Free Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin Page B

sharing all her truths with him.
    With a swift prayer to the
Lady
, she leapt.
    “Varian, it’s what attracts me to you. Other than my brother, you’re the only person who sees me as Kymora. Not the
Temple Elect
, the
Lady’s
Handmaiden, or the blind priestess.
    “You might call me those names, but they don’t mean the same thing to you as they do to others.” Her mouth twisted into a rueful smile. “Do you realize how much of a blessing that is?”
    He didn’t respond to her humor. As the silence between them lengthened, the aching hollow deep in her gut gnawed at her courage like a scurrier consumed carrion. Ducking her head, she withdrew her fingers from his hair and curled them in her lap.
    Heat rushed to her cheeks and spread to the tips of her ears.
Merciful Mother
, had she just made a huge error in judgment?

Chapter 6
    “D O
you realize how much of a blessing that is?”
    Kymora’s bold declaration echoed in Varian’s mind. His breath caught. He should have expected it. She was every bit as forthright in her opinion as he tended to be; only she was much better at expressing herself than he was.
    He’d never heard anyone describe him the way she just had. Sure, his people acquiesced to his orders and most respected the decisions he made because they knew their survival depended upon it. As their leader, it was his duty to ensure their well-being. But Kymora had recognized the lengths to which he’d gone to keep his people safe, and she’d made his actions sound worthy of admiration and acknowledgment. Her words warmed him, and the novelty of the sensation made his heart pound.
    He licked his lips. Every instinct demanded he refute her words, deny her impression of him, deny that she could feel an attraction for him, deny he was a blessing to anyone, but he couldn’t ignore theraw, earthy odor emanating from her, the truth of her claim underscored by the knowledge that a person’s scent never lied.
    The prospect held him speechless for a long minute. He hated to admit just how deeply her belief in what she thought was the truth touched him. Calling her on a lie would have been so easy. He’d have cut her off without a qualm, but the scent lingering in his nostrils prevented him.
    Yet he couldn’t let go of the thought that she was attracted to him. Something buried deeply inside him stirred to cautious life. A shiver prickled his neck.
    He wanted to believe her.
    He
needed
to believe her.
    Instead, sourness flooded the back of his throat. He wished he could claim the man she described was him, but he knew better. She hadn’t felt the darkness inside him or seen the part of him he hated, and he prayed she never would.
    It still didn’t stop him wondering though what it would be like to kiss her. How many times had he fantasized about placing his lips on hers? Of holding her face in his hands and angling his mouth over hers and tasting her with his tongue? What would it feel like? Taste like?
    The images filling his mind exploded like a fireball and resurrected the erection he thought he had under control. Shuddering, he shifted away from her, hoping he’d relocated quickly enough.
    Kymora moved within his arms. A heady combination of soured fruit and crushed spices filled his nostrils. Her head dipped and her fingers fisted so tightly in her lap her knuckles whitened. His continued silence was hurting her.
    He grimaced, her scent effectively dampening some of his desire. Her honesty and courage were so much greater than his. It made what he was about to do more difficult. His hands curled into fists.
    “Your perspective of me is flawed.” He kept his voice flat and hard. “You know nothing about me or what I’m like.”
    Kymora might be worldly wise in her role as
Temple Elect—
she would have to be—but her experiences were so different from his. She had a gentle softness, an innocence he refused to spoil.
    “And you have no intention of enlightening me, do you?” Varian closed his eyes.