Read Online The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey - Free Book Online Page A

Liam said.
    â€œGuess so.” Alix longed to bury herself in his arms, but felt as if every pair of eyes in the procession were trained on them.
    Including Erik’s. Looking from Alix to Liam and back, he sighed. “I’m sorry for this. I wish there were another way.”
    Alix nodded. They’d had this conversation too many times to count. There was no point in having it again now, in front of White Wolves and royal guardsmen and half a hundred others.
    She tried for a smile. “At least you’ll have Rudi,” she said as the wolfhound trotted over.
    â€œYeah, great.” Liam gave his dog a wary look. “If you get word I’ve been killed, you’ll know what happened.”
    â€œDeath jokes. Perfect.” She had half a mind to slap him; lucky for him there were all those pairs of eyes.
    â€œYou are an ass, brother,” Erik said with a rueful smile, clasping Liam’s arm.
    He grinned. “It’s a gift.”
    â€œJust promise me you won’t bestow it upon the Onnani.”
    â€œI’ll do my best.”
    Erik’s smile faded. “I’m counting on you, Liam. We all are.” He slung himself back in the saddle. “Let Eldora be your sign,” he said before guiding his horse away.
    Liam looked at his boots. He shoved a hand through his unruly dark hair. He had nothing to say.
    â€œGood luck.” It was the best Alix could manage.
    â€œTake care of him, Allie. And . . . take care of yourself.” He looked up, the beginnings of a smile hitching one side of his mouth. “I don’t want to hear about frostbite on your toes or panthers in your bedroll.”
    â€œPanthers. In my bedroll.”
    â€œCats love to snuggle up with warm things.”
    â€œI’ll try to remember that.”
    â€œSpeaking of warm things . . .” He reached into a saddlebag and drew out a scroll. “Here. Don’t open it now. Save it for a really cold night.”
    She ran a thumb over the wax seal, marked with the royal sunburst. “What is it?”
    â€œIt’s a letter, you dunce.”
    â€œI can see that, but—”
    â€œA really cold night, Allie. When you need to warm up.”
    She shook her head, baffled.
    â€œGods, woman, you have no imagination at all.” Gathering her into his arms, he whispered something in her ear.
    Alix felt her skin warm. “Oh.”
    His laugh against her ear made her want to cry. The gods only knew when she would hear it again.
If
she would hear it again.
    He pulled back and took her chin in his hand. “No, no. Don’t do that. If you cry, you might take me with you, and then how will I ever command this fine pack of manly men?”
    She laughed. “And women?”
    â€œThe women are especially manly.”
    â€œDon’t let Rona Brown hear you say that.”
    He glanced over his shoulder. “We’d better get on. We’re holding up the war.” He planted a soft, chaste kiss on her mouth.
    Alix brought a hand to his cheek. Drew in a deep draught of his scent, as though she could bottle it, keep it with her. She wasabout to pull away when she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. She broke off a moment later, gaze skipping over the assembled crowd. She could feel the fierce blush colouring her cheeks.
    â€œThey’ll get over it,” Liam said. He swept onto his horse with a grace belying the weight of his armour, then reached down to offer Alix a hand onto her own horse.
    â€œWhat, in front of all these manly men?” She mounted up on her own.
    â€œAll right, Wolves,” Liam called. “We’re for the Imperial Road.”
    Ide said something Alix couldn’t hear, and the Pack turned as one, pointing their mounts south. They’d follow the Imperial Road as far as the river, then swing east onto the Onnani Highway.
    â€œI think I’d rather face a horde of thralls,” Liam said in