Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

Magnus thought to argue, but it would do little good. He would have his say and make certain she understood, then he would look at her drawing, for he wished to see for himself how she viewed him.

“I wish you to remain close to the keep—”

Before he could finish, Reena spoke up, her drawing hand slowing until it stilled. “Why do you fear for my safety?”

He should have realized she would question him. She was the only one in his service who did and the only one he would tolerate doing so. When he issued a command, it was to be obeyed, not questioned. Not so Reena, but he had come to accept that about her. Her spark of challenge and adventure intrigued him and made her all the more appealing.

He was honest with her; he could be no other way, for she would haunt him with questions until she discovered the answers. “You are my mapmaker and therefore you hold certain knowledge that could benefit my enemies. It is wise of me to protect you.”

She borrowed his habit of a moment’s silent thought while considering the matter at hand. “That makes much sense and I understand your concern. I will make you aware of my whereabouts so you need not worry, and I will not foolishly venture off on my own.”

He’d thought she would argue with him, but then she was sensible. At least in certain matters she was sensible.

Her hand immediately returned to drawing, her eyes squinted, she chewed at her bottom lip, and Magnus knew she was lost in her work. He watched her engrossed in her drawing. He noticed a small beauty mark near her right ear and a faint scar at her hairline above her left eye. Her blue eyes reminded him of the sky on a crisp, clear day, and her lips did not quite match in size.

But what amazed him the most was the intensity she put into her drawings. He wondered if she even realized she possessed such a passion, such a driving force to create. Would that passion extend to lovemaking? Would she find it a work of art and pour her passion into it as much as she did with her drawings?

Of late he had thought much of intimacy with Reena. The innocent touches, the few shared kisses had made it necessary for him to address the emotions that were stirring in him. While sex had always been a driving force within him, a need, a want he could satisfy with any willing woman, now he found he wanted something different with Reena.

Did his need to protect her rise from that? Was love nipping heavily at his heels? The thought that she would suffer needlessly because she was his mapmaker did not sit well with him. Visions of the keep’s torture chamber weighed heavily on his mind and the mere thought that Reena would suffer for what knowledge she knew angered him.

“You will surrender any and all information asked of you concerning me if you are ever taken captive,” he said with a sudden firmness that startled Reena.

“I would not betray you.” Her own response was firm, yet soft.

“It is not about betrayal; it is about survival, and I wish you to survive.”

She stared at him, his words haunting her thoughts. Did he care for her? Did he worry over her safety? Or was she merely a servant worth more alive to him than dead?

“You will do as I say and not suffer because of me.”

She lowered her glance to the paper where she had sketched his face. She felt tears rush up to wet her eyes. She fought them like a warrior bent on pushing back advancing enemy troops, and she held them at bay.

“You suffer.” She barely whispered the words.

He looked confused and was about to shake his head when she held up the drawing tablet for him to see.

He was stunned silent, for there in his face she had captured not only his strength but also his weakness. While his features were cold and hard and portrayed him capable of any command, she had captured in his dark eyes the heaviness of his heart when difficult decisions needed to be made. There was his suffering, his anguish of doing what was necessary but not necessarily right. There was the war he fought within himself. Good and evil. He possessed both traits, and they warred within him like vengeful enemies.

He could not take his eyes off the drawing. It was as if he was able to see the two men in one that he had become.

The troubled look in his eyes and the unease with which he shifted in his seat had Reena reaching out to him. She placed her hand over his, and he instantly threaded his fingers with hers and clung tightly.