Caller of Light Read Free Page B

fluttered. A blush heated her cheeks. “And I’m sorry for my outburst.” She glanced away to hide her embarrassment.
    In an unexpected movement, he cupped her chin with his hand and forced her to look into his intense eyes. “Never apologize for speaking your mind, Lady Carina.”
    She stopped breathing. Her body blazed as if she’d been seared by the white-hot fire of Criton flame. He smelled like an evergreen forest, sunlight on a spring day, the anticipation before the rain—like freedom. She could drown in those eyes with the interesting grey specks that revealed an undeniable passion, a true pathway to what lay hidden within his soul.
    He smiled, breaking the moment, and placed her hand back on his arm.
    As they wandered toward the medical barn, she grumbled, “Well, maybe I’d get into less trouble if I didn’t speak out so much.”
    Marek’s laugh filled her with unexpected pleasure and she laughed with him.
    They had almost reached the barn when her thoughts returned to the Caller. “They say she went searching for her lifemate and looks for him still.”
    Marek’s brows furrowed. “My lady?”
    “The Caller. They say her love for all eternity was lost in battle and she went looking for him and won’t stop searching in this life or the next until she finds him and their hearts are reunited.”
    They paused at the double doors as danaines fluttered around them, flitting from flower to flower. The sweet smell of hay drifted on the breeze blowing in off the Arrakan Mountains and rustled the leaves in nearby trees. Even the tanagers were enjoying the day as they jumped from branch to branch, chirping to each other.
    “Well, they also speak of Critons twice as large as ours, and little blue sprites that once lived in the forests, and that the Caller fell under the spell of the Naiads and jumped into the Locksneed River.” Marek shook his head. “No, I think what you speak of is just folklore, an invented tale to explain the unexplainable.”
    “Even so, I hope she found him and they’re together again,” Carina mumbled, uncomfortable for revealing a childhood dream.
    “Aye, looking for love is by far the best reason to leave the kings of this land struggling to defend their borders.”
    She stole a quick glance at Marek. His hooded eyes seemed lost in thought. Was he a casualty of lost love? She’d never be such a victim since she’d never marry. She tried to ignore the self-pity that settled in her stomach. At least she had Mira and the other Critons to comfort her.
    “We bring our sick or hurt Critons here,” she informed him as they entered the airy building. As if on cue, a young Criton stood in a stanchion. Carina’s heart constricted. The healer was monitoring her beloved Mira. She released Marek’s arm and rushed over to the animal. Mira lowered her head and Carina dutifully scratched behind an ear.
    “What’s wrong?” Carina asked.
    Abbey, King McKay’s best healer, finished running her hands along Mira’s flank. Abbey spoke in a soothing voice. “Mira grows into her junior years and will transition into adulthood soon. I need to determine when we should place a watch on her.”
    The healer’s long robes tumbled forward as she pulled her brown, velvet-trimmed hood over her head. She placed a gnarled hand on Carina’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, your Criton is still a few weeks away from transition.”
    Abbey turned to Marek and bobbed her head in greeting before leaving.
    Marek rubbed Mira’s nose. “You seem very fond of this Criton.”
    “Oh yes.” Carina grinned. “Father and some of his men found her orphaned when she was young. Father wanted to leave her, but I convinced him to let me keep her.”
    “Well, you’ve done an excellent job raising her.” With a final pat, he turned toward the doorway and extended his arm.
    She planted a quick kiss on Mira’s nose before curling her hand around Marek’s bicep. The little Criton snorted