Laura Jo Phillips by The Katres' Summer: Book 3 of the Soul-Linked Saga Read Free Book Online Page A

spoke before taking time to think it over further.  “I also claim this woman, Darleen Flowers, as mine to protect.”
     “On what grounds do you claim her?” Maxim asked, fighting to hold back an angry growl.  Already he regretted giving into her on the issue of Warrior Rights.  It was apparent that this was a female who would always want more than was offered.  He was beginning to understand his initial dismay at finding their Arima.  He had always worried that he and his brothers would end up in an unhappy relationship as their fathers had.  Now it seemed he’d had good reason for his concerns.
    Summer had not been ready for the question but as soon as he asked it the answer came to her.  “On two grounds,” she replied.  “First, I saved her life.  Therefore it is mine to protect, if I wish, from this day forward.  Second, she joined me in battle as a fellow warrior.  She guarded my back, and I hers.”
    Maxim grimaced.  Her first reason could be argued, but the grounds of Battle Bond could not be ignored or denied.  Such bonds were inviolate.
    Maxim glanced at his brother who did no more than blink his eyes, but Maxim understood his brother was thinking as he was.  There was no honorable way to deny her in this.  After a long moment, Maxim and Loni raised their left fists to their right shoulders in the traditional warrior salute, and bowed.  “We honor your Battle Bond with Darleen Flowers,” Maxim said reluctantly. 
    “Thank you,” Summer replied, feeling a little uncomfortable with all of the bowing as she had no idea how she was supposed to respond to it. 
    “However, I must point out that our Princes have authority to reverse our decision,” Maxim warned.  “Under normal circumstances they would not deny a Battle Bond, but they have a personal reason for their feelings against Darleen Flowers.”
    “I will deal with that when I get to it,” Summer said, suddenly feeling very tired.
    At that moment there was a loud commotion from beyond the screen.  Summer raised the pain baton back into fighting position and set her feet in a combat stance without even thinking about it. 
    “Be calm,” Maxim said.  “It is our own people arriving to aid in your rescue.”
    Summer lowered the baton but did not fully relax.  There had been a hint of something in Maxim’s tone that bothered her.  Sarcasm? she wondered.  But no, that made no sense.  She shook her head.  It was probably her imagination, and if it wasn’t, she was just too anxious to figure it out right now.
    “If you will wait here for a short time, I will speak with them,” Maxim said.
    “Okay,” Summer replied.  All she wanted to do at the moment was sit down, but she remained where she was until both Maxim and Lonim had left the alcove.  As soon as they were gone, she walked across the alcove to Lio’s chair and nearly fell into it. 
    Darleen hurried over and started to lower herself to her knees on the floor in front of the chair.  Summer placed a hand on Darleen’s arm to stop her.  “No, don’t do that,” she said softly.  “There is no need to cause yourself more pain.”
    Darleen nodded with some relief.  “Are you all right, Summer?” she whispered.
    “Yes,” Summer replied.  “I think I’ve had a few too many adrenaline rushes this morning is all.”  Summer glanced over her shoulder to be sure they were alone, then lowered her voice to a soft whisper.  “I need to get a better mental on his Controller.  I don’t want the Katres to know what we did.”
    Darleen nodded.  “All right, go ahead and I’ll keep watch,” she whispered back. 
    Summer closed her eyes to aid in her concentration and reached for the nano-bots in Lio’s brain.  She was relieved to find that they had progressed a great deal since the last time she’d checked.  They should be able to ask him about Darleen’s skin by now.  But first she had to reprogram the Controller to accept her mental commands. 
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