Six paragraphs from MATTOX, The D'Jacques Dynasty, Book 3.
1. That last pushed him
off the thin line he’d been walking. Mattox parked his hands on his hips,
forcing himself not to grab the hilt of his sword. To do so would be seen as a
threat. “Since you didn’t ask, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mattox D’Jacques, Battle Prince of Alta Novis, and I’m
not asking you anymore to leave my family’s table. I’m giving you and your
groupies to the count of five to get up and move. One.”
2. She tilted her head
in a way that told him she was waiting for his attention. Atty wore a smile he
knew so well. She had a way of reading him that initially used to annoy him
when he was younger. Now it was a precious link he felt blessed to have with
her. Even though he sometimes believed she could almost read his mind, he knew
she couldn’t. But there was an emotional connection between them. A connection
he shared also with his two siblings. A connection that let her know, as in
this case, when something was bothering him. She’d probably felt it before he’d
joined them at the table, but had chosen not to say anything until he brought
it up, or she felt compelled to. It was turning out to be the latter.
3. “No, Father. That’s
not the only reason.” Caralas placed her hand on his arm again. Thankfully, he
didn’t jerk away from her this time. “I wanted to come with you to make sure
nothing happens to you. Call me crazy. Tell me my head is full of conspiracy
theories. I don’t care. What I care about is you. And if me coming along with
you to this conference prevents Tanger or any of his men from trying to pull a
fast one on you, then it’ll be worth it.” She gave him a loving smile. “I’m not
a little girl anymore. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown up, and I can
hold my own when it comes to swordplay. I’m not going to let anything happen to
you. Not as long as I’m around to watch your back.”
4. Reaching the second
gate which separated the main part of the compound from the smaller, adjacent
one, he passed through, still ignoring the hails from the soldiers and others
who spotted him. No one said anything about him not returning their well
wishes. They were used to his temperament, and brushed it off, especially when
he wore that bright, red-eyed glare, and knew they were not the cause of his
anger. Long ago, the populace had learned that whenever the battle prince was
in a fit, he took it out on no one. Instead, he usually went to the practice
field and vented on one of the poor dummies.
5. “Believe it or not,
at this moment this storm is providing you with ample security. The wind gusts
are picking up, and becoming more frequent and unexpected. Any shot he tries
could be blown off-course at the last second, and the chance of him hitting
someone else and perhaps killing them would blow his entire plan of doing it
covertly. It would out the fact to the rest of us that there’s a hit man in our
midst, and that’s the last thing he wants, or the battle lord who hired him
wants, because then everyone will become suspicious of everyone else. They’ll
be on their guard, second-guessing every stranger, which’ll make the chance of him
getting away with anything drop to near zero. I’m guessing he’s given up for
now, and plans to resume once the storm’s passed.” He reached out, unaware of
his hand clasping her arm until he felt his fingers close around it. The
contact sent sweet ripples through him, and he nearly broke eye contact. “Just
stay alert, and always keep yourself guarded.”
6. “I usually sleep in the barracks, along with the other
unmarried soldiers, but sections of it are too damaged. So we’re having to find
other accommodations. Luckily, the townspeople are happy to open up their homes.”
He stared into those chocolate brown depths, and deeper, where her emotions and
true intent lay. When she reached out to place her hand on his chest, he felt
its warmth all the way to his core. Placing his own hand over it, he watched as
she stepped closer and lifted her mouth for him to kiss.
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