Page 75 of The Faceless Mage

And maybe she understood more than he gave her credit for, because her face showed an instant of shock that resonated through their link.

“I’m honored,” she said softly. “I swear your name will be safe with me.”

He stared down at her, wondering how she managed to reach inside him and wrap her fingers around his heart so easily.

Wondered what she would do or say if she could hear what he was thinking.

So he backed away again.

“We should sleep,” he said abruptly, putting space between them before he did something else foolish, like touch her.

“Tomorrow, if you’re stronger, I will escort you across the border to a place where you can make the rest of the journey in safety. Then I will return here to wait.”

She looked startled, as if her thoughts had been somewhere else. “Oh, um, yes. Thank you.”

Was it possible her thoughts echoed his?

No. His own were ridiculous enough without wondering whether she shared them.

But she let out a quiet sigh as she returned to the bed he had made for her and settled under the single blanket. He was listening so closely, he even heard her shivering a little as she drew it around her.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said stiffly. “Nothing will hurt you. I sleep lightly, and will awaken if anyone approaches.”

“I’m not afraid,” she said, and she sounded as if she smiled. “Just cold.”

So he built up the fire and sat beside it while she drifted off, wondering whether he would find it possible to let her leave him when tomorrow came.

Chapter 23

Despite the hard ground and despite the turmoil of her emotions, Leisa slept. She awakened well after the sun was up to find that she was alone in camp, the fire dead, and a neat pack resting by its ashes.

Rising carefully, she was relieved to find that her legs were perfectly willing to hold her up, and her head only protested for a moment or two before subsiding.

Good. She should be able to travel on to Arandar today.

At least once her unlikely companion returned from wherever he’d gotten to.

Unless he’d changed his mind.

Thoughts of the previous night brought a blush to her cheeks as she wondered anew what exactly he meant by his invitation. She’d thought he meant for her to visit his home until his freedom was fully restored. But there had been something else, a confusion that she could feel through their link that couldn’t be explained by his dependence on her magic.

Almost as if… he cared for her. She didn’t dare use any more serious words, even in the privacy of her thoughts, because she was pretty sure she was halfway to falling head over heels for him, night elf or no.

As if someone like him could ever think of her that way.

But that didn’t seem to matter to her heart. In spite of the danger he presented, there was something about his presence—his implacable strength and his silent, deadly grace—that called to her as no man ever had before.

And yet, she was just plain old Leisa. A stubborn scrapper hiding a world of heartache and a longing for home. The only things she’d ever taken pride in were her loyalty and her skills as a bodyguard, and soon she would be leaving both of those behind forever.

What did she have to offer someone like him? Or any man, for that matter.

Just her magic. Just the one thing she would choose to remove from her life if she could.

So she would do well to remember that the only thing Kyrion needed or wanted from her was that same magic. His interest lay solely in her ability to free him to return to his people and his life.

Don’t get attached, she chided herself silently. Don’t fall for all that gorgeous, mysterious elf-ness.

And in reality, she’d never even seen him in daylight. Maybe she wouldn’t be quite so fascinated once she realized he wasn’t as powerful and intimidating as he seemed at night.

---