Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,42

released her, turning to stand beside her as she faced Larsen and the others.

"What I want doesn't matter." Her voice rang clear and true. "All that matters is that Rith, or any Caller who comes after him, never gets his hands on all seven stones." She lifted her fingers to her eyes, pressing them against her closed lids. When she dropped her hands, her eyes were dark with frustration and bitter resignation.

Slowly, she turned to him. "Take the draggon stone, Harrison. I don't think I can make myself give it to you."

He remembered the rightness he'd felt as she first touched that stone and suspected his innate reluctance to part them again was only a shadow of her own.

Watching her, he reached for the silver chain where it kissed her collarbone. As he slid his fingers beneath the cool metal, electricity jumped in a tingling rush, up his arms, spreading through his body. His jaw tightened and he lifted the chain over her head, careful not to touch the stone, then handed it to Jack.

"Thank you, Princess." Jack pocketed the ancient, mystic necklace.

Harrison turned and stood beside her. When she shuddered and crossed her arms over her chest, he couldn't stand it another minute. He curved his arm across her shoulders and pulled her against him.

She stiffened. Belatedly, he realized he'd probably offended her. He might have sensed her need for comfort, but that didn't mean she'd welcome the reminder...or the public display. But as he started to release her again, she leaned into him, just a little.

"Don't go," she said softly.

Both Larsen and Jack watched him, clearly surprised. Charlie's eyes gleamed, but he remained silent. Kade revealed no emotion at all, but he rarely did.

Ilaria lifted her chin and met the others' gazes, regal even within the curve of his arm. "Rith will follow the scent of the stone. He'll find it wherever you hide it, now."

Jack nodded. "We have a way to keep him from finding it."

Harrison knew what they had planned, because they'd done it before. They'd tuck it in a lead-lined box, tie the box to the bottom of a boat, then move the boat. The scent might lead King Rith to the water, but with any luck, he lose track of it there.

"We have two missions, now," Jack said, addressing the small group. "One is to set up a trap for King Rith at...the other location. We'll be waiting when he comes to get his stones." He looked at Kade. "If we sing the death chant for him while he's holding the stones, what will happen to them?"

"Nothing. Unless I'm mistaken, none of the seven can be destroyed by the death chant." He looked to Ilaria for confirmation.

"You're not mistaken. They'll remain where the holder last stood."

Jack nodded. "That's what I was counting on. Capture Esri wherever possible and avoid death marks at all costs...until we take down King Rith. Every time we retrieve the draggon stone to remove them, we risk King Rith's finding it." His gaze met Harrison's, a question in his eyes. "The second mission is to protect the princess. You want to keep that one?"

His logical side told him to say no. To place her in someone else's hands. She was too tempting, and affected him in ways that were too disturbing. But his need to keep her close had nothing to do with logic. It was primitive. Protective.

"She stays with me."

Ilaria melted against him, just a little, telling him without words of her approval.

Jack stepped forward and shook his hand. "Good luck. We'll contact you as soon as we have something to report." Pulling away, he turned to the others. "Okay, let's move."

Harrison released Ilaria's shoulders and once more took her hand. As Jack, Larsen and Kade started walking, Charlie came over to them, tossing Harrison a small set of keys. His mouth kicked up on one side, a knowing look on his face. "In case you want to try to get to my apartment."

Harrison snorted, but didn't deny Charlie's assumption that he couldn't wait to get Ilaria somewhere private. Preferably with a bed. "Thanks."

Charlie nodded toward the direction the others were walking. "There's more than one boat down there." Bolling Air Force Base, the location of the other three green stones, was just down the river from Ft. McNair. The others would be heading there by boat. "You might want to do the same. Or ask for a car at the gate. The commanding officer is under orders to