Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,40

princess now?"

"I don't think so, but he can definitely track the stone."

"Should we be calling you the queen now?" Charlie asked.

Ilaria shook her head. "No. Though he seized his power by foul means, Rith rules Esria. The people and the land know I'm the one who should be queen, but Rith still wears the crown. And as long as he does, I remain only a princess."

Kade turned and knelt on one knee before her.

For one uncomfortable moment, Harrison remembered the way the big man had gone up in flame the last time he was touched by one of his own. But Ilaria wouldn't hurt him. He believed that.

"I honor you, my queen," Kade said. "And recognize you as the true sovereign of Esria. However, my fealty belongs to the humans and their cause."

"Thank you, Kaderil. I don't ask for your fealty. It's enough that you fight to stop Rith."

"Will you forgive the death mark upon me?"

"Why do you have it?" Her words were perfunctory, a necessary question rather than a true demand.

"Zander, another of Rith's guards, attempted to kill me and the woman I loved. I killed him first."

Ilaria paused only a moment, as if testing the truth of his words, then with a small nod, stepped forward and lifted her hand.

Around him, the others tensed, but none interfered. If Kade hadn't trusted her, he wouldn't have knelt within Ilaria's reach. And Kade, more than any of them, knew the risk.

Harrison alone watched her calmly. He knew she wouldn't hurt his friends. He knew her inside out, he realized, and the last of his wariness dropped away, a thick warmth rushing in to take its place.

Ilaria placed her palm on top of Kade's dark head and closed her eyes. Like before, Harrison felt the power as she called it, though not as strongly as the first time. It raced along the surface of his skin, a flood of energy and pleasure.

He glanced at Charlie. "Do you feel that?"

His brother looked at him quizzically. "Feel what?"

Harrison shook his head. "Nothing." Glancing from Jack to Larsen, he could tell neither of them knew what he was talking about, either.

Less than a minute later, Ilaria lifted her hand, her eyes somber. "It's done."

"Thank you, Princess." Kade stood and backed away.

For a moment, no one moved, then Charlie stepped forward and knelt before her as Kade had. Harrison watched with a calmness he wouldn't have believed possible even a few hours ago.

Ilaria placed her hand on Charlie's head, her pale lashes sweeping down over flawless ivory cheeks. Once more, he felt the energy, and then it was gone. As Charlie rose and stepped back, Ilaria turned to Harrison, a smile lighting her eyes. Not a smile of mischief, but of thanks. For trusting her.

He nodded, feeling his own eyes crinkle. For so long all he'd wanted was the Esri gone and his world back to normal. Now...the thought of Ilaria disappearing from his life for good made his chest ache. He barely knew her, and had always known her. He'd been waiting for her all his life.

Longing fisted in his chest. His fingers itched to feel the springiness of her soft, ivory curls, to touch her cheek, her lips. To slide down her silken neck and brush the gown from her shoulders, baring her naked breasts to his seeking, desperate hands.

Hell, he was nearly out of control with this need for a woman he had no business wanting. If he were smart, he'd let one of the others guard her now that they were all about to be free of their death marks, then he'd put a healthy bit of distance between them. Maybe then he'd be able to clear his head and regain some much-needed perspective.

When Ilaria was finished forgiving Larsen's and Jack's death marks, the cop held out his hand, palm up. "Thank you, Princess. I'll need the draggon stone back, now."

Ilaria tensed, slowly turning to stone.

Harrison felt his hackles rise in a rush of fierce protectiveness. With bitter control, he slammed that protectiveness to the ground. Jack was only doing what he had to. It didn't matter that Ilaria resented it. And she clearly disapproved.

She lifted her chin, her manner regal. Haughty. "The draggon stone is mine. It stays with me."

Tension rippled through the group. Harrison took a step toward her as the stone's power whispered through him, telling him with a certainty he didn't doubt that the stone was hers. It should never be parted from her. Yet even as