The Priestess and the Thief: Kindred Tales 30 by Evangeline Anderson

Author:Evangeline Anderson [Anderson, Evangeline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evangeline Anderson
Published: 2020-12-18T18:30:00+00:00

Twenty-Nine

“So Demon’s truly sorry he killed that groom?” Roke sounded skeptical as he raised an eyebrow at Elli. They were resting in their room at the palace after a full afternoon of getting to know the huge zorel.

“Yes, he truly is!” Elli insisted, frowning up at the big warrior. “Albie was his favorite groom and he really didn’t mean to burn him. He was just trying to get away from the rope and the pain prods they were poking him with, poor darling.”

Roke snorted.

“That ‘poor darling’ nearly killed you as well, before you tamed him. Just look at this.”

He walked over and raised her right arm, showing the angry red burn she’d gotten from her first encounter with Demon. It really was painful, Elli had to admit, though she’d scarcely noticed it during her time with the big zorel.

“That was an accident,” she said, frowning as she pulled her arm away. “He said he was sorry for that, too.”

Roke frowned at her.

“You’re talking like he was actually speaking to you!”

“Well, you know—he almost was.” Elli leaned forward excitedly. “Do you know, with most zorels I usually just get a sense of their emotions—what they’re feeling, what they want or what they’re afraid of—things like that. But with Demon, the connection was so…” She shook her head, trying to think of how to explain. “It was so easy—so effortless. And yet so deep.”

“Deep, huh?” He still looked skeptical.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Elli exclaimed. “You didn’t look at me like that before when I told you I could communicate with zorels. You acted like it was perfectly natural—don’t try to make me feel crazy now, like everyone else I’ve ever talked to!”

“I’m sorry,” Roke relented at once. “It’s just that he’s so damn dangerous—maybe I don’t want you to have an instant connection with him.” He took her by the shoulders and looked into Elli’s eyes. “Or maybe I’m jealous,” he murmured. “Maybe I want to be the only one with a connection with you, little priestess.”

Elli felt her cheeks getting hot but somehow she couldn’t drop her gaze.

“Roke…” she whispered, remembering exactly how closely “connected” they had been the night before. “You don’t have to be jealous, it’s different with zorels. They’re a little like children—although I have to say, Demon is definitely the smartest zorel I’ve ever connected with.”

“Oh?” He released his hold on her shoulders and gave her an interested look. “What does that mean?”

“Well, to start with, it means he’s definitely trainable,” Elli said. “Though it’s going to take some work on my part. He’s never had a rider on his back before.”

“Are you afraid he’ll throw you or trample you?” Roke was tense at once, ready to suggest taking her to safety, Elli was sure. So she hastened to reassure him.

“No, no—I’m not afraid for myself at all,” she said quickly. “Demon would let me ride him tomorrow if I asked him, I’m sure. It’s getting him to let someone else ride him that worries me.

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