Aaron's Kiss Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 7) Read Free

stepped back with her.
    He stopped for a second, then threw back his head and laughed. “And how will the owner explain why this particular building still stands when all around it has crumbled?”
    “I don’t care so long as the people who enter here leave with the sense of worth and happiness.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s go and meet your friend so we can get back to the castle.”
    Marcus nodded toward a set of closed doors, and Mel followed him. Magic blasted her as soon as she stepped through the door. White magic, pure and barely touched, slapped her hard in the face. Beautiful and warm, it made her feel happiness, more than she’d given the post in the front and even more pure. This child’s was untapped magic at its purest.
    The girl stood in the middle of the room surrounded by all the weaponry needed to train. She was tall for her age. Marcus had said she was just eleven years old. Mel wondered what her parents thought about her magic and remembered that Marcus had told her Sara was an orphan. Mel sat down as Marcus changed as he walked across the floor, his clothing of his guard’s uniform fading away to that of a pair of worn jeans and a t-shirt.
    “You’re late, asshole. You said you’d be here an hour ago and now I have a class.” Her voice was hard, a direct contrast to the little girl standing so still in the middle of the room.
    “I was detained. You think to teach me a lesson, child? I’m thinking you need your bottom paddled for the use of such language.” When she snorted at Marcus, he continued. “Ah, you think I jest? No, I’ve come to teach you a thing or two about fighting. Have you studied the book I gave you from before?”
    “Yeah, big deal. That book you gave me is really crap. There was nothing in there about what we talked about. I asked you how I get to have a sword that doesn’t feel like I have to break an arm every time I want to lift it.” She lifted the sword in her hand up to his face when he was close enough to almost touch her. “That’s close enough.”
    The sword was too long for her, even Mel could tell that. Mel closed her eyes and had one fashioned for her. All the child had to do was touch the handle and the sword would be hers. Weight, balance, and even the length would be specifically fit for her. Mel reached out to Marcus mentally and asked him to give her the blade.
    “Don’t touch the handle. It will work only for the person who touches it. Tell her that you’ve had it made for her.” Mel handed him the blade by the crown, and Marcus took it by the pommel.
    She didn’t think the child was going to take it, but when she looked over at Mel, she nodded once and wrapped her hand around it. Mel felt the connection immediately. Magic like hers poured though the connection, and Mel knew that Sara felt it, too.
    “It’s nice. Thanks,” she said to Mel before turning back to Marcus. “Who’s the broad?”
    Mel nearly burst out laughing at the expression on Marcus’s face. He’d been taught from birth to respect her as the queen. This chit had a few things to learn, the least of which would be respect, if she made the cut.
    “You’ll keep a civil tongue in your head,” he told her. “I told you before I was bringing someone. Now behave or I’ll take the flat of my blade to your bottom.”
    The girl snorted. “You can try, old man. I’m not one of your rug rats to be ordered about. If you want to show off for your girlfriend, that’s fine by me.”
    Her new blade sang through the air and sliced a tear in Marcus’s shirt. The move was so quick Mel was surprised by it. Marcus only grinned.
    “First blood.” He bowed as he spoke. “Today we fight for blood, not tears in our clothing. I’ll give to you this shot, but we go for good. Ready?”
    “No. I won’t hurt you. I refuse to play like this so some woman will have sex with you.” Sara dropped the blade to the floor as she spoke. “I told you before I’m only here because they’ll