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

waist with both hands and stopped me as soon as my foot touched the first step. “I am much faster than you, pet.”
    No sooner did he embrace me than I felt the air swishing past my face again. He dematerialized and moments later, we were at the top of the staircase, right in front of my sister and Rand. I wasn’t sure who was more shocked at finding ourselves face-to-face, Jolie or me.
    “What the …?” Jolie started, taking a step backward. Rand’s eyebrows furrowed in the middle of his forehead and he looked perturbed, to say the least.
    “What’s …” he started.
    “I don’t have time to explain!” I protested before lurching to grab my sister’s hand. I pulled her next to me in a huge bear hug that nearly made me lose my balance in my ridiculous shoes. Good thing Sinjin was standing directly behind me.
    “Bryn!” Jolie reprimanded me. “What’s gotten into you?!”
    “We’re running out of time!” I yelled back as I turned to face Sinjin to let him know we were both ready to get a move on.
    “You need to calm down,” Jolie started. “And explain to me what’s gotten you into such a panic.”
    “I can’t! We don’t have time!” I spat the words out and gripped Sinjin’s hand to let him know I was ready for him to materialize us to wherever he had in mind. “Go, Sinjin!”
    But he immediately started chuckling and shook his head. He appeared completely at ease; damn him. “I’m afraid I cannot transport us holding hands, Princess, as I will not be able to maintain a good enough grip on either of you.”
    “What is going on?” Rand finally demanded, his voice escalating with anger. He took turns spearing me and Sinjin with his narrowed eyes and fierce expression. “Why and how is Jolie in trouble?”
    “Luce is coming,” I answered in an even-keeled voice as soon as I realized no one was going to listen to me until I explained myself.
    “Luce is coming?” Jolie repeated. She frowned and I could see the fear starting to bubble up in her eyes.
    How do you know? she asked me through the telepathic connection we shared.
    He told me, I responded.
    Just then, Rand reached forward and gripped my shoulder to get my attention. “Explain,” he started.
    “I don’t have time to explain,” I repeated myself before shaking free from his hold. “All I can say is that he’s coming and you need to figure out how to protect your people.” I took a deep breath and shook my head again, my own panic starting to overwhelm me. “I can’t help you with that, Rand. All I can do is make sure I get my sister to safety and keep her away from Luce.”
    “And why should I trust you with my wife’s safety?” Rand demanded, his expression one that said in no uncertain terms that he didn’t trust me.
    “You can trust her,” Jolie announced firmly. Her eyes settled on me as she added, “I can trust her.”
    “As your protector, your safety is my primary concern, my queen,” Sinjin announced as he faced my sister with a deadpan expression.
    Jolie opened her mouth, looking like she was about to say something, when the sound of screaming hurt my ears. It was followed by the sounds of arguing, of loudly raised voices.
    “He’s here,” I said, hearing my own hollow voice. “It’s too late. He’s already here.”
    The audience below us started to turn around in wonder as the screams continued to infiltrate the room. They sounded like they were coming from the rear of the house, where the wedding festivities had just occurred. Next came the sounds of explosions and gunfire. I watched Jolie’s eyes go wide as she turned to face Rand, but before either of them could say anything, Sinjin embraced us both.
    The brisk wind on my face was the only indicator that Sinjin was transporting us. As to where we were going, though, I didn’t have a clue.

TWO

    When we touched down on land, I was able to catch my breath. I glanced around, but didn’t recognize my surroundings. I figured we had to be somewhere