Free Warrior by Joanne Wadsworth Page A

clouds breezing overtop a massive, gray, stone wall. Loveria Castle spread over several acres, and Silas urged his horse toward the northern end, where a twin-towered gatehouse stood three-stories high.
    Underneath the curved archway we rode, and into an inner courtyard. He slowed as we neared a tidy run of stone stables. Zac and Viv rode in beside us, having also ’ported.
    Silas eased back and slid from the saddle as he brought his horse to a halt. He passed the reins to a young stable hand and thanked him. “The gravel is sharp and you’re not wearing any footwear. I’ll help you down.”
    “I can handle it.”
    “Don’t argue.” He lifted me off.
    “I like arguing.” I tapped his nose.
    “Silas,” Zac called out. “Viv and I are heading to the arena for training. We’ll catch up with you later.”
    “Sure thing.” Silas waved to them as he led me to a side entrance. To me, he said, “Don’t speak to anyone I don’t authorize you to, particularly the sentry guards.”
    Stationed at the base of the stone steps to the castle, a protector stood, military-still. His dark hair was clipped close to his scalp and a scrolled engraving of the letter P was tattooed down the side of his neck, the tail end of the letter disappearing beneath the neckline of his vested white shirt. Over both biceps, throwing knives were strapped, and poking from his right boot a polished dagger gleamed. He nodded at Silas as he guided me inside.
    “Why not ’port us?”
    “I want you to know the way in and out since you can’t.”
    We continued down a long passageway with textured silvery-white walls, the ceiling twelve feet high with silver filaments inlaid into the plaster corner scrolls.
    I wanted to stop and admire the stunning landscapes gracing the walls every ten feet, but Silas pressed forward. “There isn’t time.”
    “Why not?”
    “The guards have pin-prick hearing, and I need to warn Carlisio I’ve claimed my mate.”
    “Hold on. Claimed? When did this happen in our non-relationship?”
    “I have no choice. You have mind-merge and your welfare is my responsibility. Your sister is equally as dependent on Davio.”
    Never had the thought of being bound to Silas annoyed me more than at this moment. I let out a loud sigh. “I’m not anyone’s responsibility, let alone yours.”
    “Yes, you are. I see it more clearly now.” He snagged my arm as we reached a set of gray marble stairs with a smooth banister curving upward. “My rooms are on the second floor of the north terrace.”
    “Tell me more about Faith?” I asked since he’d brought her dependency on Loveria up.
    “She’s a rebel.”
    I ran to keep up. “A rebel is one I can respect.”
    “Spoken like another rebel.”
    I stopped, right in the center of the passageway where white roses bloomed in a vase. “You’re angry? You can’t tell me it’s only because I went for a swim.”
    He turned on his heel, staring at me. “Down a fast-moving river. After a storm. With you on enemy soil.”
    “So. So. And so?” I crossed my arms.
    “I didn’t expect to be so worried about you. The feelings have come quickly.”
    He ushered me backward into an alcove with a life-sized statue of a fearsome looking protector. Chiseled from smooth green stone, holding a battle-axe in one hand and a sword in the other, it looked as intimidating as Silas now did.
    “That’s the way of the bond.” I poked him in the chest. “Argh, how are we supposed to make this work? If you ever turn up at Wincrest Station, a warrior is bound to take your head off. No one will ask why you’re there. You can’t just say you’ve claimed me. We need to talk about it.”
    He leaned in, pushing me against the statue’s cold stone. “We are mated. I cannot turn away from you any more than you can turn from me.”
    Pressing a hand to his chest, I held him at bay. “What woman would you wish for, if you could choose exactly who she was?”
    His gaze searched mine, and an image of