Free By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) by Amberlyn Holland Page B

pebbled ground, it would be a perfect morning.
    She exhaled a long sigh of contentment that cut off mid-breath.
    Her eyes popped open, scenes of the night before flashing through her mind.
    They'd made love. In the Circle.
    The Circle had allowed him to pass its boundaries.
    "Oh, no."
    She barely breathed the words, terrified of making any sound to disturb Wyn. She didn't want to deal with it now. Didn't want to think about what it meant.
    Didn't have time to.
    A glance at the rapidly rising sun reminded her that the valley waited for her to return. Waited for her to share any blessings or visions received the night before. Waiting for her to fulfill her responsibilities to her people.
    "Oh, no," she repeated, definitely not intending to share this.
    The pillow under head turned out to be her wadded up dress. With slow, careful movements, Lia stood up and shook out the fabric, trying to make as little noise as possible. Her nose scrunched at the fabric’s wrinkled condition.
    It was clean still, at least.
    As quietly as she could, Lia donned her dress then collected her shoes, basket, and cloak. Around her, the Circle still held a faint glow from the ritual the night before. Her own skin still carried an echo of its light, and would for hours, but she had never seen it hang in the air like this.
    She didn't have time, though, to wonder why. Tried not to think it might have had something to do with her and Wyn's joining. Despite her best effort, thoughts of the man had her casting a wary glance at the still sleeping Wyn. He sprawled out, naked, on the symbol-covered blanket. She pulled her lip between her teeth but decided she'd have to come back for the quilt later.
    No way was she touching him now. She still remembered the electric feel of skin on skin. The heat and the press and the need flaring hot between them.
    They had connected, burning and bright, both in body and soul. Yet, there was that dark spot when she had touched him. It may not be evil, but it was something she didn't understand. No matter how much she wanted to repeat the pleasure of the night before, the stakes were too high for her to gamble on it.
    If it had been just her own life, Lia might not worry about it. Might listen to that something deep inside telling her he was worth the risk. Asleep, the handsome face smoothed out and relaxed, making him look almost boyish. In a mouth-watering, want to crawl back on the blanket and do it all again kind of way.
    There was a multitude of reasons why that was a bad idea though. She needed to get out of there before she gave in or he woke. Before she proved Gui right and selfishly chose her own needs over the valley.
    The walk back passed too quickly. Her pulse continued to hammer out of control and Lia was no closer to sorting out her head or her heart. She had to face her people though. Every single one of them. She couldn't let any of her confusion show.
    Lia paused at the edge of the trees to wrap her cloak more tightly about her dress. She finger-combed her hair to get the worst of the leaves out before tying it back with a ribbon.
    She still looked disheveled, but it wasn't the first night she'd spent in the forest. Hopefully, no one would notice anything odd. No one would notice the way her life had changed in the blink of an eye.
    Raised chin and straightened shoulders gave her the illusion of confidence and she strode purposefully toward the front lawn where the valley waited for her.
    The familiar tingle welcomed her when she stepped over the invisible boundary Nel and the others had cast the night before. With a few whispered words she added her own essence to the protective magic.
    "Li'!"
    Tanis followed up the shout by wiggling out of Nel's hold and running full tilt for her aunt. Lia crouched down, scooping up the child, holding her close.
    This. This was the reminder she needed. This was why she couldn't let anyone know what had happened with Wyn in the Circle. Why she especially couldn't allow him