All For One [Nuworld 3] by Lorie O'Claire Page A

son. He smiled at the three of them, then turned and walked
    toward Torgo.
     
    Syra gasped, and Tara turned. Her niece looked over Tara’s shoulder and she knew
     
    Syra had seen Torgo. She reached out and touched Syra’s arm.
     
    “He took a claim,” Tara whispered.
     
    Syra looked at her in shock.
     
    “He didn’t wait for me?” Syra’s pain came through in her words.
     
    Tara studied Syra’s face. Her niece was a beautiful young woman. Her skin was
    dark from the sun and every muscle fine-tuned. Her black leather pants outlined her
    figure nicely. She didn’t wear her headscarf and several small braids in her hair had
    shiny pebbles woven into them. Several earrings hung in each ear, and by the type of
    rock in them, Tara guessed Syra spent some time with the River People.
     
    But there was a look of excitement in Syra’s eyes from the first moment she’d seen
    her. Tara had guessed it was excitement at being back in the clan. She remembered
    when she had come back to her family and friends after being gone for cycles on some
    adventure. New life generated through her body each time she mixed with her people
    and shared stories by the fire.
     
    She thought Syra felt the same emotions at being back in the clan. And, maybe to
    some extent she had. The look of excitement was gone now, and Syra looked lost. Tara
    had misread her emotions. Her niece had felt excitement and anticipation at seeing
    Torgo, but Tara crushed all those emotions when she told Syra that Torgo had taken a
    claim.
     
    “Come back to the trailer with me. We need to talk.” Tara squeezed Syra’s arm,
    noticing how her niece looked lost, and simply nodded.
     
    “Mama, I’m going to join Andru.” Ana spoke up and Tara nodded, not taking her
    eyes off Syra who stared past her at Torgo.
     
    Syra had tears streaming down her face by the time they reached the trailer. With a
    wave of her hand, Tara sent Fartha and Trev out of the trailer. Tara could see pain and
    confusion attack Syra as she plopped down on the couch.
     
    “He said he’d love me forever, Tara. Was I a fool to believe that?”
     
    “He doesn’t love Rayla.”
     
    Syra studied Tara for a minute. She rubbed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
     
    “Rayla, huh? I don’t think I ever knew a Rayla.”
     
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    Lorie O’Clare
     
    “She lost her papa during the war with the Lunians. She has three younger brothers
    and when she announced to her mama that she was pregnant with Torgo’s child, her
    mama approached us immediately. It was quite advantageous for her family to
    encourage the claim. Her three brothers are now apprentices to Darius’ personal
    guards. And, Darius found her mama a new claim once her daughter was with Torgo.
    Of course, Torgo had the right to refuse the claim.”
     
    “But he wouldn’t do that, not Torgo. And he’ll always remain faithful to Rayla.
    She’s a very lucky woman.” Syra began crying again. “And I am such a fool.”
     
    “Syra, Torgo was coming to see you. Darius told him you were here and that’s why
    he’s out there. I haven’t seen him on the clan site for quite a long time.” Tara looked
    down at her hands, searching for the words to say what had to be said. She glanced at
    Syra. The young woman stopped crying, straightened, and looked at her through puffy
    eyes.
     
    Tara allowed a small smile. “You’re strong, Syra. But I know this isn’t easy for you.
    Torgo has fought his family reputation for as long as I’ve known him.”
     
    “I know he has.” Syra forced a smile and stood up, walking to the window in the
    kitchen. “He despised the way Darius treated you and had no qualms about saying that
    to his brother’s face. Torgo knew his papa was the same way. And he watched his
    mama, and you, suffer for it. He’s a Bryon but he won’t act the way they did.”
     
    Syra turned around quickly and threw her arms up in the air. “But Tara, I just saw
    him for the first time in three winters