Page 3 of Shackled to the World
She refused to feel bad for treating him as a stranger. Every time he looked at her with intimate knowledge in his eyes, she couldn’t forget.
“What would happen if they found her?” Xander interrupted her musings, completely ignoring Eddie’s grumpy behavior.
“They will either take her to her father to pass judgment on her or they will kill her outright.” The massive frown on his face sent the few students up and about at the butt crack of dawn scurrying in all directions. “With her power, it’s unlikely they would want her dead right away. At least not until they can figure out whether she can be…useful.”
Annora snorted. “You mean controlled. A virtual slave to do their bidding.”
Eddie merely shrugged, ignoring her comment. “Unless her father finds her first.”
He glanced back at her, his blue eyes apologetic. “Daxion is a powerful man. He’ll only see her as a half-breed, a mistake, and an embarrassment. He’ll use any and all means possible to make sure she’s never found.”
Xander and Eddie continued the conversation, their voices a low rumble, but she couldn’t get over his comment.
Oh, not about her father wanting her dead.
What shocked her was her mother must have known.
It explained so much—why they kept moving around when Annora was younger. Her mother had been trying to keep her safe the only way she knew how.
“Daxion?” She murmured, not caring that she was interrupting them.
Eddie lingered close to her, automatically matching his stride to hers. “It’s the name of the ruling house, a family name that invokes both respect and fear.”
She marveled at finally knowing her last name but quickly rejected it. Her mother was right. It was better not to accept anything from her father. She would stick with Greenwood.
“You’re not surprised your father wants to kill you.” Xander captured her hand, engulfing it in the warmth of his grip.
Her thoughts scattered at the contact, loving the warmth of him against her cold fingers. Xander was big and gruff, the perfect soldier, but he was always so gentle with her. The scent of fresh sea breeze wrapped around him, tantalizing her senses, as if his gryphon had flexed his wings and wrapped them around her in a protective cocoon. His beard was cropped close to his face, hiding most of his expression, but his eyes gave him away.
He was worried.
About her.
Xander’s father was much like her own. While hers craved power, his was a jealous tyrant. She leaned against Xander, soaking up the silent comfort he offered. “Mother warned me not to search for him. Ever. I think she was afraid.”
Memories of the many times they left in the middle of the night, often abandoning their belongings, came to her mind.
Maybe afraid was too tame a word.
“You won’t be able to hide forever,” Eddie interrupted. He didn’t appear jealous of their closeness, more like he was craving that same intimacy.
“You need more training in how to stay out of the afterworld, how to use your powers to keep yourself hidden.” He edged closer to her, glaring at anyone who looked at her too long. “Tonight we’ll practice drawing on your powers without relying on slipping into the afterworld. Only when you’re strong enough will we train you how to keep yourself hidden.”
“You were stuck in the afterworld.” Xander tucked her closer and narrowed his eyes at the other man. “How do you expect to protect her when you couldn’t even protect yourself?”
Eddie stopped and glared at Xander, as if ready to flash both of them to the afterworld to duke it out. “With phantoms, family means everything. I refused to bow to their demands. The only way to escape was the afterworld.”
But Annora was already shaking her head. “But you got stuck.”
His eyes dropped to meet hers, and his face softened. When he took a step forward to touch her, she retreated, her back smacking into Xander, who pulled her close. Eddie stopped dead, hurt flashing across his face seconds before his expression went blank, his hand falling to his side.
“Not stuck, more like finding the doors locked behind me.” The corners of his mouth kicked up. “That’s when I discovered you. You called to me in a way that I couldn’t refuse. I stopped seeking a way out and stayed to help you.”
Annora didn’t understand, shifting uncomfortably and crossing her arms in front of her. “You think I’m your mate.”
“No.” Eddie shook his head, his smile softening. “Iknowyou’re my mate.”
“Why return now?” Xander wrapped his arm around her middle, pulling her closer, his voice laden with suspicion.
