Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,30

the heck out of him on another. Witless, my ass.

"Princess Ilaria," Luciar exclaimed softly, his eyes lighting with what appeared to be genuine pleasure. He bowed low, as did his companion. "How did you ever get free?" he asked, rising again to a height comparable with Harrison's own.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harrison watched Ilaria's expression turn regal and cool. Wary.

Good girl.

"The gates opened," she said simply, allowing the pair to think what they would.

"Sweet Esria, I'm glad you're free," Sanderis exclaimed. "King Rith..." He shook his head, as if that said it all.

Along his wrist, Harrison felt Ilaria's fingers spasm. With relief that these men were loyal to her? Dismay that she'd seen through them? Or regret that she was about to turn them on the human at her side? No. Not the last. She wouldn't betray him.

Still, he wished to hell he knew what was going on in her head because this homecoming wasn't going down as he'd expected. The guards weren't prostrating themselves for their rightful queen, or greeting her with warm hugs. Nor were they grabbing her in order to drag her to King Rith.

By the tension in Ilaria's hand and the coolness of her tone, he suspected she couldn't tell what their game was any better than he could.

"We cannot allow King Rith to find you, Princess," Luciar said. "He'll never allow you to return to Esria."

"He'll not risk you stealing his throne," the other agreed.

Ilaria's chin lifted ever so slightly. "Rith is a Caller." The words sounded as both accusation and command.

Sanderis's eyes narrowed, his brows lowering as if dismayed. "Why would you say that?"

"How can you doubt it?" Ilaria snapped. "All you have to do is look around you. This is Rith's doing."

Luciar had turned away before Harrison caught his reaction, but now he turned back with an expression of remorse. "I've suspected he was a Caller for a while, but never had proof."

Ilaria eyed him sharply. "How many of the stones are in his possession?"

"Three."

"Can you imagine what will happen if he gets his hands on all seven?"

Excitement flared in Luciar's eyes for a split second before he dampened it, but not before Harrison saw. The thought of even greater destruction excited the bastard. Which meant he was no friend to Ilaria.

"We'll have to confront him, Princess," Luciar said with a gravity that proved him a fine actor. "We've a safe place to hide you where he won't find you. Leave your human here. You won't need him."

Don't trust him, Ilaria. If only it was his hand on her wrist, he might be able to warn her.

Sanderis's gaze slid to Luciar, then down to his own feet. Sanderis knew what Luciar was up to. Harrison's muscles tensed. Ilaria's fingers clenched around his wrist, but whether in response to his tension or to Luciar's words, he couldn't tell.

"I want my draggon stone, Luciar." A queen commanding her subjects.

Luciar dipped his head in acknowledgement. "You'll have them all, Princess. My queen," he amended, his voice so rich with sincerity that Harrison's conviction that he'd seen subterfuge wavered. "Now, let's get you hidden before King Rith comes upon us."

But as Luciar spoke, he slipped Sanderis a look that had every muscle in Harrison's body going rigid. He'd spent too many years across the negotiating table to not recognize silent communication passing between the pair. A communication that boded ill.

She wasn't going anywhere with these two. He'd take a death mark before he'd allow it.

But as Luciar reached for her, Ilaria stepped back, pulling Harrison with her. "I'm safer on my own, Luciar, and we both know it."

Luciar's eyes turned hard. "I must insist you come with us, Princess. We are most concerned with your safety."

"Are you?" Ilaria asked coolly. "Who were the traitors who turned on my mother, your queen, Luciar?"

The Esri's mouth flattened. Again, he flicked his gaze toward Sanderis. Harrison tensed, unsurprised when a second later they lunged.

Sanderis flattened his palm against Harrison's shoulder as if to push him away, but Harrison grabbed the Esri's arm, using the man's momentum to flip him. As Sanderis sprawled on the sidewalk, Harrison turned to Luciar. But his plan to tackle him was dashed when the Esri pulled a wicked-looking knife.

Ilaria glided between them, her back to Harrison as if to protect him. But even as she moved, Sanderis leaped to his feet, a knife in his hands, too. The Esri were definitely learning how to dispatch Sitheen. Enchantment might not work, but good