Page 38 of The Guardian's Promise

“No.”

“I have to know. I have to know if one of my family has betrayed God.”

“You know here,” she said, placing her hand over his heart. “Jehoiada is my uncle. He could have told my father of Joash’s existence.”

Ari shook his head, because he didn’t know. Not for certain. And if her father had known, he would not have told a soul, of that he was certain.

“Ari, somehow, someone discovered the truth.” She chewed on her lip. Sadness entered her eyes, darkening them to the color of the sand just as the sun sinks beyond the horizon. “I cannot believe I am about to say this, but Rubiel, she is petty. Selfish. She hated that Tama was sent to Jerusalem and she was left behind to tend sheep and fields. Yet, why would my parents confide in her and not me? As much as they loved her, they knew her ambitions dictated her actions.”

He drew her into his arms. “They didn’t tell her because they did not know. Whoever has divulged information has given more than your sister or your parents ever could have known.” He gave in to his desire and bent his head and kissed her brow. It seemed as natural as drinking water from a clear brook. “Ease your worries, Mira.”

She pulled back, her gaze searched his. She looked puzzled, and she seemed not to have realized that he’d just kissed her brow.

“But who?”

Of course, her mind was on the dangers surrounding their young king. Just as his should be. He dropped his arms and immediately missed the warmth and comfort of her.

Mira crossed her arms over her chest as if she, too, missed the contact between them. “Our journey to Jerusalem will continue to be plagued with danger if we do not know who is betraying us.”

She was right. He knew she was. How could one of his own family betray him? Betray the secrets handed down for ages? He had no doubt it was one of his kin, for the traitor knew the intricacies of the tunnels. Which meant it had to be someone in his family, but who?

He would think on it some more, but first... He lifted his hands and cupped her face, running the pads of his thumbs over her cheekbones. The oil lamps flickered and illuminated the gold flecks within her jasper-colored eyes. He wanted to lower his mouth to hers. To feel the softness and the warmth of her lips. To breathe in her life. To give her his.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall become one flesh.

The verse came unbidden, but there it was filling his heart. Whether she knew it or not, she was his. For eternity. And nothing, absolutely nothing would stop him from keeping his vow.

Not even her.

Chapter Sixteen

His lips were soft and gentle against hers. The air caught in her throat as a warm sensation coiled to her toes. She had wondered what it would be like to kiss a man, none of her imaginings had forseen this light-as-air dizziness consuming her. Nor could she have imagined the way her chest welled with some unknown emotion. Is this what her mother spoke of when she spoke of true love, or was this something different altogether?

The comfort of his arms and the simple touch of his kiss made her believe she was worthy of marriage. Worthy of love. The emotions welling inside forced all the turmoil away. The soldiers, the queen’s threats, Ari’s lies.

Ari’s lies. This kiss could not continue. He was a man with a calling on his life. A calling that left no room for a marred wife.

She slid her hands between them and shoved him away.

“You go too far, Ariel! This—” she waved between them “—this cannot be. You—you are not my betrothed.”

He blinked, his gaze focused. His furrowed brow smoothed. His eyes lightened, silver flecks she’d never before seen, vibrated and came to life. His chest rose and fell in rapid movements, his hands clenched at his sides.

He looked crazed, and she had the sudden urge to flee. She pressed her palm against her chest to halt the pounding. A pounding much stronger than when she feared the soldiers would find her and Joash.

What torment! To finally have found a man who liked her, not her father’s land. A man she could respect and maybe even love. After all the years of her parents patiently waiting for her to choose, and he was unattainable. He belonged in Jerusalem, and she in her tiny village with her ailing father and a herd of sheep.

Their hearts could never mesh. Could never become one. He was a servant of the Lord and could never leave his duties. Even if Ari was inclined to take her as his wife, he’d be an outcast for her imperfections.

Her chest ached, no longer with the delight of Ari’s attention, but with the crushing reality of a broken heart. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“You should not have done that, Ari,” she whispered.

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