Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,41

his instincts told him she needed to keep it, logic told him otherwise. Keeping the draggon stone would only make her a target. Rith might not be able to wield the full power of the draggon stone, but he was a stone scenter. All Callers were. And the draggon's magical scent would lead him right to Ilaria.

"Princess." Jack's tone held a sharp note of warning, which only served to ignite her temper.

Ilaria slammed her fists onto her hips. "Enough of this foolishness! These stones are Esri, left here by me to keep them out of Rith's hands. Now he's found them and I'm taking them back until he can be stopped." She scowled at the lot of them. "You clearly can't keep them safe."

Jack's expression hardened, as did the others'. Harrison took another protective step toward her.

Ilaria glanced at him, her eyes sharp and determined, before turning back. "This time, I will protect them."

"How?" Charlie asked, the word a question wrapped in steel.

Her chin lifted a fraction higher. "I am the rightful queen of Esria."

Jack looked to Kade.

The big Esri shrugged. "It is said no one can take the draggon stone from the queen unless she wills it, but I've never heard that of the other stones."

Jack turned back to Ilaria and lifted an eyebrow.

"The stones are mine, human. You lost three to Rith. None of us can afford for you to lose the rest of them."

It was clear she didn't have an answer that would satisfy them. It was equally clear, they were at a standoff if they couldn't take the draggon stone from her by force.

"Every second that stone stays unprotected, King Rith draws closer," Charlie said quietly.

Jack held out his hand, his eyes hard as flint. "Give me the draggon stone, Princess."

"Do you have any idea what will happen if Rith gets all of the stones?" she asked, her voice as hard as it was stark.

"We've some idea." Jack lifted the flamethrower to rest against his shoulder, pointed at the sky.

Harrison saw the shudder go through Ilaria and knew she understood the implied threat. But she didn't back down. His admiration for her grew even as his concern propelled him forward.

"Ilaria." He moved between her and Jack, facing her. Cupping her shoulders, electricity arced between them, though whether echoes of her power or pure desire, he didn't know. Heaven help him, he felt the desire like a rush of heat.

Struggling against the pull of her, he concentrated on what he had to say, what he had to know. "Does the draggon stone give you strength you didn't have, the power to protect yourself from Rith and his minions?"

Her jaw tightened, but she shook her head. "I don't think so, no. The queen's power has always been more of a nourishing nature than militaristic. Through the draggon stone, the land is renewed and flourishes. As do the people."

Harrison's hands tightened on her shoulders. "Then listen to me. That pair, Luciar and Sanderis, would have captured you earlier. If I hadn't been there, it would be King Rith you'd be facing right now, not us. If you insist on keeping the draggon stone, there will be nowhere you can hide. He'll find you, you know that."

"Then I'll help act as the bait."

His grip on her tightened. "No. I won't let you risk your life like that. You're too important." To me.

The thought shook him and he shoved it away. It wasn't like she'd ever stay here. She had a world to rule, and it wasn't his.

"Work with us, Ilaria." His hands softened, caressing her tense shoulders. "We'll catch him, but we have to keep you safe. The only way to do that is to separate you from the stones until we stop him."

He read clearly in her eyes the battle waging inside her. At least she hadn't responded with another unequivocal no.

Larsen's clear voice filled the pregnant silence. "If we're having this much trouble getting the draggon stone away from her now, why do we think she'll seal the gates and leave it behind?"

No one answered. No one had an answer.

Ilaria's gaze tore loose of his and dropped. For long seconds, she was silent, staring at the ground, her body as tense as steel cable. Beneath his hands he felt her shoulders rise on a bitter sigh, then fall with the draining of the tension. Finally, her pale lashes swept up again, her eyes filled with a desperate determination that tore at his soul.

She glanced beyond him and he