The Falcon Prince

You know I can’t. I swore an oath to my mother.

She will forgive you.

Have you forgotten the spell she cast on me when I refused to dance with the Princess Quara? It made me impotent for many days…and nights.

A mere inconvenience.

Easy for you to say, Kristor grumbled.

You’ll have to continue seducing her. It may take longer than I had thought. You’re losing your touch. A few years ago, you could have had her panting to do your bidding.

I am not old. Ria is only very stubborn. I like that about her.

That’s where you are similar—unfortunately.

I will convince her to leave with me.

Some men lose their minds when separated from their lifemates. What will you do if she continues to refuse?

Kristor didn’t voice his thoughts. He’d already begun to think about an alternative plan.

You can’t remain on Earth and give up everything that you care about. You are a warrior! A warrior without a war. That will destroy you just as fast.

Then it would seem I am doomed either way.

“What are you thinking?” Neil asked.

Carly still couldn’t believe that Neil had wanted to go out with her. Maybe it was because she’d had a secret crush on him for so long.

“I’m glad Ria set this up,” she admitted.

“Me, too.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “I’m worried about her. She told me Kristor wants her to leave with him. She knows nothing about the man. I think their relationship is moving way too fast.”

“Heath is checking him out. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. Ria’s a big girl, and the guy seems nice enough.”

That bothered her, too. Being around Kristor had changed things. She found him likable, and his size wasn’t quite as intimidating as it had been in the beginning.

He also seemed to care a lot about Ria. Maybe she had been too quick to jump to conclusions. Not that what she’d done mattered. It wasn’t like anyone was swooping down on him with arrest warrants.

“You’re right,” she told him.

“I’ll walk you to your door.” He opened his car door and walked around to her side.

Carly’s stomach twisted in knots. What if he wanted to come inside? Or more? She had never had much luck in the sex department, mostly because she was so scared and embarrassed.

She looked up at the stairs, and suddenly there was a hangman’s noose at the top. Each step she took brought her closer to the death of this relationship.

Then she was standing outside her door. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I had a good time tonight.” When Neil smiled, her heart thudded inside her chest.

“I did too, sexy lady.”

He scraped the back of his hand over her cheek, then leaned in close. His mouth covered hers in a gentle, non-threatening kiss. When he moved back, she sighed.

“I’d like to take you out again. Just me and you,” he said.

“I’d like that.”

“Friday?”

She nodded.

He grinned. “Friday, then.” He turned and went down the stairs.

She touched her lips, feeling the warmth that still lingered. She was smiling when she went inside and closed the door. Butterflies tickled her stomach. Tomorrow she would send Ria a box of chocolate. Life was sweet.

Chapter 21

Ria flung the cover away and swung her legs off the bed. Her body didn’t follow. With supreme effort, she forced herself to a sitting position. But when she tried to open her eyes, they wouldn’t cooperate. She was tempted to lie back down and pull the cover over her head, but she knew from past experience that she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.

She’d had a horrible night, filled with nightmares of Kristor flinging her over his shoulder, and forcing her to return to New Symtaria with him. Her mother and father had been smiling, and waving her off as if she were only taking a short vacation.

That nightmare had ended only to go into another one where Kristor didn’t fling her over his shoulder and force her to return with him. She’d been left all alone and wishing for something more.

She was so confused. What was she going to do? It would seem she was damned if she did, and damned if she didn’t.

She closed her eyes for a moment and slowed her breathing. Flying might not be so bad. She’d been a little girl and the explosion had scared the crap out of her. She really should get over it. Other people overcame their phobias. Why not her?

What would it feel like to have the wind currents lift her higher and higher?

Something banged in the kitchen.

Her eyes opened wide.

Ruffles? Nope, the cat’s tail swished out from under the bed to tickle Ria’s heel.

Burglar?

It’s nothing, Shintara screamed inside Ria’s head. Go back to concentrating. Think hawk. You can do it.

“Shh.”

Ria’s heart banged against her chest wall. She grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand and punched in 9- 1-1.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency,” Tilly’s voice came over the line.

Ria grimaced. “This is Ria Lancaster. I think there’s an intruder in my kitchen,” she whispered.

“Are you sure it’s not a naked alien?” She snorted.

“Do you want to start looking for another job when they replay this call after they discover my lifeless body?”

“I’ll send Heath over,” she said, but Ria thought she still sounded snarky.

“Tell him to hurry.”

Ria closed her phone, looking around. Her heavy flashlight was in the other room. She stood and tip-toed to the bathroom, picking up her hairbrush. Yeah, right, that would scare the hell out of the intruder. Hairspray? It might work like mace. She supposed it was better than nothing.

Holding the can close to her chest, she crept into the hallway wanting to get to the living room, and then outside where it would be safe. She could hide around the corner until Heath got there.

“Ria, you’re awake. Good,” Kristor spoke from behind her.

She jumped, whirled around, and without thinking, sprayed toward his face.

He coughed. “Ugh! That’s awful tasting. Worse than the stuff you sprayed in my eyes.”

“Oh, Kristor, I’m sorry. I thought you were a burglar. How the hell did you get in here, anyway? I know I locked my doors and windows last night.”

“Mind over matter.”

“Oh. I forgot. Where did I spray you?” Dammit, she needed more sleep. And coffee.

“My mouth and my cheek. What is that stuff?”