Rebel's Desire (Iron Portal Paranormal Romance Series) (Iron Portal Series Book 4) by Laurie London
Authors: Laurie London
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worked too hard for that.”
Damn the rules.
He knew his friend was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Besides,” Konal added, “if you did that, Rickert would be well within his rights to have you flogged.”
Their leader was not into any rule-bending since he got his command back. He’d been punished and temporarily stripped of his command for bringing an unauthorized enemy soldier—Neyla—through a portal, so the guy did everything by the book now. Which was irritating.
Toryn inwardly flinched. Even though it had been many years, he remembered exactly how the sting of the whip felt on his bare skin. At the orphanage, it was the headmaster’s favorite form of punishment. After a particularly brutal flogging, he’d run away and wound up training for the Warrior Games, a competition where young men competed in various speed, strength and endurance events for the chance to join the Iron Guild.
“You’ve always been a rebel, Toryn, I get that. But even a rebel has to follow some of the rules or there will be hell to pay.”
“Then I’ll take her to that old hunting cabin on the river. It’s no longer used as a rendezvous point now that the Iron Havens are operational.”
“You’re going to take her to that shithole? Ha. Good luck with that. The last time we were there, we had to knock down a huge wasp nest inside. It was not pleasant.” Konal folded his arms over his brawny chest. “So what’s with this girl, anyway? You seem…pretty attached to her. And that’s not like you.”
It was true that he kept himself emotionally detached from the women he slept with. And he was good at it. Never spending more than a night or two with each one.
But with Keely, things were different. He ached to have her in his bed night after night, watching the desire in her eyes turn to molten lava as she came, holding her in his arms, talking about things that mattered and feeling like she understood him. Although the risk of betrayal weighed heavily on him, she was chipping away at his self-control.
If he could get past his trust issues, was a future together even possible? Sure, a few of the other warriors had made it work, but could he and Keely? The truth remained that they came from two different worlds, and unlike his friends’ women, she’d grown up with personal, deep-seated beliefs that his people were barbaric assassins. Despite her assurances, their differences could ultimately tear them apart.
“She’s going through a rough patch right now and has nowhere else to turn. I’m just helping her out, that’s all.”
She was strong and capable on the outside, but on the inside, she was sensitive and vulnerable. Maybe no one else saw her like that, but he sure as hell did.
Konal sighed. “Let me talk to Rickert. I can’t make you any promises, and he’s probably going to have my head for even asking, but I’ll explain to him that you’re falling for a Pacifican girl with a Talent and that you’re concerned about her safety. That’s something the guy can relate to.”
Toryn gritted his teeth but didn’t argue. If that’s what it would take for Rickert to agree, then so be it.
Konal continued. “Maybe it’ll make a difference to him knowing she’s got the fata-blood . That’s got to count for something, right?”
As Toryn drove back to New Seattle, he thought back to that conversation on the stairs when Keely told him she was falling for him.
It would shatter her heart when—if—they parted ways. And the thought of hurting her twisted his gut into knots.
Chapter Twelve
“ Y ou can take it off now,” Toryn said gruffly.
Keely reached up and removed the blindfold, a requirement set forth by the other warriors. She blinked a few times as she peered out the Jeep’s windshield. Even though it was dark outside, it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust.
She had zero clue where they were. No one outside of the group he worked with could know the location of this
Damn the rules.
He knew his friend was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Besides,” Konal added, “if you did that, Rickert would be well within his rights to have you flogged.”
Their leader was not into any rule-bending since he got his command back. He’d been punished and temporarily stripped of his command for bringing an unauthorized enemy soldier—Neyla—through a portal, so the guy did everything by the book now. Which was irritating.
Toryn inwardly flinched. Even though it had been many years, he remembered exactly how the sting of the whip felt on his bare skin. At the orphanage, it was the headmaster’s favorite form of punishment. After a particularly brutal flogging, he’d run away and wound up training for the Warrior Games, a competition where young men competed in various speed, strength and endurance events for the chance to join the Iron Guild.
“You’ve always been a rebel, Toryn, I get that. But even a rebel has to follow some of the rules or there will be hell to pay.”
“Then I’ll take her to that old hunting cabin on the river. It’s no longer used as a rendezvous point now that the Iron Havens are operational.”
“You’re going to take her to that shithole? Ha. Good luck with that. The last time we were there, we had to knock down a huge wasp nest inside. It was not pleasant.” Konal folded his arms over his brawny chest. “So what’s with this girl, anyway? You seem…pretty attached to her. And that’s not like you.”
It was true that he kept himself emotionally detached from the women he slept with. And he was good at it. Never spending more than a night or two with each one.
But with Keely, things were different. He ached to have her in his bed night after night, watching the desire in her eyes turn to molten lava as she came, holding her in his arms, talking about things that mattered and feeling like she understood him. Although the risk of betrayal weighed heavily on him, she was chipping away at his self-control.
If he could get past his trust issues, was a future together even possible? Sure, a few of the other warriors had made it work, but could he and Keely? The truth remained that they came from two different worlds, and unlike his friends’ women, she’d grown up with personal, deep-seated beliefs that his people were barbaric assassins. Despite her assurances, their differences could ultimately tear them apart.
“She’s going through a rough patch right now and has nowhere else to turn. I’m just helping her out, that’s all.”
She was strong and capable on the outside, but on the inside, she was sensitive and vulnerable. Maybe no one else saw her like that, but he sure as hell did.
Konal sighed. “Let me talk to Rickert. I can’t make you any promises, and he’s probably going to have my head for even asking, but I’ll explain to him that you’re falling for a Pacifican girl with a Talent and that you’re concerned about her safety. That’s something the guy can relate to.”
Toryn gritted his teeth but didn’t argue. If that’s what it would take for Rickert to agree, then so be it.
Konal continued. “Maybe it’ll make a difference to him knowing she’s got the fata-blood . That’s got to count for something, right?”
As Toryn drove back to New Seattle, he thought back to that conversation on the stairs when Keely told him she was falling for him.
It would shatter her heart when—if—they parted ways. And the thought of hurting her twisted his gut into knots.
Chapter Twelve
“ Y ou can take it off now,” Toryn said gruffly.
Keely reached up and removed the blindfold, a requirement set forth by the other warriors. She blinked a few times as she peered out the Jeep’s windshield. Even though it was dark outside, it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust.
She had zero clue where they were. No one outside of the group he worked with could know the location of this
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