Second Stone by Kelly Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

that’s before we even get to Sheas Harbor. Who knows what Hendel’s reaction will be.”
    Emariya studied him, looking for any sign he might be more worried than he was letting on before deciding to take him at his word.
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    The next day dawned abnormally bright and clear. The near constant cover of clouds that plagued much of the mountainous slope of Thalmas miraculously receded, giving birth to a welcome and unexpected view of the morning sun. As they rode, still in the valley with mountains to either side, Torian couldn’t help feeling a bit optimistic.
    Perhaps the sunlight had followed Emariya from Eltar. When he’d first received her brother’s letter proposing their marriage to unite their lands, he’d known the match would be exactly what Thalmas needed. He hadn’t known it would be what he needed, too. Even if Reeve’s intentions were less than pure, Torian couldn’t help feeling a bit grateful that he’d given him his sister. Now that he knew her, he couldn’t picture life without her. Be it the pull of the Stones or simply Emariya herself, she captivated him. He couldn’t resist hanging on her every word. It took every bit of restraint he had not to fall at her feet and make a fool of himself. He’d fall on his own sword if it would make her smile. Fortunately, even under the duress of her brother’s betrayal and her father’s plight, she shared her special smile with him often, illuminating his world.
    Until he’d met her, only one other had ever evoked such feelings of love and protectiveness in him: his sister, Terin. He’d do anything for either one of them. Anything. But even knowing Terin had not prepared him fully for Emariya. She was just so…alive. And unexpected. At every challenge, he expected her to flinch away, and at each she rose stronger, more confident, unwaveringly determined.
    Even faced with Khane’s confession of her brother’s betrayal, she hadn’t broken, while his own heart shattered in sympathy, filling with anger at her pain. The day would come when Torian would see to it that Reeve laid his sword at her feet. He’d make Reeve beg her for forgiveness.
    Trying to put aside the thoughts of his heart, he scanned the horizon. It would be time to make camp soon. He needed to stop playing the role of the lovesick suitor and reprise his duty as the prince in charge.
    He blushed as he glanced over at Emariya, riding tall beside him. She tilted her head curiously. Torian shook his head, but grinned as if to say it was nothing, and with a smile of her own, she turned her eyes back ahead. By The Three, the things that simple smile conjured in him… She’d be the death of him yet. Although, by the way she stared so intently ahead, he suspected she was struggling just as much as he was for composure.
    The pull of the Stones was like a most inconvenient blessing. On one hand, it heightened their attraction, and gave them a sense of everything being undeniably right when they were together. On the other hand, it left them feeling desolate and adrift when apart and made them question if their thoughts and feelings were truly their own.
    A surrounding sense of contentment kept his shoulders loose as he directed the group to make camp. Sliding easily off his horse, he handed the reins to Rink and reached up toward Emariya’s slight waist to help her dismount. She could have done it on her own, but he smiled, happy that she let him help her, enjoying the spark that flew between them as he lifted her down. She was so light, almost wispy in his hands. As if, if he wasn’t careful, if he made one wrong move, she might slip through his fingers and be gone forever.
    “Your Highness! Your Highness!”
    Torian’s head snapped up at Garith’s breathless yell. His eyes locked on the pair of riders approaching at full gallop. He was vaguely aware of Emariya behind him, clutching his hand.
    The messenger with Garith barely stopped his horse before he was on the