Broken Aro (The Broken Ones) (32 page)

She ducked her head when his words caused her cheeks
to flush. "I just wish he'd leave me alone."

"He believes you will be a queen. They are
powerful. Powerful enough to fight a Dragos. He has reason to take interest in
you."

She grimaced. "I'm making my walls stronger this
time. Maybe eventually I'll be able to keep him out."

He glanced over at her. "What you did...it is
impressive."

She laughed. "For a human?"

"Yes," he said, smiling faintly.

"Could you keep him out?"

"If I were stronger. At home..." He shook his
head and looked away again. "Even then, not if he really wanted in. It
would not be easy for him however." He looked over at her again. "You've
left your surface thoughts free. How did you know to do that? I had wondered at
that."

She shrugged. "I don't know. It felt right."

He nodded as if her words made perfect sense.

She glanced over at him as she began pulling up grass.
"Can you be in my head? Like he was this time? Can you see what I made?"

"Yes."

She paused a moment. "Have you been already?"

He shook his head. "Not within your mind. I...read
surface thoughts. That is all."

She nodded she understood. "Can you talk to me,
in my head?"

He chuckled. "I could. Yes."

She chewed on her lower lip for a moment. "Could
you help me? Teach me how to make my walls stronger. Or better. Whatever."

He regarded her thoughtfully for a while. Was he
struggling to think of a nice way to say no? A blush of embarrassment crept
across her cheeks.

"You trust me so much." It wasn't a
question.

She answered it like it had been, "I do. I trust
you with everything."

He shook his head slightly, as if he couldn't believe
her words.

Laughing, she leaned over and purposely bumped
shoulders with him.

He glanced over at her, a startled look on his face
for a moment before he smiled. "Time to go."

She looked toward the road and saw the others
approaching. "It is," she agreed, scrambling to her feet much less
gracefully than he did. They both pulled their packs back on.

Prince reached over and took her hand. She looked up
at him in confusion as he turned to face her, his back to the others. "Thank
you," he said quietly. "For not letting me go."

She grinned and shrugged, ducking her head a little.
He had sounded so serious she wasn't sure how to respond.

"You mean a great deal to me, Arowyn. Please,
never forget that."

"I won't," she said, wincing at little at
how shallow her words sounded. He meant so much to her too. She just wasn't
sure how to say it.

I understand.

She started and glanced up at him before laughing. "I
suppose you do."

Shael.

Her brows drew together as she cocked her head to the
side and stared up at him in confusion. "That I really don't understand,"
she admitted.

He raised a finger to his lips.
My last secret I
give to you, and only you. Keep it safe.

It took her only a moment before she made the
connection. "Your name," she whispered.

He nodded once, solemnly and then winked at her.

She laughed and squeezed his hand.

He turned to face the others again. "Am I
forgiven now?"

She nodded, still smiling. "Of course."
I
will always forgive you.

Overall she thought their reunion went well. Kei hung
back and glared. Bo and Cain tentatively shook hands and accepted Prince's
stilted apology with more grace than she thought possible. She grinned at them
all, swatted Kei and tried not to bounce about too happily.

"Let's get moving boys!"

They hesitated, clearly hoping to stop for a break.

She clapped her hands. "Come on! Before our
prince keels over and dies." She flashed Prince a wicked grin when he
stared at her in shock.

She had forgiven him for keeping his secrets.

Mostly.

Other Works by Jen
Wylie

Flashy Fiction and Other Insane Tales (anthology with Sean
Hayden)

Sweet Light (novel)

Dark Madness (novel-coming soon!)

Ring Around the Rosie (short story)

Jump (short story)

Immortal Echoes

-The Forgotten Echo (novella)

-The Untouchable Echo (short story)

Tales of Ever (YA novella series)

-Banished

-Fire Girl

-Shadow Boy

-The Lost Tree

-Dragon Rising

-Sanctuary

Jen Wylie's
Biography

Jen Wylie resides in rural
Ontario, Canada with her two boys, Australian shepherd, and a disagreeable
amount of wildlife. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a
family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and
sales.

Thanks to her mother she
acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school.
She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing
most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and
short stories.

Find out more about Jen at
www.jenniferwylie.ca
and follow her on
twitter @jen_wylie