Sword's Call Read Online Free PDF Page A

instincts flared.
    There’s more to it than that.
    Cocking his head to the side, he chose his words carefully, “Surely, with a white wolf bondmate, magical abilities, and a magic sword, you’d have no need to worry.”
    The avoidance of magic had been a chasm between them all sevenday.
    “I don’t know much about it.” Cera’s eyes widened.
    She was lying to him; Jorrin didn’t need magic to know that. Their eyes locked, and her cheeks flushed pink.
    Should he push her?
    No. For now he would let it drop.
    Without breaking their eye contact, he nodded.
    She swallowed hard. “There’s another small town we should reach by tomorrow. This is the last night we’ll have to sleep outside, provided a respectable inn is available. I suggest you wear your hood.” Cera gestured toward his ears, taking a bite of meat and gathering her furs over her shoulders.
    Staring into the fire, he concentrated to make it rise and heat. She met his eyes when he was done and he shrugged, flashing a half-smile.
    Cera said nothing, but her eyes bored into him.
    Ignoring the way his stomach jumped when she looked at him like that, he shot to his feet. “I’ll be right back.” He needed to relieve himself before they sought sleep, and he’d already told her she could sleep first.
    She nodded, and he disappeared into the nearby woods.
    Jorrin heard Cera holler and his heart dropped to his stomach. He fastened his belt with shaky fingers and unsheathed his sword, jogging back to their small camp.
    He cursed himself for leaving her alone, even if it was only for a few moments, but Trikser was there, her bondmate would protect her. He took a breath.
    She’s fine. She has to be.
    He burst into the clearing just as she yelled again, and it took him a moment to discern that she was neither in pain, nor in trouble.
    Cera was embracing a caped figure.
    Who the hell was that?
    Holding Cera?
    Jealousy flared, but Jorrin chided himself and relaxed the hold on his sword as he made his way to the two humans.
    The white wolf was wagging his tail, and Jorrin’s step faltered. He lowered his sword, frowning.
    “Avery, what are you doing here?” Cera’s voice was breathless.
    Apparently Avery was quite exhausted, so much so he couldn’t answer her. He leaned on the white gelding he’d ridden in on and then keeled over.
    Jorrin shoved his sword in its scabbard just in time to catch the other man under the arms as he passed out.
    He didn’t miss the whisper, “Thank the Blessed Spirit I found you.”
    Cera thanked him and chewed at her bottom lip. She remained frozen and very pale, fists clenched at her shapely sides. Jorrin got nothing but confusion and worry from her through his magic, and her sword was nowhere in sight.
    Laying the tall lanky stranger down on his own furs, Jorrin covered him and turned back to her. “Who is he?”
    She’d followed him back to the fire, looking lost. When her knees buckled and she landed hard on her furs, he rushed to sit beside her, taking her hand.
    Cera didn’t pull away.
    “My cousin . . . Avery . . . Avery Lenore.”
    Her cousin’s name jolted him. “Lenore? As in Castle Lenore?”
    She nodded, her eyes finally focusing on his face.
    “You want to tell me what you are running from?” he whispered.
    Cera gave another slight nod and Jorrin bit back a gasp. He couldn’t look away.
    Then her expression hardened.
    She shut him out again.
    “It’s a long story . . .” Cera glanced away.
    Jorrin lifted his hand and caressed her chin, slowly guiding her face back to his and making her meet his eyes. “I have all night.” Couldn’t let her win this round. He needed to show her he was there for her.
    Whatever she was hiding, seeing her cousin had shaken her and made her secret too much to bear.
    He tried to catch her thoughts, but her mind was still closed. He could sense nothing more than vague feelings, and a strong underlying defiance. Jorrin couldn’t tell if the defiance was meant for him