Caller of Light Read Free Page A

member of King Duncan’s legion, how could he not know the reason his king had traveled here?
    “Aye, of course. And we did arrive early, which explains why no one greeted us. I guess that leaves you to guide me.” He extended his arm.
    After a small pause, she placed her hand on his leather-clad forearm and tried to calm the rabble of danaines dancing in her stomach. His breathtaking smile as a reward for her courage stunned her senses. But the world stopped moving and the air stilled in her lungs when his fingers grazed across the back of her hand before motioning in front of him.
    “Where do we go from here, my lady?”

3 – WALK
    Carina squirmed at the blatant stares from the servants as she guided King Duncan’s man around the grounds. She’d never escorted anyone before, let alone a soldier who displayed such courtesy, and his special attention made her jittery. But his casual manner calmed her nerves, and after showing him the castle and main grounds, she felt comfortable enough to ask for his name.
    He frowned at her question. Her stomach churned in turmoil thinking she’d been too forward. But he surprised her.
    “Call me Marek,” he answered with a casual shrug.
    She blushed at the familiarity he bestowed upon her and whispered his name under her breath.
    As she led him toward the pastures and rockier areas, she pointed to the barracks where Duncan’s men would stay. They continued their walk down a narrow roadway until Marek stopped at a fence next to a mountainous outcropping leading to several Criton lairs. Ovine grazed in the field.
    Her chest swelled when she noticed his eyes light up at the impressive array of Critons flying overhead or perching on rocky knolls. “Father says we have the largest unbonded nest around.”
    “I agree. But I’d prefer to see more adults with bonded riders.”
    She nodded. “I wonder what happened to the Caller.”
    Marek rested a hand on the top post railing. “No one knows.”
    “It’s a shame Callers cannot Criton-bond.”
    “I guess a Caller’s burden is to only see the tether between rider and Criton.”
    Although she didn’t totally understand the complexity of Criton-bonding, the enormity of the joining still awed her. A hollow ache filled her chest as she stared at the pasture. “I know. But it’s kind of sad, don’t you think? To have the ability to see the connection between two separated souls and bring them together for the bonding, yet never able to experience it?”
    Marek’s lips twitched into a soft smile. “I suppose never joining in the communion could be disappointing. Powerful Callers can bond with a lifemate,” he added in an encouraging tone.
    They slipped into a comfortable silence as a black Criton named Midnight dove from a ledge and grabbed an unsuspecting ovine in his mouth before the herd could scatter. Carina watched the Criton carry the bleating animal back to his den. The ovine kicked and thrashed until Midnight’s jaws closed and the animal stilled.
    Although ovine served as food, Carina hated to see an animal die and offered a silent prayer to the Gods. When she turned her attention back to Marek, he was staring at her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. “What?”
    He shrugged and continued to eye her. “Most women are too squeamish to observe Critons feeding.”
    Exactly what did he mean? That something was wrong with her because she didn’t swoon at the sight? “Well, how else are they to live?” she snapped with a defiant tilt of her chin. “And I prayed for the ovine, asking that it receive eternal blessings. Did you bestow such a request?”
    She jerked her hand off his arm and stood glaring at him through narrowed eyes.
    Marek threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I’m humbled by your kindness for the poor animal. Please, forgive my insult for that wasn’t my intent.”
    The warmth in his voice radiated over her, while his smile crinkled the tiny lines around his eyes. Her heart