Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,50

the humans."

"If you seal the gates, there won't be any need. No Esri monster will ever be able to reach us again."

His words stung and she turned away. He had a right to his anger and it served as a sharp reminder that although they had developed some kind of errant connection, they were of two peoples, of two worlds. Worlds destined to always be at odds.

She hated to use the word enemies, yet perhaps that's what they were and would always be, on some level.

"Ilaria." His voice was soft and apologetic. "I'm sorry. I don't blame you." His hand cupped her shoulder. "None of this is your fault."

The gentle contrition in his tone made her want to weep. She turned slowly toward him, wishing she could give him what he wanted - those gates sealed for eternity so that no human ever had to suffer from Esri enchantment again. But that was the one thing she could never do.

His gaze flicked up and behind her. "They're leaving." His expression tightened. "What now? Let them go and keep searching for the one you're looking for, or follow these two and see where they lead us?"

Ilaria frowned, her own gaze turning to Findris and the other Esri as they started down the sidewalk in the opposite direction, ambling as if they had no destination.

A fluttering of panic gripped her at the sight of her old friend walking away. She had to speak to him alone, to test his loyalty and to discuss her true goal with him. To find out if he could help her.

And how in the two worlds was she going to get away from Harrison long enough to do that?

Her mother had possessed the ability to communicate telepathically when she chose. A gift that was said to have been bestowed upon her by the draggon stone. Mightn't her daughter have been given the same gift?

Ilaria's pulse tripped with a hopeful excitement. There was only one way to find out.

Findris. She called to him, directing her thoughts toward that glow she could almost see in her head, a glow she knew was his.

To her delight and amazement, Findris stopped in his tracks and looked around. Delight quickly turned to fear as Harrison pulled her behind him. She was going to ruin everything! With desperation, she threw a blast of emotion to that warm dot of light in her mind. Secret, secret, secret.

She saw the other Esri look at Findris questioningly. Findris waved his hand with quick dismissal and continued forward as if his rightful queen hadn't just spoken in his head.

Her heart pounded, her muscles turning weak. He'd understood. She felt certain of it.

I must speak with you in private. Tonight. Somehow she knew she wasn't communicating in words, but instead conveying meaning. Where could she tell him to meet her? She didn't even know where she'd be.

I'll follow you. No words sounded in her head, but his meaning slid warm and comforting around her mind. My loyalty is yours.

She believed him. And yet, if he was still the good man she remembered, why was he among Rith's most trusted?

His thoughts continued to slide through her mind. Call to me when you're ready and I'll come to you.

To help her? Or to capture her for his king? Her heart told her the former, yet she'd be a fool not to approach him with a healthy dose of suspicion.

At least she'd get her meeting with him.

Not once had he looked her way, yet she felt certain he knew exactly where she was. If she asked him to come to her now, he'd move toward her unerringly. All the more reason to get Harrison on another path, before a confrontation occurred that ruined everything and endangered both men.

"I feel him," she lied, attempting to insert the proper note of excitement into her voice. "The one who's loyal." Harrison looked at her with question and she shook her head. "Not one of these. He's in that direction." She motioned back and left, away from Findris.

"I'd rather follow these two."

"You'd rather kill these two."

"True. All right. Let's follow that internal GPS of yours and find this guy."

It took her a moment to process the GPS comment, but quickly realized it was a mild attempt at humor. Together, they crossed the street. Just before they slid around the corner, out of sight of Findris and his companion, she looked back. At that very moment, Findris turned. Their gazes collided. Despite the distance, she felt