The Scent (The Bryn and Sinjin Series Book 2) Read Free

me,” I fired back, my frustration and disappointment taking turns attacking me. “And that’s fine, Sinjin. You can hate me and doubt me all you want. I don’t care,” I admitted, taking a deep breath. “The only thing I do care about is Jolie, and on that point, I need you to believe me.” Neither of us said anything for the course of a few seconds. We just stared at each other. I could feel the time ticking by, seconds slipping through my fingers as I wondered how close Luce was to showing up. “Please, Sinjin, if you’ve never believed or trusted me before, please give me the benefit of the doubt now,” I begged him in a soft voice. “I’m telling you the truth. I swear I am.”
    “Save your histrionics,” he said coolly. He eyed me narrowly for another few seconds before he exhaled and simply nodded. “I will give you the benefit of the doubt just this once.”
    “Good,” I answered with a curt nod. Relief washed over me as I turned to the next topic at hand—locating my sister. I started to turn on my heel when his icy hand on my arm stopped me. I turned back around and found his eyes riveted on mine.
    “If I discover you are lying, I will not forget it.”
    “Yes, I already know—you’ll drain me of my blood and enjoy doing it and yadda yadda yadda. I get it,” I grumbled. But judging by the resolute expression on Sinjin’s face, he wasn’t finished with his warning.
    “I will not be as forgiving as I have been in the past where you were concerned.”
    “Okay,” I answered quickly, nodding. I wanted to drive home the point that I understood exactly what he was saying, and had no arguments with it so we could get the show on the road. “We’re running out of time, Sinjin. We need to get my sister to safety now!” I turned around again and scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Jolie, but everyone was standing up, applauding, and blocking my view. “Do you see her?” I asked, while still keeping my eyes fastened on the crowd.
    “I do not,” Sinjin answered. “I believe she and the warlock have already made their way down the aisle and are due to make their entrance as Mr. and Mrs. Balfour.”
    “We have to get her out of here before that happens,” I answered absentmindedly, still searching for Jolie. “We also need to warn Rand, so he can figure out what to do about everyone else,” I finished and started forward. I was pleased to see Sinjin apparently knew the proceedings of weddings, because I certainly didn’t. As a warrior, though, I’d never had the need to understand such trivial matters, especially when marriage didn’t even exist in my tribe.
    “Everyone else?” Sinjin repeated with a little, sarcastic laugh. “I thought your only concern was your sister?”
    I glanced back at him and frowned, but didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get into a long-winded conversation, especially when time was not on our side. Instead, I faced forward again and started up the walkway. I was so overcome with the need to find Jolie that I forgot I was wearing three-inch, stiletto heels. And I NEVER wore heels. Consequently, my next steps turned out to be too bold, and the heel of my shoe got caught in a crevice between the uneven stone pavers beneath me. I wobbled for a second or two, wondering if I could manage to right myself. Instead, I lost my balance. Emitting a funny chirp, I started to fall. Moments later, Sinjin wrapped his arm around my middle as he hoisted me up, making sure I saw his haughty grin as he did so.
    “I always find it quite amusing that you are a stunning woman, and yet, you cannot function as one, my little imp,” he whispered in an entertained tone of voice. “I would sooner mistake you for a barbarian than a civilized lady.”
    This wasn’t news and I wasn’t offended. “I’m a fighter, not a lover,” I said with a shrug and a smile.
    Sinjin chuckled, but once his laugh died, neither of us said anything more. He pushed through the