Under His Guard by Rie Warren Page A

elbows. “The Earth Mother can be vengeful, but there is veracity in her fruits.”
    Oh Christ. Riddles. As if my day hadn’t been long enough. Hills would’ve thought this guy was a genius. I was beginning to think he was another one of Denver’s decoys—and a crackpot, shaman or not.
    I wasn’t alone. Cannon scowled at the guy. “Do you ever speak in plain old English, man?”
    â€œShe is giving us guidance on what herbs and roots and shoots to use. Rare plants are cropping up, vegetation that has not been recorded for centuries. How’s that?” Raine didn’t really explain anything.
    â€œPathetic,” Cannon said.
    â€œAh, well, there are those who reach the higher realm of being and those who just be.” Raine shrugged. “You’ll have tomorrow to recuperate from your travels before a meeting at the Amphitheater.”
    â€œIs it safe to return to the Territory?” Linc asked.
    â€œAbout as safe as it is out here in the desert—sitting ducks if the CEO decides to make a quality show of killing more Freelanders.” Raine tossed his cigarette butt into the fire and loped away.
    â€œAh’m not feelin’ the warmth from that man.” Farrow had one of her KA-BARs in hand, whetting it on a flat stone.
    â€œMaybe he’ll grow on you.” Sebastian lit a rolled smoke from the hot embers of our fire.
    Cannon grumbled, “Like that mangy fucking beard of his.”
    We all laughed for a moment before I interrupted the chatter. “One of Shehu’s people was murdered yesterday,” I said, keeping my voice hushed. “The one infected with the Plague.”
    Everyone glanced at Leon, who continued to chew nonchalantly on a piece of grass. I felt his anxiety spike, though, like hot needles thrust under my nail beds.
    â€œChrist.” Cannon reached over and squeezed Leon’s leg.
    â€œSo I think we can all agree keeping Leon’s situation classified is of the utmost importance.”
    Liz popped her knuckles. “And have someone with him at all times.”
    â€œ Alors . I don’ need a bodyguard.”
    â€œ I’ll be with him,” I said.
    Although I could tell Leon wanted to protest, he held his tongue. His fear calmed slightly, but he was quick to change the subject. As he eagerly recounted the games he and Sebastian had played earlier with the children, we all began to relax once more.
    Sometime later, the encroaching cold swept over the desert. But it was no match for Leon’s increasingly heated stare. I whipped off my tunic, balling it behind my head.
    Clearly turned on, Leon licked his lips and a breathy “ Mon Dieu ” rolled out of him.
    I cast a glance at the abode Leon and I would be sharing. Leon looked at me with deep, starving eyes. A look I couldn’t ignore.
    â€œCome to bed, baby,” I said.
    Reclining on his elbows, Leon flirted. “Baby? Gonna touch me tonight, Darke? Or you gon’ leave me hot and hangin’ like you always do?”
    I leaned over until our lips hovered a scant distance apart; then I pushed one hand through Leon’s shoulder-length locks and gripped a fistful of his hair. His lithe body curled toward me.
    â€œLemme guess. My casbah awaits?”
    One day had bled into the next, and I wanted nothing more than to find some sort of solace with him. “Yes. As do I.”
    After a lazy stretch, Leon leaped nimbly to his feet. “Lead on.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    T he circular abode was just tall enough that I didn’t have to duck my head. The walls were fashioned of heavy woven fabrics tacked to wooden beams. The floor was tamped-down earth covered in a variety of blankets.
    â€œThis is—”
    â€œCozy.” Leon lounged against the door as I placed our packs to the side.
    â€œI was gonna say small.” With the temperature dropping outside, it was cooling off in here. I hunkered in front of the little wood burner