Free Warrior by Joanne Wadsworth

zipped it up. “You shouldn’t have moved from the cabin. It’s my job to keep you safe.”
    Encased in warmth all the way to my knees, I sucked in a deep breath. “I’m not a job.” I found the armholes from within my leather cocoon and shoved my hands through. The sleeves swamped me.
    “You feel like one.” He rolled one cuff to the wrist, and then the other. “Zac and Viv know who Faith is.”
    “I got that part.” While hauling my damp hair free of the collar, I found another small twig and flicked it to the ground. “You still didn’t have to search for me.”
    “I had no choice. You were missing when I returned. Anything could have happened.”
    “Like what?”
    “You could have drowned.”
    “Huh, with a father who has forewarning? That’s so unlikely as to be impossible.”
    He took the edges of my collar and brought us nose to nose. “Your father never warned you off me. So far, in my opinion, he’s not of the right mind.”
    “I think we both remember I have mind-merge, which is why we’re together. He’s not so dumb after all now, huh?”
    Viv laughed. “Oh, she’s good. She has a bite to her tongue. Faith will like her.”
    “Will those two truly keep our secret? I don’t trust protectors.”
    “They are loyal, without a doubt.”
    Zac cleared his throat. “I will accept your presence because you are his mate. That is the only reason.”
    Viv jumped to the ground and crossed to me. “Silas told us of your ability to mind-merge. We understand a little of your skill because Faith holds it.”
    Zac groaned, rather loudly. “I can’t believe we have to deal with two Wincrests now. What did we do to deserve this?”
    “Excuse Zac,” Viv said to me. “My mate is barely used to Faith. It will take him some time to adapt to you as well.”
    “No one needs to get used to me. I am a Wincrest, after all.”
    Silas caught me around the waist, and drew me toward his horse. “Let’s get you back.” He caged me between the animal and him then bent to my ear. “Merge your mind with mine.”
    Merging, I sank deep into my space, finding more comfort than I could have imagined. It was bliss in his mind. “I like swimming. The water calls to me.”
    “I see you’re fascinated by it.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead as he reached past me and grabbed his horse’s reins. “Let’s return to the castle rather than the cabin. Faith was there last night but left for school this morning, so all is clear.” He swung up into his saddle and offered his hand.
    I put my hand in his and he drew me up in front of him. The breeze stirred my drying hair, and I raised my face to the sunshine streaming through the broken layer of clouds. “This is a lovely spot.”
    Arms wrapped around me, he held the reins. “It’s one of my favorite places.” He called to Zac and Viv. “My mate needs to warm up. We’ll meet you at the castle.” He nudged the horse’s flanks and snapped the reins. We were off, heading across the grassy green field dotted with tiny yellow flowers.
    The cattle bawled as we skirted in and around them.
    Sinking deeper into his mind, I smiled as the wind rushed at me. “Alexo and Goldie came to the river.”
    “You were in trouble then?” His question was demanding, his voice raspy.
    “No, not in the way you mean.” Turning, I glanced at him. “Alexo fully explained what happened at the time of my birth. His words reassured me and gave me a deeper understanding of what he went through, of why he still needs more time before speaking to my mother.”
    Silas pushed me down in the saddle then wrapped his arms around me and the horse’s neck. “I see. Speak to me after I ’port us back. You don’t fast-heal and I won’t have you getting a cold.”
    He made the leap, galloping smoothly from one grassy meadow to another, the blast of added speed from the horse making my pulse jump. “I love that. I wish I could ’port.”
    The castle loomed high on the hill, puffy cotton-ball