Spire and Stone (The Ghost Walker Saga Book 1) by A.R. Geiger

Author:A.R. Geiger [Geiger, A.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Story Nook Productions
Published: 2023-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

T he evening’s last rays of sunlight played across the cobbles in the training court and cast a weakened glow on the marble walls surrounding it. Dust and laughter mixed with the late breeze, echoing within the enclosed space. A game, a mix between kickball and wrestling with a dash of blood to make it interesting, kicked up straw and chaff in one corner. The players’ shouting echoed sharply against the walls. Cat sat with her back to the sun-warmed stone, her eyes fixed on the tangle of legs and torsos fighting over the ball, and her mind fixed somewhere else entirely.

A deep voice interrupted her silence. “Not playing, Caitlyn?”

Cat looked up, forcing a smile onto her lips when she saw who it was. “Not this time.”

Ace sat down next to her, resting his forearms on his knees as he glanced at the mix of players. Blood smudged the corner of his mouth, and a bruise was already forming on his strong jawline, dark beneath his black scruff. “Why not? It’s fun.”

Cat looked pointedly at the blood and raised an eyebrow. “It looks like it. Why aren’t you playing anymore?”

He grinned at her, his gray eyes laughing with the kind of persistent cheer that he always seemed to carry around, as if he had a private joke with everyone he met. “Me? Well, let’s see. I could lie and say that I saw you sitting here and thought you looked lonely . . .” Cat laughed. His grin widened. “Or I could tell the truth and admit that I’m not as young as I used to be, and I needed a breather.”

Cat rolled her eyes, looking back to the game. She could see Viggo in the middle of the group, his hair dark with sweat and hanging in his eyes. He was laughing. They were allowed to be themselves here, although they weren’t anywhere else. The “training courts” were rarely busy with actual sword drills or grappling. She’d learned very quickly that the men who came here came to breathe out of sight of their masters. “Well, catch your breath, grandpa. They’re losing without you.”

“Ah, they’ll survive,” Ace retorted cheerfully. He was looking at her instead of the game now, with that persistent grin that refused to leave her alone. “You should come play. It’s a good way to make friends.”

Cat shrugged. The remaining rays of the setting sun were fading into twilight, and dusk flooded the court, bringing a chill with it. Goosebumps rippled across her skin. “I’d rather be left alone.”

The second the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. She liked Ace, better than most of the others here anyway. He was irritatingly cheerful, and she found herself enjoying his company against her better judgement. She hadn’t meant her words to include him, but they had, and now she cursed herself, waiting for him to get up and leave.

He didn’t. “I know what you mean. I’m the same way.”

The joke caught her off guard. Warmth flushed into her cheeks, and she laughed, again finding herself tongue-tied by his easy manner.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.