Embrace the Wild (The Blood Rose Series Book 6) by Caris Roane Read Free Book Online

instituted when you took Axton’s place.”
    “That’s kind of you to say so, but until I rid Ashleaf of The Society, I’ll never be at peace.”
    “One day you will. I’m confident of that.”
    He stared into her hazel eyes, wondering yet again what this was between them.
    He moved to the railing near the front door and looked down. The entire hillside had been planted and grown lush with ferns. Below, a mature vegetable plot in stone supported terraces, ranged in the direction of the stream. “You haul the water?”
    She chuckled. “No. Do you see the far tree and the pipe? I have a small electric pump.”
    Solar power had made a lot of things possible in his realm in the past few years.
    “It’s very peaceful here.”
    She stood beside him, also looking down at her garden and the stream, as well as a small waterfall twenty or so yards to the north. Ashleaf had thousands of similar waterfalls.
    “I’ve worked hard to make my home a haven. It’s been necessary because of the work I do on behalf of the wraiths.”
    He turned toward her. “I can only imagine, and I’m amazed that you’ve sacrificed so much to help them.”
    At that, she smiled again. She had beautiful even teeth. “Well, I don’t do anything that you’re not doing, Mastyr.”
    He shook his head. “Please call me Malik. Like you did before.”
    But she placed a quick hand on his arm. “It’s my way of telling you how much I respect what you’ve done as Mastyr of Ashleaf. You inspire me.”
    “I do?” He was surprised. He just didn’t think of himself in those terms.
    “Of course. Your dedication of service keeps me committed to protecting my wraiths.”
    The air between them shifted once more, especially since she still had her hand on his arm. Desire for her raged all over again, and he was stunned how quickly even just a touch or a word of praise could make him want her so much.
    A blush covered her cheeks, and her fresh forest-rain scent rose in the air. “Why don’t you come inside?”
    Maybe it was her choice of words, but he almost attacked her again.
    Instead, he restrained himself, and as she headed toward the door, he quickly moved around her, pulling the door open so that she could go in before him.
    This part of her treehouse complex housed her living room, kitchen, and dining room. Two separate doors led to different rope bridges, one leading up into the oak canopy, the other to a lower level.
    She gestured to the one leading up. “My bedroom and bathroom are up there. I saved the highest space for sleeping. The lower level is for meditation and has a porch where I spend a lot of my time. I often have tea out there. Sometimes a beer or two.
    “I like that.”
    She smiled. “Then off the kitchen, is a third door that leads to my lower workrooms, one for storage and canning and the last for my gardening equipment and anything else pertaining to the function of my home.”
    Malik approved of the overall craftsmanship. “You had some excellent workers on this project.”
    “The best trolls. Every finish is superb.” A smooth, stained branch ran from floor-to-ceiling, supporting the kitchen island.
    She’d built the house on larger lines than most, so even his Guardsman body felt comfortable in the space.
    He felt something new coming from her however, and turned once more in her direction. She leaned against the supporting branch, her hands behind her and he caught her looking him up and down.
    Then he saw something that both startled him yet made his leathers tight across the zipper. Small white fangs appeared and were now pressing onto her lower lip. Fangs smaller than a vampire’s.
    He knew what they were at once: Wraith fangs.
    “Willow?”
    She lifted her gaze. Her hazel eyes were dark, her pupils dilated. “Yes?” Because of her fangs, she had a slight lisp.
    She covered them quickly with her fingers and her cheeks flamed a dark peach color.
    He went to her and took her hand away, so that he could see the