Free Echoes by Christine Grey Page B

placed her hand on his arm and squeezed gently. “What would be gained if you were to come with us? We have to convince the king the threat is real. His distrust of the Breken will only serve to make you a liability to our mission.”
    She didn’t want to hurt him, but he needed to be realistic. She knew he would be at risk if he went with them. The king could easily order Darius killed—one less Breken meant one more threat eliminated.
    “I’m not leaving you.” He crossed his arms and stared down at her. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were balled into fists.
    Brin sighed, and Dearra knew they had been beaten. She would have to tie Darius up to ensure he remained behind. Rordan would untie him eventually, and then he would follow anyway.
    Dearra threw her hands up in defeat. Darius relaxed his stance and grinned at her.
    “Don’t be angry, Dearra,” he said, using the half smile he knew she couldn’t resist.
    “I’m not angry. Worried, maybe, but not angry.”
    He wrapped her in his arms and caressed the side of her face. “Don’t be worried, then. I can look out for myself. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
    She placed her head against his chest and breathed deeply. When would it be over? It felt like a lifetime since she had been just a girl. Where had those happy days gone?
    Darius lowered his face, and his lips met hers. Dearra felt his kiss, feather soft and hesitant. She ran her fingers through his hair. She heard him take a deep breath and hold it. She put both arms around his neck and leaned into his kiss, silently asking for more. She felt one of his hands as it traveled to the small of her back to press her tighter against him. Her pulse raced, and she felt a warmth spread through her.
    Darius deepened the kiss. He could feel her tremble under his touch, and he reminded himself to go slowly, cautiously. He did not wish to let down his guard too much, lest the Breken inside makes himself known, but there was no possibility he was walking away. He was feeling quite proud of his self-control when Dearra gently bit his bottom lip and pressed herself even tighter against him. His eyes opened wide, and he saw her grinning impishly up at him.
    Dearra enjoyed his startled reaction, and couldn’t resist. She issued a small, feminine growl. She placed both of her hands flat on his chest, and steered him toward her bed. She knew she wouldn’t be able to force him, but he seemed willing enough. He wrapped his arms around her just as he fell back onto the coverlet, and she landed on top of him. Their faces were only inches apart, and her grin slipped as she became lost in his eyes.
    Darius tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and she leaned her face against the palm of his hand and closed her eyes. She could feel him beneath her. He seemed frozen, unsure of himself. She opened her eyes and found his eyes still on hers, asking, questioning. She moved, trying to get closer so she could kiss him again, and he tensed beneath her.
    “Are you all right?” she asked when she saw his strained expression.
    “Join with me, Dearra. Marry me. We are meant to be together. I need you.”
    Dearra put her head against his chest and heard the frantic beating of his heart. “Darius, what about Brin?”
    Darius stroked her hair, but remained silent.
    “You know we can’t be joined, not really. Unless…unless you think we are ready to try the spell to release him.”
    No, Dearra!
    Dearra had long been expecting to hear just those words from Brin, but she thought they would have come during the kissing, not at the suggestion of his freedom.
    “Why, Brin? It’s what you want isn’t it? We can’t just go on like this forever, caught in-between.”
    Darius took a deep breath and let it out in a slow exhalation that spoke to his frustration more clearly than any words could have done. “Brin is right. It’s too dangerous. We don’t know what would happen…to any of us.”
    The thought of something happening