Free Raife: An Aquadomina Novel by Stormy McKnight

Chosen
working in the dirt, seeming to enjoy herself getting muddy and learning about
the plant life from Patell. At night, she would sit in the seats looking out
over the grounds. She had attempted to talk with him and the other guards at
various points, but they had hurried away with duties. It was for the best not
to get too close to her. He had studied her and tried to figure her out for
days with no success. She was openly friendly. Very curious about Aquadomina
and its people. Highly intelligent and educated if he was reading her correctly.
He laughed softly to himself, and she loved Aquarian food. She was seen raiding
the kitchens or asking Maureen about the food multiples times a day. After the
women he was used to on Aquarian it was nice to see someone appreciate the
bounty of food they had. Raife didn’t wonder at his fascination with The
Chosen. If he could learn about her personality and quirks, he would be able to
perform his duties better.
    When she let out a heavy sigh, his gaze intensified. Was The Chosen
unhappy this morning? He would have to pay closer attention. Maybe she had
words with Debb again. The only time he saw her composure slip was when she had
interaction with that woman. He didn’t blame her Debb put everyone on edge. If
she hadn’t been from a prominent family, she never would have made it as far as
being the assistant to The Chosen. Her personality didn’t mix with being a
subordinate to others. The Chosen however seemed to be a match for her and it
wasn’t often that Debb was thrown off kilter.
    “So, you are Garritt?” He snapped out of his musings to see The Chosen
address his friend with that question. When Garritt looked to him for
direction, he nodded his head to answer.
    “Yes. I am Garritt.” His friend tried to salute and bow in his chair, but
was belted in and could only hang there in his seat.
    The Chosen laughed a sweet sound that echoed around the Aquavi. “I know
if I tell you that you don’t have to salute and bow, I will just get overridden
by Raife.” She cast him a teasing smile and he stilled in his seat. “I
appreciate that you tried.” She had turned her chair and her full attention was
on Garritt. “So, tell me about yourself Garritt. Do you have family in
Aquarian? A wife? Children?”
    His friend swallowed hard and wiped his hands nervously on his legs. “No.
I have no family in Aquarian. As a guard to The Chosen I am unable to take a
wife or have children.”
    That got her attention and Raife could sense the displeasure radiating
off the small female. He was not surprised when she bit out, “You have to
remain single as long as you guard me?” She strained to look at the others and
then her gaze fell on him. Why did she have to have such enthralling green
eyes? He wanted to tell her everything, and that was dangerous. With a slight
nod of his head, he indicated that what Garritt had said was true. The Chosen
turned back to his friend.
    “What happens if you fall in love?” She asked him, “Can you leave my
service to be with someone then?”
    Garritt looked helplessly at The Chosen, “Love? I am unfamiliar with this
term.”
    The Chosen sat taller in her seat, “You don’t know what love is?” She was
going to get a pain in her neck if she kept looking around at his guard that
way. The others, Ramsey, Willem and Connor had all turned their seats and were
engrossed in her conversation with Garritt. He didn’t blame them, they were all
curious as to what the new Chosen was like.
    “I’m sorry Chosen, I don’t.” Garritt looked like he wanted to die right
there in the vehicle for admitting a failure.
    The Chosen smiled, “Love is when you are attracted to a person and want
to be around them all the time. You have a strong desire to live your life with
them, have a family and grow old together.” Raife was astonished when The
Chosen’s face got soft and her eyes glowed. When she wet her lips, his eyes
flew to her mouth. “To be apart is