A prince imprisoned by duty, a horse lord sworn to find the soulseeker...
Prince Rian is desperate to escape his abusive and tyrannical brother, Arran, the king of Rashma, and save those he loves from his brother's madness. But after recapturing Rian, the king is taking no chances when he forces the prince back to his duties as general. Arran has hired the Hawks, a group of hardened Zala mercenaries renowned for their battle prowess and skill with horses, to watch the prince. Broken and forced to submit, Rian endures these new bodyguards he knows are spies loyal to his manipulative brother. But Rian has a secret about to be uncovered. At night, when his mental barriers are lowered, he is guarded by the wraith of his dead twin. He can't hide the wraith from Hamon, the powerful leader of the Hawks who tangles all the emotions within Rian and makes him believe he just might be worthy of love.
When Hamon agreed to guard the prince, he believed it would be a simple task...and allow the Zala to gather information on the expanding kingdom of Rashma. But after witnessing the prince's unique powers, he suspects Rian might be one of the legendary soulseekers, despite the fact that Rian is not of the Zala and a soulseeker hasn't been seen in decades... But more than that, he finds himself fascinated and attracted to the prince. Soon he begins to suspect the king has lied about the prince from the very beginning. Yet, how can he convince Rian he's the true soulseeker and bring him safely to where he's needed most...
Contains intense emotional elements. Reader discretion advised.
CHAPTER ONEThe swift hoofbeats faltered.Rian’s breath caught, his legs tightening, gathering the horse beneath him with encouraging words and gentle hands upon the reins.The mare was almost done, her noble spirit spent with exhaustion.Rian murmured to her, eyes fixed upon the goal ahead.The river. Once over that, they would be free, in another country. Safe.He would not have to endure his brother’s plans, would not have to sire another son to ensure their bloodline continued.He could only pray that Carain had managed to smuggle the children out…Just a few strides more.The whistle of the arrow sounded like a death knell in Rian’s thoughts. It could only be Arran’s doing, no one else could possibly believe that a shot from that far would find its target.The mare screamed and threw her head up, eyes wild and white. Her forelegs crumpled beneath her and they somersaulted, Rian flung hard, the mare’s haunches brushing by him in flight. He landed awkwardly, his usual grace undone by weariness. The unforgiving desert did nothing to cushion him. The sensation of his shoulder dislocating made him cry out in swift agony, before he gritted his teeth, hugging the injured limb to his chest as he fought to his knees.Damned if he would lie there like a beaten dog.A sea of horses and riders surrounded him now, the hooves trampling perilously close to Rian’s crumpled figure. The mare thrashed on the sands, pitiful sounds of pain rising in the hot air, until a rider dismounted, a swift blade to the throat ending her agony.Rian blinked back the grief that wanted to overwhelm him and whispered a fervent prayer under his breath, wishing her soul swift and safe journey. She was free.Unlike him.He stared at the sand before him, watching a small eddy of wind swirl it round, grain over grain. So beautiful…The desert was his home, if never his sanctuary.He watched blearily as someone dismounted right in front of him, the finely tooled boots banishing all doubt as to identity.The end of a whip eased beneath Rian’s chin, and he did not resist its silent command.He looked up into cold, gray eyes the mirror of his own. He searched for a hint of softness in their depths, the slightest tinge of mercy, but as so often, there was none. Thin lips curved into a false smile belying the cold rage that made those eyes resemble ice itself.“Rian—did you truly believe this would work? That you would escape? You disappoint me in your foolishness. I give you everything and this is how you repay me.”Rian did not reply. He only stared into the other man’s eyes, his heart pounding hard beneath the heavy weight of his failure to escape.The man’s false smile widened. “I am almost tempted to remove you from your position as general, but it would disturb the army too much. A royal second son must lead the troops. As it is, your disappearance has been smoothed over. They will know nothing of your actions. But I will see to it that you are never alone again, never without guards surrounding you.” The whip traced down his neck and stroked across his torn shirt, following the line of his collarbone with exquisite tenderness.“Rise.”Rian tried to make it to his feet but staggered, realizing he must have struck his head as a blinding headache began to take his senses.Hard arms caught him and swept him up. A gentle kiss was laid upon his temple, and he accepted it with resignation, his eyes closing as he let darkness begin to take his bruised and exhausted body and mind.“Don’t worry. I have you, my beautiful brother, my Rian.”
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