The Power of Fate (The Triad Series Book 5) by Kate Pearce Page A

soldier!”
    Rekk started walking in the direction Orin pointed. He could work with this. Mya and Orin would get him to the Temple whether he liked it or not. Once they were there and separated, Orin would quickly recover from his infatuation and everything would be well. He wouldn’t even think about his bond with Mya.
    So if that was the case, why did he feel as if he were making a terrible mistake?
    “ Incoming. Don’t shoot—unless you want to shoot Rekk who’s an ass for running off in the first place .”
    Thank the Gods. That was Orin’s voice. Mya lowered her weapon but didn’t put it away as she scooted off the bed and went to the side of the door. She unlocked the security code and stood back as Rekk was shoved into the room followed by Orin.
    She immediately grabbed hold of Rekk’s shoulders. “Are you okay? Why did you leave us?”
    He swallowed hard. His face was muddy and his expression grim.
    “I thought you would be better off without me bringing the Etruscans onto you.”
    “So noble and yet so fucking wrong,” Orin muttered. “I told him it’s our job to get him to the Temple. If he wants to be all heroic and shit after that, he can do what the frak he pleases.”
    Mya glanced over at Orin who was looking equally surly. “What’s wrong?”
    “Why would you think anything is wrong? I just love sneaking around the forest saving dickheads from shooting Etruscans in the head.”
    Rekk shoved a hand through his disordered blond hair. “I believe he is talking about me, although I am not certain what a dickhead is.” Rekk looked from Orin to Mya. “I am sorry. I will not attempt to escape again. I will accept your escort to the Temple.”
    “Thanks for nothing.” Orin turned on his heel. “I’m taking a shower.”
    Mya winced as the door slammed hard behind him. “Why is he in such an awful mood?”
    Rekk sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his hands over his face. “Because I told him to leave me in the forest, and he became angry for my lack of gratitude for his protection.”
    “That doesn’t sound like Orin.” Mya studied Rekk intently. “He’s usually the calmest and most efficient man I’ve ever met in a crisis situation.”
    “I… annoy him.”
    “You certainly unsettle him, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He does have a tendency to think he knows everything.” Mya sat beside him and took his hand. “This is difficult for you, but we really do want to get you safely to the Temple.”
    “Yes, Orin said it was your mission, and that he doesn’t like to fail.”
    “Now, that is just like him. You don’t dislike him, do you?”
    “Orin? No, on the contrary, I find much to admire in him. I only wish—”
    The bathroom door opened and Orin came out, a small towel draped around his hips. Rekk stopped speaking and simply stared at the other man.
    “What do you wish, Rekk?” Mya asked quietly.
    He rose as if in a daze, his eyes fixed on Orin. “I should shower myself.”
    “You do that, Rekk. And this time don’t leave out of the window.” Orin didn’t move aside, so Rekk had to push past him. “Don’t take too long, or I’ll have to come in there and find you.”
    Rekk nodded and went into the bathroom while Orin started to dry himself off.
    “What’s going on?” Mya said. “You’re acting as if you hate him, and he’s staring at you as if you are his favorite dessert.”
    Orin stopped long enough to fix her with a piercing blue stare. “Nothing happened, okay? And that’s the way he wants it.”
    “Did you try to… kiss him again?”
    “No.”
    “Did you want to?”
    Silence greeted her question.
    “Orin.”
    He crouched down by the bags containing the items she’d bought.
    “Do you have any new underwear or a clean T-shirt in here?”
    She came off the bed and hunkered down beside him, using her fingertips to catch the water rolling down his muscled back. He shivered.
    “Don’t do that.”
    “Why not?” She leaned in and licked the