Falcon's Mate 1(11)

“It just means he’s virile,” Vara offered.

“Great.” Ari shook her head. “Not only am I mated to a commander

who mocks me, he’ll be sleeping with everything that comes within

wingspan of him.”

“Rurik isn’t like that. He’s not one of those. If anything, he does have

honor. There isn’t so much a blemish on his reputation.”

“But why him?” Ari whispered. Taking her friend’s hands, she held

them tight.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“When we were younger and I thought Mikael gave me that love note.”

“Yes?”

Ari took a deep breath. “You remember I told you how Rurik delivered

it, or saw it, or I can’t remember exactly how it happened that he was

there when I discovered it because I was in such shock, but at first I

thought it was from him. You know how I laugh when I’m nervous? Well I

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laughed because I thought it was from him. I wanted it to be. But, he

was just so mean about it and that’s when he told me it was from Mikael

and I…”

“You never forgave him,” Vara finished.

“He was always so mean to me,” Ari said, her shoulders slumping by

small degrees.

“And you hated him for it because you liked him.”

Ari didn’t want to delve into it. She should’ve never started this

conversation.

“That would explain why you’ve pined for him over the years. And

why the Fifth gets all the dangerous missions.”

“Nae, I don’t—” Ari began, ready to deny that she sent Rurik and his

men out on all the dangerous assignments. “Oh, blessed stars, I do, don’t

I?”

Vara nodded. “Half the noble court believes you want to have him

killed.”

“And the other half?” she asked, cringing.

“Think you want to have him maimed.” Vara laughed softly. “That’s

why all the young boys pretend to be in the Fifth.”

Ari rolled her eyes heavenward and gave a small laugh.

“So, now that we’re talking about it, why do you send his men on the

most dangerous missions?” Vara touched her shoulder, forcing Ari to

look at her.

“The night before he flew out,” Ari closed her eyes, remembering, “I

heard him say he wanted nothing more than to have a long career filled

with dangerous missions.”

“I see.” Vara grinned knowingly.

“What?” Ari lifted her hand. “Nae, never mind, I don’t want to hear it.

So, tell me, what happened in the hall. The two women did what?”



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Michelle M Pillow

“Oh, yea, they screamed as they were both dropped on their asses.

The crowd exploded into a frenzy when they discovered one of the

soldiers had been chosen. Really, what could they do about it? Though,

Lord Cyril did demand a reading of the laws and strangely Gryger was

able to produce the book with little effort.”

“What do you mean, strange?”

“He turned right to a prophecy that said—”

“Let me guess,” Ari interrupted. “One day, after the sins of the past

could be forgotten, a pure blood would once again take the throne,

combining the planet’s strengths.”

“Yea, that is it.” Vara nodded. “And that this day was the day that the

prophecy said it would happen. When Lord Cyril heard that, he couldn’t

deny the validity of the marriage. In his irritation, he grabbed Lynus and

together they left the palace.”

Ari giggled. Then, as what her friend said sunk in, she scowled.

“What did you say? My father and Gryger knew that today this would

happen?”

“Appeared that way to me.”

Ari crossed over to her gown and sat on it. “How could they not have

warned me that I was to mate with Rurik? Do you think they told him?”

“I doubt it. The prophecy didn’t say who would be picked, only that a

pure blood would become king. And your father didn’t tell you because

he’s not allowed to influence the mating decision. It is something you

need to come to on your own, for your own reasons.”

“You want to know my reason, Vara?” Ari gave a self-depreciating

snort. “I wanted sex.”

Vara laughed. “That’s a good enough reason for me.”

“Not just sex, but companionship. I told my father it was because I

was duty bound to carry on the family name by having children, but the

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truth is I want to be held at night. I’m tired of being alone. I want a

husband I can fall asleep with at night and wake up next to in the