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

throng of people, and I hung onto his arm and continued to use him as my crutch. Even though I could see the end of the walkway that led back into Kinloch Kirk, trying to cut through the crowd was nearly impossible. The partygoers were merrily drinking what looked like mead. Some were singing and others had already started dancing. All of which prevented us from getting very far.
    “Desperate times call for …” Sinjin started as he pulled me closer to him. Before I knew it, I felt the cold night air against my face. We dematerialized and swiftly bypassed the animated crowd. I instinctively hung on tightly to Sinjin, wrapping both of my arms around him. I wasn’t used to this form of travel and it made me nervous. I preferred to keep both of my feet firmly planted on terra firma … and in tennis shoes. When we landed, Sinjin glanced down at me with a boyish grin. “Desperate measures.”
    I cleared my throat and frowned, not at all comfortable with being so close to him. The truth was that Sinjin, as a rule, made me uncomfortable. There was just something about him that made me feel things I had no business feeling—sexual things. And there was no room in my life for amorous longings.
    As a warrior, I was always, first and foremost, a fighter. I was skillfully trained in the art of combat; and the whole point of my existence was to protect my tribe. I’d never before felt the stirrings of longing and sexual passion, which was just fine by me. But then I’d met Sinjin who just happened to be the most sexually charged man I’d ever encountered. And, yes, all of my former levelheadedness flew right out the window. Lately, it seemed my hormones were suddenly out of control, and I was beginning to feel like one tightly wound ball of sexual frustration.
    But after Sinjin’s resolute threat that he would have no problem ending my life if he needed to, I became even firmer in my conviction that any feelings for Sinjin, sexual or otherwise, were a big, huge, gigantic, colossal mistake. It was best to banish them to the back of my mind, and take a mental or physical cold shower … repeatedly. I found some comfort in imagining that once I was safely away from Sinjin, and reunited with my people again, I could focus on simply rooting out and abolishing every last one of my sexual desires. Then I could look forward to returning to the cool, calm and calculated woman I used to be.
    But for now, my focus had to remain on locating my sister.
    “You may release me now, beautiful heathen,” Sinjin said with a knowing smile. Only then did I realize, with dismay, that I was still clinging to him.
    I didn’t say anything but released him as if he’d just turned scalding hot. He continued to smile down at me in that self-assured and highly irritating fashion of his. I just frowned at him before facing forward and searching for any sign of Jolie.
    Standing in the vestibule of Kinloch Kirk, we watched the crowd from the courtyard as it began to cluster in the empty foyer. I glimpsed up the stairs and saw the door to the first guest room along the hallway opening. My sister stepped out of it with Rand right behind her. She’d changed her clothes and was now dressed in a white pencil skirt with a white fitted jacket, which only seemed to accentuate her swollen belly. Her blond hair was pulled up into a neat chignon, and the mint green silk blouse beneath her jacket complemented her pale skin perfectly. Rand was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt that contrasted nicely against his tanned skin. He was undeniably handsome with chocolate brown hair that matched the chocolate shade of his eyes. His smile was sincere, and dimples appeared on either side of his mouth.
    As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Balfour appeared in the hallway, a round of cheering and clapping arose from the audience and grew louder by the minute. But before Jolie could take another step, I started for the staircase.
    “Ahem,” Sinjin cleared his throat. He gripped my