Free Queen's Heart: An Arthurian Paranormal Romance (Arthurian Hearts Book 2) by Phoenix Sullivan Page A

share.”
    Her brow furrowed in disappointment and my heart winced. “Not even for a kiss?”
    “Will my Lady trust me?” I asked.
    She didn’t hesitate. “With my life.”
    And yet it was her heart that I desired. “Beyond the north hill there’s a small glen filled with bluebells and shamrocks. Stand in the glen at dusk, just after sunset, and look to the east. If what you see pleases you as much as any tale, then perhaps I can still claim a kiss from your most perfect lips.”
    She blushed at the flattery, but pretty words didn’t ease her concern. “Am I to go alone with a camp full of strangers between here and there?”
    “Bring who you will, armed as you will. Save for arrows. No bows. It is not a hunt.”
    “You know this hound?”
    “I do.”
    “Then it is a dog. Some hunter’s stray.”
    “It would be insulted by that claim. No. It is, however, neither demon nor angel. It is simply fae.”
    “But how—? Do you command it?”
    I chose my words carefully. “Fae are not commanded by men.”
    Tris snorted. “I suggest we leave the questions till after we’ve seen this miracle for ourselves.”
    I bowed my head to Tris’ skepticism. Inwardly, though, I smiled. Tris was clearly both annoyed and worried by my claim. And well he should be. Whatever the tourney held and who might win there, this victory would be mine.
    “I know where it lairs. It will take me about an hour to call it and then return on foot. We can meet here again after. “
    I would need time, too, to move Calannog to the stables so he’d be there when Tris and I both rode out for our final practice bouts. Otherwise, I had little fear of discovery. Few men would ever guess the hound took their form. And fewer still would ever see it.
    “You’re competing tomorrow, aren’t you?”
    I had almost forgotten Brangien was there. I wasn’t ignorant of the adoration in her eyes, and it made me uncomfortable enough I chose to avoid looking at her as much as possible. She was a pretty enough woman and easy company. Save for that intensity that seemed to grip her every time we came together, I would have enjoyed being with her. As it was…
    “Lances tomorrow, swords Friday and melees on Saturday,” I said. None here yet knew Tris would be competing too. For now, that gave me yet another edge in Yseult’s eyes.
    Only that edge wasn’t what occupied her thoughts right now. “Mass on Sunday,” she added. “And I leave on Monday. Monday! Drustan, please, sing something long and with a happy ending. Do the impossible. Give me hope where there’s none to be had.”
    Her plea battered at my own breaking heart. Hope where there was none to be had was what I needed too. I couldn’t give her hope, but I could give her a few minutes of wonderment and a glimpse at the impossible.
    I excused myself to go prepare.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

YSEULT
    Throughout the afternoon I found myself alternately cursing Des and thanking him. Before, I couldn’t bear how swiftly the time was passing, each minute gone that much closer to my leaving. Now I wished the day would sprint ahead to evenfall.
    “Then you believe him too, my Lady?” Brangien asked. There was of course no doubt in her. Were faith and infatuation always so inextricably linked?
    And if I didn’t have her faith must that mean I did not truly love? “He’s made me want to believe him, and for now that’s enough.”
    Or so I thought, though perhaps not Drustan. He seemed disdainful of Des’ promise. “Are you and he not friends?” I asked. “Have you reason to doubt?”
    He looked at me in a most curious way, with hooded eyes that spoke of secrets and untold truths. “We are friends with even more reasons to not be friends. He makes me want to doubt him.”
    He didn’t elaborate but instead left me unsatisfied and exasperated. Picking up my mood, he mumbled “My pardon” in a most contrite way, struck up his harp and launched into a song to cheer me.
    Later I sent Brangien to my