Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (53 page)

my eyes when I couldn’t see and leaned against me when I would have fallen over.

When you showed up, she pushed me toward you. She pushed hard enough for me to

jump in the path of that bullet.” Meah lowered her head and held the necklace out so

she could look at it. “I don’t know that I would have pulled off such a brave feat of my

own accord. You owe me nothing.”

“Oh, Meah.” And in spite of his promise to himself not to touch her, he leaned

forward and took her small hands in his. “I want you by my side and I’ll do whatever

you wish to have you there. Just say the word and I’ll do it.”

She studied his strong warm hands wrapped around her smaller ones and fought

the tears that threatened to overtake her. This was the man she had wanted since she

was a child. She took a deep breath and dared herself to look into his eyes. His deep

gray eyes burned into her and she saw the Andru that Crator had shown her in her

dreams for so many winters. His eyes showed no determination, no manipulation, no

aggression, no lust. She saw the good that Crator used, and she felt the warmth of his

soul reach out and touch hers.

She half gasped, half sighed, but didn’t look away. They simply looked at each

other as he waited for her answer, ready to give her whatever she asked.

“I wish for you to let me go,” she whispered with all her strength.

She might as well have hit him as hard as she could—directly to the heart. He

actually felt surprise at his reaction to her words. At that moment it became clear to him

that he had come to her for the sake of his pride.

Her words stabbed at his ego. To let her go would be to admit failure. And the heir

to the Lord of Gothman didn’t fail.

“Andru, I’m a fool. I fell in love with a man who was compassionate and gentle. He

was so incredibly powerful and strong that he didn’t have to prove it through

manipulation and coercion. No one would challenge him and he ensured justice and

peace. It was make-believe—a naïve girl’s fantasy.”

“Meah.” He struggled for words to express what he felt. Not being able to find

them, too new at not controlling a situation, he simply sighed in frustration. Standing,

he walked over and stirred the crushed petals that fragranced the air.

“You could force me to stay. I half expect it.” She slowly rose to her feet. She didn’t

use one of her arms and her movements were slow and awkward.

He turned and offered his hand. She accepted it and then spoke to his hand instead

of his eyes. “All you would have was my body, and I know now that’s not enough for

you.”

“Yesterday, I would have chained you to a bed and considered the matter closed.”

He held her hand up to closer scrutinize it, then rubbed it gently with his hand, careful

to avoid the fading bruises. “This morning my eyes were opened, though. I thought

Crator blessed my actions. I see now that I am being punished for my sins.”

“No, Andru.” She shook her head but he raised a finger to her lips and she stared

up at him and went mute.

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow at dawn the small caravan will arrive at our clan and we will join

them.”

“I’ll be here when you come back, my lady,” he whispered.

She squeezed his hand and then pulled hers free and reached for his chest. It was a

gentle touch as she grazed the material of his shirt with her fingertips. She took a step

closer to him and he felt her fingers tremble on his shirt. When she dared to meet his

eyes again, she bit her lip and it was all he could do not to lower his mouth to hers.

“Do you remember where my trailer is?” Her voice cracked and was barely audible.

Andru nodded and decided not to guess what her questions meant.

“Take me there.” Her next words got stuck in her throat and she turned crimson

and looked down. He immediately put his fingers under her chin and lifted her eyes

back up to his. She breathed in, and her blue-green eyes sparkled as she continued.

“Stay with me tonight.”

“My lady, I am at your mercy.”

She actually giggled then as he eased her into his arms with no more effort than if

he were lifting a feather pillow. Meah wrapped her arms around his neck and rested

her head on his shoulder as he walked out of the temple and toward her trailer.

About the Author

All my life, I’ve wondered at how people fall into the routines of life. The paths we

travel seemed to be well-trodden by society. We go to school, fall in love, find a line of

work (and hope and pray it is one we like), have children and do our best to mold them

into good people who will travel the same path. This is the path so commonly referred

to as the “real world”.

The characters in my books are destined to stray down a different path other than

the one society suggests. Each story leads the reader into a world altered slightly from

the one they know. For me, this is what good fiction is about, an opportunity to escape

from the daily grind and wander down someone else’s path.

Lorie O’Clare lives in Kansas with her three sons.

Lorie welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave

Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310-3502.

Also by Lorie O’Clare

Nuworld 1: The Saga Begins

Nuworld 2: Tara the Great

Nuworld 3: All For One

If you are interested in a spicier read, check out her erotic romances at Ellora’s

Cave Publishing (www.ellorascave.com).

Cariboo Lunewulf 1: Taming Heather

Cariboo Lunewulf 2: Pursuit

Cariboo Lunewulf 3: Challenged

Fallen Gods: Embracing Temptation

Fallen Gods: Jaded Prey

Fallen Gods: Lotus Blooming

Fallen Gods: Tainted Purity

Full Moon Rising

Lunewulf 1: Pack Law

Lunewulf 2: In Her Blood

Lunewulf 3: In Her Dreams

Lunewulf 4: In Her Nature

Lunewulf 5: In Her Soul

Sex Slaves 1: Sex Traders

Sex Slaves 2: Waiting For Yesterday

Sex Slaves 3: Waiting For Dawn

The First Time

Things That Go Bump in the Night 2004 anthology

Torrid Love: Caught!

Cerridwen, the Celtic goddess of wisdom, was the muse who brought inspiration to

storytellers and those in the creative arts. Cerridwen Press encompasses the best and

most innovative stories in all genres of today’s fiction. Visit our site and discover the

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