in the
Tower.” His voice was a tad bit strained, almost like he was forcing
casualness. I probably wouldn’t have noticed if my senses hadn’t become
absolutely amazing. Samantha nodded her head towards the largest building in
the city, which looked more like a tall mansion and less like a tower. It was a
light gray and had a plethora of windows.
Now that I finally had a chance to escape, I had nowhere to run. I was
in a foreign place with odd, foreign people. Keeping my eyes down, I saw Samantha’s
feet turn around to start towards the tower, but someone had just landed on the
grass in front of her. I kept my eyes down, only seeing everyone’s shadow, and smothered
the desire to look up at the newcomer.
“I’m here, father. What do you need?” A man asked.
The same young man paused for a second, and then questioned, “Who is
that?”
Samantha broke the silence, “Marshal, why did you bring John here?”
“Sam, you know as well as I that she won’t last her first chase. She
doesn’t have the skills to help her like the others who are new.”
Samantha seemed to come to a realization, because I saw the shadow of
her head shake, and she told him, “Oh, no! You know I can’t let this happen.”
She took a step toward her husband as her voice turned into an angry
pleading, “She deserves a chance!”
The Marshal’s shadow shook its head while the man named John said, “She
doesn’t smell like a lullary. Could it be?”
His shadow took a step closer. A lovely aroma drifted on the wind, and
I couldn’t stand not looking. I needed to be prepared for whatever was coming
next.
I looked up at the scene in front of me as Samantha yelled, “No!”
Okay, so maybe I’m not so smart.
She was facing her husband with her head turned in my direction. The
Marshal looked triumphant. Samantha glanced at John, helpless, and I followed
her eyes. He was standing ten feet away, on the other side of Samantha and the
Marshal. My gaze locked with his blue eyes.
Big, gorgeously threatening wings were spread out behind his body.
They were the mesmerizing color of a solid gold bar, but shined a lighter hue
in the dying light. He looked to be a little bit older than my age and had a
straight nose, black hair, and strong jaw. He wore a white shirt and dark pants
that fit him oh-so-well. He was quite a looker, and his gaze was mesmerizing.
I disliked him immediately.
John’s fists clenched and his jaw tightened as his dad told him,
“Yes, love. She has had a rough day,” Samantha replied, sounding relieved.
“Child? You may look at me.” His voice was gentle, and I found myself
slowly opening my eyes. Samantha seemed to trust him, and that was all I had to
go on right now.
I looked up at a man of about 40, with kindness behind his sharp blue
eyes. Those same eyes widened when he saw mine. I noticed that he was handsome
(in that older man way) and had black hair that was beginning to gray. Wings
the rich color of gold were visible over his shoulders, and it took every ounce
of self-control not to stare at them.
After holding his gaze a few seconds, I closed my eyes again and
quickly stood up because I did not want to be at a disadvantage.
He broke the silence, “Welcome to Roya, Jacque.”
The town must have gotten its name from the Royal Mountains Samantha
mentioned earlier.
“Glad to be here,” I said sarcastically without holding out my hand
for him to shake.
Since I had reclosed my eyes because of Samantha’s advice, I decided
that would be a big enough excuse not to shake hands. Regardless of their
kindness, I was still brought here without my consent.
“I am the Marshal of this city, and Samantha is my mate.” Is the
Marshal like a president? Does that make him important? Wait, did he say mate?
It barely snagged my attention. I guess I have had a rough day.
“Nice to meetcha,” I replied, reopening my eyes.
“If you’ll come with us, we can show you to your rooms. We live in the
Tower.” His voice was a tad bit strained, almost like he was forcing
casualness. I probably wouldn’t have noticed if my senses hadn’t become
absolutely amazing. Samantha nodded her head towards the largest building in
the city, which looked more like a tall mansion and less like a tower. It was a
light gray and had a plethora of windows.
Now that I finally had a chance to escape, I had nowhere to run. I was
in a foreign place with odd, foreign people. Keeping my eyes down, I saw Samantha’s
feet turn around to start towards the tower, but someone had just landed on the
grass in front of her. I kept my eyes down, only seeing everyone’s shadow, and smothered
the desire to look up at the newcomer.
“I’m here, father. What do you need?” A man asked.
The same young man paused for a second, and then questioned, “Who is
that?”
Samantha broke the silence, “Marshal, why did you bring John here?”
“Sam, you know as well as I that she won’t last her first chase. She
doesn’t have the skills to help her like the others who are new.”
Samantha seemed to come to a realization, because I saw the shadow of
her head shake, and she told him, “Oh, no! You know I can’t let this happen.”
She took a step toward her husband as her voice turned into an angry
pleading, “She deserves a chance!”
The Marshal’s shadow shook its head while the man named John said, “She
doesn’t smell like a lullary. Could it be?”
His shadow took a step closer. A lovely aroma drifted on the wind, and
I couldn’t stand not looking. I needed to be prepared for whatever was coming
next.
I looked up at the scene in front of me as Samantha yelled, “No!”
Okay, so maybe I’m not so smart.
She was facing her husband with her head turned in my direction. The
Marshal looked triumphant. Samantha glanced at John, helpless, and I followed
her eyes. He was standing ten feet away, on the other side of Samantha and the
Marshal. My gaze locked with his blue eyes.
Big, gorgeously threatening wings were spread out behind his body.
They were the mesmerizing color of a solid gold bar, but shined a lighter hue
in the dying light. He looked to be a little bit older than my age and had a
straight nose, black hair, and strong jaw. He wore a white shirt and dark pants
that fit him oh-so-well. He was quite a looker, and his gaze was mesmerizing.
I disliked him immediately.
John’s fists clenched and his jaw tightened as his dad told him,
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