Beautiful Warrior by Sheri Whitefeather Read Free Book Online Page A

beautiful, with colorful foliage and sparkling streams. But as we traveled deeper along the trail, it became thick with trees, reminding me of the place where the other warrior had built his cabin.
    We stopped in the middle of the forest , and he helped me dismount. My feet touched the ground, leaves crunching beneath my ugly shoes.
    He said, “There’s a spot out here that opens up into a meadow. But we have to walk the rest of the way.”
    “What about your horse?”   I petted the stallion’s nose and it nuzzled my hand, treating me like an old friend.
    “He’ll be fine here by himself.”
    We took a narrow path with low-hanging branches crowding our way. I followed the warrior through the tight maze, captivated by his tall, dark beauty. But I always marveled at Duncan’s handsomeness, too.
    Finally he announced , “This is it.”
    He c leared the way to let me see. I gasped, but not because I was impressed. The meadow was covered with daisies, and I was afraid of what that type of flower represented to me.
    Death, I thought.
    Duncan had made a reference to “pushing up daises” once when he was disputing my fear of him dying, and ever since then, I could barely look at a daisy without shivering.
    And now I was besieged by thousands of them.
    “Come on.”  The warrior took my hand and led me to the yellow-and-white-dotted field.
    He really was taking me to hell and back . I considered running away as fast as I could, but I couldn’t bring myself to abandon him out here. I was concerned that if I did, the curse could become accelerated, killing him sooner.
    “Are you all right?” he asked, as we sat in a meadow of death.
    I shook my head . “There’s something I need to tell you.”  I told him about Abby and how her people were in danger. I mentioned Duncan and the warrior from the past. I defined the curse. I even explained the disturbing significance of the daisies.
    Afterward, he replied, “I don’t believe the flowers are harmful, but I believe everything else you said.”
    Grateful that he accepted my story, I prayed that he was right about the daisies. “Can you protect Abby’s people from the border monsters? And can you help me find the magic that will break the curse?”
    “I can get Abby’s people across the border, but I can’t help with the curse. We have magic on this realm, but it’s not strong enough for something like that. You’ll have to go to the future realm and deal with it there.”
    “Just me ? Without Abby’s people?”
    He nodded . “It wouldn’t make sense for them to accompany you.”
    Me . Alone. In an ever-changing place. It made my stomach flip-flop. I didn’t need to ask who I was supposed to see while I was on that realm. Obviously, it was the future warrior.
    I studied the man seated across from me. He looked so strong and chiseled, the way Duncan looked whenever he sat in the sun. “I wish you could help with the magic.” 
    “I’ll help your friends while you’re gone . I’ll get them across the border. But that’s all I can do, Vanessa. The rest is up to you.”
    “ Then I’ll do it.”  I would go the future alone, no matter how much it scared me. “I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep Duncan alive. And stop you and the other warriors from dying, too.”
    “Am I really that much like Duncan ?”
    “Yes, you are.”  Battling my feelings, I scraped the dirt, digging up a handful of flowers. I desperately longed to kiss him.
    I wasn’t alone in my desire. I sensed that he wanted to kiss me, too, but he wasn’t going to let it happen. To him, I belonged to Duncan.
    I released the daises I’d u prooted and asked, “Are there wood nymphs on this realm?”
    He leaned back, away from me . “Yes.”
    “Are there some who live in this forest?”
    “Yes. But they only appear at night.”
    “Are they your lovers?”
    He frowned. “You shouldn’t ask a man about his bedmates.”
    I took that to mean that he was sleeping with the nymphs .