Wicked Lord of Thessaly (Halcyon Romance Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

her boot and poised the blade toward his throat. “Why not send a Lapith to procure the waters? Why risk yourself for a mere village boy?”
    Agrius leaned back and scratched his jaw. “A valid question.” He dropped his hand and huffed. “In truth, ’tis no village boy. The one who is ill is my brother. I could entrust such a task to no one but myself.”
    She sank onto her knees, lowering the dagger. “You told me it was a Lapith boy so I would be more empathetic to your cause.”
    He held up his hands in surrender. “You saved my life, but I could not expect you to spare another centaur’s.”
    “You will not lie to me again.” She tipped the point of her blade toward him once more. “The next falsehood you speak will end your life. Understand?”
    His eyes flashed in mirth. “Aye, Agrotere .”
    ***
    Agrius chuckled at the capable and fiery female who’d drawn a blade on him as fast as any male. That she hadn’t yet sliced his throat indicated he could trust her.
    “Your brother, what is wrong with him?”
    He started at her renewed questioning and inclined his head. “He’s grieving the loss of his mate who died in childbirth to their sons.”
    “And you, you have no sons? Or daughters. Or…wives.” Her tone pitched high over the last word.
    Ah. His horse stamped about, demanding to utter what he could not, because she was the only female he sought.
    My mate.
    The longer he scented her, the more this flaming ache in his arm screamed she was the female his horse had chosen.
    Sweet gods. He blinked and focused on Eione’s lips, on the words she formed. Not on that lush mouth, fastened around his cock.
    Hell. He scraped a hand across his jaw and shifted his hips to conceal the enormity of his arousal. “No wife, no children.”
    “Ah, good.” Eione nodded. “That’s, ah, good.” She cleared her throat, a flush creeping along her cheeks in a most becoming manner.
    Gods, she was exquisite.
    “Why does your brother not fetch the waters himself?”
    “Oreius?” He expelled the air from his lungs in a low huff. “My brother is not well. Hasn’t been well, not since his mate passed.”
    “Oh, that is so sad.” She drew her mouth tight. This female was caring and empathetic. Her kindness pricked at his chest.
    “My turn for a question.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “If you didn’t intend to kill me, why did you shoot me?”
    Her spine straightened, shoulders setting stiffly. “I was hunting. I mistook your centaur flank for a stag’s. You’re much the same color in the dawn’s rays.” Her tilted chin dared him to defy her words.
    Instead, he reclined, chuckling. “My brothers will hound me on this for a century, at least.”
    She chimed a laugh, crisp and light in his ears. “I promise not to tell them.”
    The image of introducing Eione to his brothers and his father, as his mate, flashed through his mind, filling his chest with warmth and pride.
    Then the picture faded and the truth of their worlds closed in. Her family would never accept his offer of marriage, and to take her hand without their permission would be an enormous transgression among his people.
    She would never be his.
    “It’s getting late.” She sighed at the setting sun and crept to the opening. “I should return home.” Her golden locks, framed in the entrance, glinted in the sun’s rays. So lovely, exactly as she’d been when he’d first glimpsed her, mistaking her for a goddess.
    Now, he knew. She might not be a celestial being, but she was just as forbidden to him.
    “Lady Eione.” He shuffled forward on his knees, pleading her name and grasping for her hand. Agrius closed his fingers around hers, and there was no denying the truth. He was wrong to presume she might be his, yet nothing had ever felt so right as her slender hand wrapped in his.
    “Yes?”
    Agrius seized the back of her head and slanted her mouth to his, stealing her kiss like the wicked beast he was.
    She flung