Free Knight Awakened by Coreene Callahan

and lured. So different from her mother, from the force and drag of her keen temper and vicious ways.
    The memory slapped.
    Afina flinched inside, fighting to hold the awfulness at bay. But like the rising sun, the blinding light came, reminding her of her time in the Order and the terrible expectations that had ground her into dust. She was not so different from Qabil, knew the cost of clawing her way back to the surface after being dragged under.
    That her mother had been responsible for her drowning—the one person Afina should have been able to trust not to hurt her—was unbearable. Forcing one foot in front of the other, she crossed the dell, fighting through the ice coating her insides. She would never do that to Sabine, would never hold her in so little regard. A mother nurtured, protected, stood firm for her child. ’Twas another truth her sister had taught her. The lesson was deep and abiding, even though Afina knew she would never measure up.
    She stood flawed, a poor imitation of Bianca: an abysmal substitute for Sabine, for their situation and for the man who believed she held a healer’s skills.
    She should be here. Bianca, not me. Never me.
    An ache took root at the base of her skull, the loss so heavy Afina struggled to carry it. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, least of all Xavian. He was too astute for her to hide her restless urges and wounded spirit. What would he do when he learned of her lie? How could she prevent him from discovering her secrets?
    Answers escaped her as she came to the point of no return. She couldn’t turn tail and run now. Xavian had spotted her, and now that he had, pride wouldn’t let her retreat.
    Black birds with red-tipped wings swooped overhead, flitting from branch to branch. Afina followed their progress, letting their cheerful song lead the way to the man seated on the moss-covered log.
    Xavian’s gaze swept her face. “What troubles you,
draga
?”
    Searing pain struck, arcing across her chest. The need to blurt the truth warred with common sense. She wanted to tell him so badly. But the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t allow it and hope to survive. No soul baring would happen here. No communion of heart and mind. Instead she dropped her bag at his feet, and between one breath and the next? Turned the tide, easing into a stream of questions designed to unearth his motives. For her and Sabine. All the true reasons behind their kidnapping.
    “What did you do to that boy?”
    “Qabil?” His tone was quiet yet somehow deafening at the same time. It took up all the space inside her head and...Hmm, she loved his voice. The deep timbre never failed to warm her. If only...
    Afina cut the thought off at the knees. “If onlys” weren’t permitted today—or any other day for that matter. Scrambling to control her reaction to him, she took refuge in irritation and glared at him.
    His lips twitched. “Naught.”
    “Am I the only one to be honest here?” she asked, plunking her hands on her hips. “He is afraid.”
    “He told you that?”
    “No, but a blind man could see—”
    “’Twill take time for him to feel safe, Afina. He has been with me but weeks.” Holding her gaze, he studied her, something intangible—something gentle—thawing the ice chips in his eyes. ’Twas like being caressed; a nonphysical touch that stroked her in places she’d never been touched before.
    “Oh, I...” She paused as the urge to touch him in return shimmered through her, sending a silent call. Her body rippled, begging her to answer, to curl into his warmth and let him melt the ice encasing her heart. “What happened to him?”
    “You’ve no wish to know.”
    Yes, she did. “Has he no family?”
    “His family sold him to the highest bidder...into hell,” he said, his voice so low she barely heard him. But she didn’t need the words to see his anger. He gripped the hilt of his blade so tight, his knuckles turned white. “Calm your healer’s heart, Afina. He will