Read A Warrior's Quest for Free Online Page A

bigger, stronger arms. You’ll always have to watch that. Because rarely will you be bigger than your opponent.”
    They battled for several moments, neither of them tiring. He barely noticed when Kindara and Danae slipped away. Once the sparring was over he bowed to her again. She was the only female he had ever sparred with, and she ’d once again impressed him with her skill. But she had also concerned him. “You favor your injury now. Whereas before you had no weakness, save for your small size.”
    They ’d fought a true battle once before, ending with him running his sword through her flesh. He had regretted his haste many a nights since. When all was quiet, and he was thinking before he slept. He would see her face, her fear as she fell to the ground before him. The look of shock and—to him, surprising betrayal. He had been angry, and she and her party had been strangers in his land. He had acted too rashly, and had nearly killed her.
    This beautiful warrior girl could have been lost because of him. He’d never forget how he had felt seeing her so weak, so close to death. Would never forget holding her as Kindara had sewn her flesh back together. Nor would he forget the feel of her lips on his neck as she pulled the blood from his body, taking from him what she had needed to survive. He had never fed one of her Kind before, and it was a sensation he would never forget. His blood flowed in her now, if just a small bit.
    “I am not exactly small. I am taller than average for my Kind, you know.”
    “But small for the demon world, pet.” He wanted to touch her again, so he did. He wrapped his hand around the pale flesh of her arm—so soft and light compared to him. When not purple or other colors, he was far darker than this little creature by several shades. In skin, and in soul. Cerridwen squealed to be picked up—not by him, but by the warrior girl she adored. She scooped his spawn up and carried Cerridwen on her hip as if it was the most natural placement for the child in the world. Like his little Cerri belonged there. Her own mother had shown her less affection than this bloodsucker did. He pulled them both closer as they walked into his brother’s castle for the evening meal.
    She smelled good, this little foreigner to his world. Why had he not noticed earlier?  
    He half thought about renewing his offer of consort, but he ’d offered once—more than once—and been turned away. He would take no more rejection from her, no matter how he admired her fighting form.
    Cerridwen was chattering at the poor woman, but she did not seem to mind. Seemed so natural with the child. Why had she chosen a warrior ’s path instead of working with children? She was made to be a mother. She should have found a mate decades ago and made her own spawn. She would be perfect in that role.
     

Chapter Ten
    Aureliana didn ’t mind the little child in her arms, the chatter sweet and innocent. Perfect, in a world of realms so far from perfect it terrified her. Teaching a child not yet old enough to read to defend herself with a sword was something she hated having to face. But what options were there? The child would face threats her entire life, shouldn’t she learn to protect herself? But she’d also understood her Rajni ’s grief that it was necessary. He hadn’t hid how he felt from her. Not by a long shot. Or maybe it was just that she was that perceptive where her Rajni was concerned?
    Her hand stroked the silky black curls and she held the child just a bit tighter, reminded of how she would carry Jierra—and even Bronwen—close when they were just this girl ’s size.
    Now look at them. Jierra was a mother now, and fast becoming the right hand of the goddess. She was happy with her Rajni and her children. But Bronwen…Bronie worried her. She was but a shell of the girl she had been just eight months ago. She barely left her suite, barely seemed to eat, barely spoke. Something had to be done about her, and