Free Force of Knight Magic by Kathi S. Barton Page B

without any ill effects. Holly stood and came toward him.
    “This is what she meant when Anye told me that we were well suited.” She ran her fingers down his arm and he could feel it. “She said with my abilities to track and yours to keep me safe , we were an unstoppable team.”
    He pulled back on the armor that surrounded his face and looked at her. Holly wasn’t at all upset, she didn’t even seem to mind that he could change into something that she should have feared. When she touched him again he shivered in anticipation.
    Holly grinned and then stepped back from him. “What else can you do , big boy? Do you have anything else that can make you worthy of being my mate?”
    “I can do all sorts of things , love. Most of which I’m pretty sure I don’t want to show you in front of your family.” He grinned when he heard her brother ’ s growl. “Come here , Holly. I need to see what the armor does to you when you touch me.”
    He thought she’d shy away. He should have known better. She was nothing if not the bravest woman he knew. When she touched him again, this time running her entire hand down his arms then his chest , he felt her every touch. She looked at him when he said her name.
    “It doesn’t seem to bother me. Is it really silver or something…I don’t know , something someone made to replicate silver ? ” Holly stepped back when her brother Connor stepped forward.
    “Let me try. Maybe it’s a mate thing.” Before he could touch the armor, there was a glimmer then a woman was standing before them. “What the hell? Who the hell are you and how did you get past my guard?”
    “I’m with him,” Anye said with a frown. “And don’t touch him. It will mean your certain death.”
    Phil noticed that she didn’t touch him either and started to ask about Holly and if she would now die from touching him. Phil was suddenly afraid of losing her. He shifted and pulled her into his arms as Anye spoke to the room in general.
    “She can touch him because she is his mate. Any other person, foe or friend , will die and die a horrible , slow death.” Connor stepped back and put his hands behind him as Anye turned to him. “You should have been told that when you were given this gift.”
    “He wasn’t given anything. This is something that he’s had all his life.” Phil smiled at his dad , who was quick to jump to his defense. “You’ll keep a civil tongue in your head , Annie , else I ’ll take a switch to your hide. You know I will too.”
    Anye looked ready to say something but Hope, his mother , simply took a step forward. Few people knew how powerful she was and fewer still lived to tell about it. Anye took a step back and bowed before her.
    “I ask your forgiveness , my lady. I was sent here to find out what had been decided with the rogue , not to cause a problem between myself and the Campbell family.” This time when she spoke Anye sounded like she was there to help and not to accuse. Phil was glad. He’d hate to have to explain to anyone why the head councilwoman was suddenly incinerated.
    “See that you keep a tone befitting his title.” Phil flushed at his mom’s words. “What news do you have of this person? And what can we do to help get her under control?”
    Anye looked confused and Phil decided to help her out. His mother , for all her toughness , didn’t like to use certain words when dealing with people. “She knows that she is going to be killed. To her , that’s getting her under control.”
    “Oh. We know that she is in the area. As is the man you told us of at the meeting.” Holly snorted and it was all Phil could do not to laugh at Anye’s face. “I have brought you what we have on the other killings.”
    Phil took the file and read it over before handing it to Austin. He looked at it a sheet at a time and handed those to Phil’s father. The two of them seemed to be making some notes on what was there. But he was still confused about the holes that were