A Marked Man (Forging of Souls Duology Part One) by Lynn Townsend

Author:Lynn Townsend
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: occult, fantasy, paranormal
Publisher: Gone Writing Publishing

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A velvet, maddening touch across his back forced Mace awake. He rolled over and caught Jewel's wrist. "That tickles, my lady," he said.

"Sorry," she said, an impish smile tracing her mouth. "I was just looking at your scars."

Mace craned his neck to look over his shoulder. "Oh, that," he said, attempting a casual tone. "The church fathers and I had some heated debates about my behavior. It was a long time ago." He pushed at the memories with mental hands, driving them back into the moldy corners of forgotten, not wanting that feather-touch to wake the bonds between them. "Please, I can't live that again. Some things are best left unremembered."

Jewel slid an arm around him, comforting and warm. She pressed her lips to one knotted scar and he shivered, still hearing the crack of leather. "Do you hate them?"

"They never gave me a chance not to," he said. "I'm not a monster, my lady. It didn't matter what I did; my mother had been hanged for witchcraft, I was obviously a demon's child. They wouldn't be surprised, not at all, by what I've become. A thief and a killer." He sighed.

"If you don't like it," she said, tentative, "why do you do it?"

"I never said I didn't like it," he said. "There are certain satisfactions. And the pay is excellent."

Jewel stared at him, obviously searching for a response.

"It's not much of a life, my lady, that I can offer you," he started. "Thieves and killers, rogues and renegades. I wouldn't blame you if you'd—" He trailed off, the thought of losing her stole the breath out of his lungs.

"If I'd what? Chose to leave you? Withdraw my love?" She was angry again, her eyes sparkling and fierce. He couldn't look away; she was magnificent in her rage, achingly beautiful.

He nodded.

"No, I don't think so. Are you so blinded to the truth? Can you not see everything you have done for me? Is it so wrong of me, to love the man who has given me back my life, not once, but many times? You need me, Bastian Hooke. And I need you. I'm not leaving you. I love you."

"You crazy, brave woman," Mace said, barely a whisper. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Not at all," she said. "I'm making this up as I go along."

He started to answer that, but Jewel stopped his mouth with a kiss and he was soon too involved to think more on it.

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