Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) by Morgan Wylie Page B
Authors: Morgan Wylie
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going on about being a “big girl” and about “taking care of myself and have for many years,” clearly irate about the need for privacy to Daegan’s complete confusion.
“Kaeleigh.” Daegan’s commanding voice broke through her ranting and she immediately felt embarrassed and immature. He was still just standing and focused on her with an intense gaze a good twenty feet away by the tree that he had just come out from behind. His arms were crossed accentuating his very strong build and tight muscles. Not even giving her a second to blink, he was right in front of her, almost touching her but not close enough. His eyes pierced her with fury along with something else akin to being insulted. “I gave an oath that I would protect you!” he spat out a little more gruffly than he had intended to.
“So? If I run away from you, that’s on me... NOT on you. My choice!” Kaeleigh spewed back at him as she took a step closer.
With even more anger Daegan fired back, “Then you do not trust me to be able to fulfill my vow to you. You dishonor me by taking it so lightly. You do not understand a warrior’s vow.” He took a step backward and, giving her a mocking bow of his head, he turned to stand guard back by the tree from whence he came.
Kaeleigh’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Daegan. Wait. I didn’t mean...” She jogged to catch up to him and grabbed his upper arm. When her delicate fingers gripped his very firm muscular bicep, there was a brief shock similar to what she had experienced before at his touch but this was almost painful. Quickly, she pulled her hand back to her chest, eyes wide with a shock. He spun back toward her, apparently also surprised as his eyes widened a fraction from the glare he had meant to bestow upon her and moved instead to the place where she had touched him... to the marking on his arm distinguishing him as one of the elite guards, then back to her with a hint of confusion and now concern.
“Daegan, I’m sorry,” she said genuinely. “I didn’t mean to dishonor you. I appreciate your service to me and my friends thus far, and I...” Kaeleigh swallowed her pride and her fear of being out of control of her own well-being. “I’m choosing to trust you, Daegan. I don’t give that easily, you need to know—whether you deserve it as my sworn protector or not.” Finishing her words, she looked back up into his eyes where she stared far longer than what was appropriate, but she couldn’t tear hers away.
He knew he was asking something of her that he hadn’t ever truly given to anyone before. Daegan knew it wasn’t fair, but he challenged her and she accepted. She was brave. He took another step closer. They were mere inches apart. She looked up at him with determination mixed with vulnerability at her choice. Daegan could see all the gold flecks of her eyes and how they sparked when her emotions were charged as they were now. Her chest rose and fell more frequently the closer they stood. He could lean in... but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Daegan took a step back for both of them, breaking the spell that was drawing them close. He didn’t want to compromise his job to protect her or hers to save them all.
Suddenly awkward, Kaeleigh dropped her eyes and turned back toward the water’s edge, sitting, turning her back to him and tucking her knees to her chest. Taking a deep breath, almost imperceptibly she asked, “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know what the prophecy... what this place expects of me, not to mention that I am one girl and have no idea how I can help. I can barely cook myself dinner.”
Something pinched in his chest at her openness. Daegan took a few hesitant steps toward her, unsure if his approach would be welcome after their more than awkward almost kiss. He berated himself at the foolishness of letting his body react to her and then at his emotions for wanting to. Her dark long hair moved slightly in the slight breeze, the color reminding him
“Kaeleigh.” Daegan’s commanding voice broke through her ranting and she immediately felt embarrassed and immature. He was still just standing and focused on her with an intense gaze a good twenty feet away by the tree that he had just come out from behind. His arms were crossed accentuating his very strong build and tight muscles. Not even giving her a second to blink, he was right in front of her, almost touching her but not close enough. His eyes pierced her with fury along with something else akin to being insulted. “I gave an oath that I would protect you!” he spat out a little more gruffly than he had intended to.
“So? If I run away from you, that’s on me... NOT on you. My choice!” Kaeleigh spewed back at him as she took a step closer.
With even more anger Daegan fired back, “Then you do not trust me to be able to fulfill my vow to you. You dishonor me by taking it so lightly. You do not understand a warrior’s vow.” He took a step backward and, giving her a mocking bow of his head, he turned to stand guard back by the tree from whence he came.
Kaeleigh’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Daegan. Wait. I didn’t mean...” She jogged to catch up to him and grabbed his upper arm. When her delicate fingers gripped his very firm muscular bicep, there was a brief shock similar to what she had experienced before at his touch but this was almost painful. Quickly, she pulled her hand back to her chest, eyes wide with a shock. He spun back toward her, apparently also surprised as his eyes widened a fraction from the glare he had meant to bestow upon her and moved instead to the place where she had touched him... to the marking on his arm distinguishing him as one of the elite guards, then back to her with a hint of confusion and now concern.
“Daegan, I’m sorry,” she said genuinely. “I didn’t mean to dishonor you. I appreciate your service to me and my friends thus far, and I...” Kaeleigh swallowed her pride and her fear of being out of control of her own well-being. “I’m choosing to trust you, Daegan. I don’t give that easily, you need to know—whether you deserve it as my sworn protector or not.” Finishing her words, she looked back up into his eyes where she stared far longer than what was appropriate, but she couldn’t tear hers away.
He knew he was asking something of her that he hadn’t ever truly given to anyone before. Daegan knew it wasn’t fair, but he challenged her and she accepted. She was brave. He took another step closer. They were mere inches apart. She looked up at him with determination mixed with vulnerability at her choice. Daegan could see all the gold flecks of her eyes and how they sparked when her emotions were charged as they were now. Her chest rose and fell more frequently the closer they stood. He could lean in... but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Daegan took a step back for both of them, breaking the spell that was drawing them close. He didn’t want to compromise his job to protect her or hers to save them all.
Suddenly awkward, Kaeleigh dropped her eyes and turned back toward the water’s edge, sitting, turning her back to him and tucking her knees to her chest. Taking a deep breath, almost imperceptibly she asked, “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know what the prophecy... what this place expects of me, not to mention that I am one girl and have no idea how I can help. I can barely cook myself dinner.”
Something pinched in his chest at her openness. Daegan took a few hesitant steps toward her, unsure if his approach would be welcome after their more than awkward almost kiss. He berated himself at the foolishness of letting his body react to her and then at his emotions for wanting to. Her dark long hair moved slightly in the slight breeze, the color reminding him
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