Free The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) by Elizabeth Rose

my ability to speak to the earth and the animals and make requests to them. They are more than happy to oblige.”
    “Nay. No more. You are not to speak to them or ask them to do anything again. ’Tis not right.”
    “How so?” She crossed her arms over her chest, watching him pace the floor again like a caged animal, as she waited for his answer.
    “I commanded you to do the tasks, no one else.”
    “And no one else helped.”
    “That’s not true. You commanded the – the – nature – to help you out.”
    “I commanded not. I simply asked. If you would try it once in awhile you would see how willing nature is to accommodate your needs. You really don’t need to struggle nor fight it.”
    He looked over to the milk cows and then back to her. “I don’t fight nature – only man.”
    “Then mayhap you should change that too.”
    “Dammit, woman, I am a warrior, and that’s what I do.”
    “And I am an elemental. This is what I do.” She held out an arm and motioned toward the milk pails.
    “I don’t want you working in the village anymore. I can’t have you doing magick in front of my people. They are already starting to talk.”
    “If I am commanded to stop working with the earth, then I shall die. And if I am dead, you would lose your bull’s replacement. I would stop working in the village if you so desire, but at least allow me to tend the orchard and gardens within the castle walls.”
    “I have no gardens,” he relayed . “Just dirt and stone.”
    “Then allow me to create some for you. I think you suffer from not having a lady to see to the castle’s grounds and beauty.”
    “I have no desire for a lady, a garden, nor beautiful grounds. I have my practice yard, that’s all I need. And as you’ve already seen, I have my crops in the fields, so by right, I do have a garden.”
    “Not that kind of garden, but rathe r one for roses and wildflowers. I can plant herbs that you can eat or use for healing.”
    “ Fine,” he agreed, sounding as if he only did it to shut her up. “You may spend two hours in the morning to attend to your so-called beauty, and two hours in the evening as well. But the rest of the time, I expect you to accompany me everywhere I go. Now finish up here and meet me at once in the practice field, for that is where I am now headed.”
    “Practice field?” she asked. “And what is it I would be practicing there, my lord?”
    “Nothing,” he said, heading for the door. “When you are with me, I want you doing nothing at all. Just sit there and watch me use my weapons, and try to stay out of trouble.”
    “Stay out of trouble?” she asked to herself as he left her in the barn and headed to his horse. “Nay, my warrior lord, ” she whispered when he was out of earshot. “I think not. But mayhap you should be the one to worry about staying out of trouble.”
     
    * * *
     
    Wolfe was in the middle of a heated sword practice with Sir Braden when he noticed Rae and the old healer, Juturna take a seat in the lists to watch them. The fae girl wasn’t hard to miss with that flaming pink hair and painted face. He was starting to wonder if the hair color was permanent just as she’d told him about the painting on her skin. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to either, though something about it oddly excited him because of the fact that it was so different.
    Well, good, he thought, pleased that she’d followed his orders and come to watch him practice. Now he would show her just who he was and what he did, demonstrating his skills that made him Duke the Destroyer .
    “Is that a ll you’ve got today, Sir Braden?” he remarked, swords scraping together as they met in clashing blows. He noticed Rae watching him and picked up the pace, striking harder than he really should while in a practice session.
    “Egads, Lord Wolf e, you are attacking as if I’m the enemy. What has gotten into you today?”
    “If you are to be my captain of the guard, you need to be able