Aaric's face grew serious, and I realized I had spoken aloud.
“I wouldn't have you separate yourself from your family,” he started to say. I silenced him by placing a finger on his lips.
“For better or for worse, Aaric, you are my family now. I will go where you go.” I smiled. I felt loss at the thought of leaving my clan behind, but I had made my choice. “We'll be outcasts together,” I said, then grinned. “It'll be fun, teaching you the ways of a barbarian.”
Aaric's eyes widened with alarm. He put his hand up in a defensive gesture. “Hold on, there. I didn't say we'd go and live in the woods.”
I laughed and tugged him down an old and familiar deer path. I didn't know what would happen to us, if our lives would be full of bliss or of misery, but one thing I did know—we would live and experience it together.
Sneak Peek of Book 2 in the Unbreakable Force series by Kara Jaynes
1
Adaryn
“ I can't take it anymore! I'm done. This standard of living is completely unacceptable. I don't want to live like a rover!”
I rolled my eyes at Aaric's dramatics. We had only been out in the forest a little over a week and already the man was giving up. True, we didn't have most of the luxuries he grew up with and took for granted. If I was being honest, we didn't even have most of what my clan used to get by, like tents, spare clothing and weapons for hunting. I was more than happy living off early spring berries, roots and grubs, but Aaric had . . . a more sensitive palate.
“Stop whining,” I said irritably. It had rained all night and we were both wet and cold. I’d tried to use my magic to light us a fire but the rain effectively put an end to that. I thought wistfully of my clan's tents and warm fur blankets, but shaking my head, put it stubbornly out of my mind. I’d made my choice, even if it was looking to be a little uncomfortable.
“Easy for you to say,” Aaric said miserably. “You lived your entire life eating worms and mud, but I am used to more civilized fare, such as coffee and—”
I held up a hand for silence, cutting Aaric short. I swore I heard the snap of a branch. Turning my head slowly, I strained to hear. I didn't hear the sound again.
“What are you listening for?” Aaric whispered. It sounded like a shout in the damp stillness. I glared at him.
“Nothing, now. Shades alive, when I say quiet, that means quiet!”
Aaric glowered at me in turn. “I was being quiet and I didn't hear a blasted thing.”
I threw my hands up in despair. “You're harder to take care of than a baby , Aaric!”
Aaric arched an eyebrow, giving me a sly look. “Care to test that theory?”
I laughed out loud, shocked and amused by his boldness, but I knew he was jesting. Aaric had already told me that he planned to wait until marriage. It was a custom that both our people shared.
Aaric grinned, pleased to have broken the grumpy mood. I took a good look at him. He had a smudge of mud on his forehead, his clothes were filthy and his hair was a mess. Probably not long before it starts to look like mine, I thought ruefully. I loved the woods, but looking at Aaric, I had to admit that unless we could get some supplies, I'd have to find him a different place to live. My brow furrowed in thought as I tried to think of a way out of our dilemma.
Aaric opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes widened with alarm at something past my shoulder.
I whirled, my arms raised to protect myself, hoping against hope Kingsley hadn't found us. I let my arms drop, knowing immediately that it wasn't an Oppressor, as a tall figure stepped out of the trees.
The man was dressed in furs and leather, his long hair pulled back by a narrow strip of cloth. His face was careworn and lined with many years. His brilliant blue eyes were usually soft, but they now shone with ice-cold hardness. I could tell from a glance that he was furious, as I knew that face better than my own.
“Hello, Father,” I
“I wouldn't have you separate yourself from your family,” he started to say. I silenced him by placing a finger on his lips.
“For better or for worse, Aaric, you are my family now. I will go where you go.” I smiled. I felt loss at the thought of leaving my clan behind, but I had made my choice. “We'll be outcasts together,” I said, then grinned. “It'll be fun, teaching you the ways of a barbarian.”
Aaric's eyes widened with alarm. He put his hand up in a defensive gesture. “Hold on, there. I didn't say we'd go and live in the woods.”
I laughed and tugged him down an old and familiar deer path. I didn't know what would happen to us, if our lives would be full of bliss or of misery, but one thing I did know—we would live and experience it together.
Sneak Peek of Book 2 in the Unbreakable Force series by Kara Jaynes
1
Adaryn
“ I can't take it anymore! I'm done. This standard of living is completely unacceptable. I don't want to live like a rover!”
I rolled my eyes at Aaric's dramatics. We had only been out in the forest a little over a week and already the man was giving up. True, we didn't have most of the luxuries he grew up with and took for granted. If I was being honest, we didn't even have most of what my clan used to get by, like tents, spare clothing and weapons for hunting. I was more than happy living off early spring berries, roots and grubs, but Aaric had . . . a more sensitive palate.
“Stop whining,” I said irritably. It had rained all night and we were both wet and cold. I’d tried to use my magic to light us a fire but the rain effectively put an end to that. I thought wistfully of my clan's tents and warm fur blankets, but shaking my head, put it stubbornly out of my mind. I’d made my choice, even if it was looking to be a little uncomfortable.
“Easy for you to say,” Aaric said miserably. “You lived your entire life eating worms and mud, but I am used to more civilized fare, such as coffee and—”
I held up a hand for silence, cutting Aaric short. I swore I heard the snap of a branch. Turning my head slowly, I strained to hear. I didn't hear the sound again.
“What are you listening for?” Aaric whispered. It sounded like a shout in the damp stillness. I glared at him.
“Nothing, now. Shades alive, when I say quiet, that means quiet!”
Aaric glowered at me in turn. “I was being quiet and I didn't hear a blasted thing.”
I threw my hands up in despair. “You're harder to take care of than a baby , Aaric!”
Aaric arched an eyebrow, giving me a sly look. “Care to test that theory?”
I laughed out loud, shocked and amused by his boldness, but I knew he was jesting. Aaric had already told me that he planned to wait until marriage. It was a custom that both our people shared.
Aaric grinned, pleased to have broken the grumpy mood. I took a good look at him. He had a smudge of mud on his forehead, his clothes were filthy and his hair was a mess. Probably not long before it starts to look like mine, I thought ruefully. I loved the woods, but looking at Aaric, I had to admit that unless we could get some supplies, I'd have to find him a different place to live. My brow furrowed in thought as I tried to think of a way out of our dilemma.
Aaric opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes widened with alarm at something past my shoulder.
I whirled, my arms raised to protect myself, hoping against hope Kingsley hadn't found us. I let my arms drop, knowing immediately that it wasn't an Oppressor, as a tall figure stepped out of the trees.
The man was dressed in furs and leather, his long hair pulled back by a narrow strip of cloth. His face was careworn and lined with many years. His brilliant blue eyes were usually soft, but they now shone with ice-cold hardness. I could tell from a glance that he was furious, as I knew that face better than my own.
“Hello, Father,” I
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