The Path to Destiny: Tia's Folly Read Online Free

dangerous even! - to meet with any Phoenix, not to mention a Warlord, outside
of the ring. Looking into Bylan’s clear blue eyes, she tried to determine his
reasoning behind inviting her to his personal abode.
    Slightly
agitated by her inability to read the maddening Warlord, she turned and looked
at the angry group behind her. If she had to choose between the group of angry
men and the single Warlord in front of her; she would choose the Warlord.
Realizing she didn’t have much of a choice after the ultimatum he had given,
she turned back to Bylan and bravely met his hard stare.
                “This is a truce council,” Bylan mocked her obvious
indecision even as he openly, and obviously, raked his eyes up and down her
shapeless robe. “Surely you don’t believe I would harm you here.”
                “I don’t know what to believe when you are beyond the
ring,” she replied honestly, wanting to kick herself for the quiver in her
voice. Of all the impressions she wanted to give the Warlord, weak wasn’t one
of them. She needed him to see her as a strong leader.
                Pressing her lips together, she boldly stepped out of the
ring before speaking.
                “You risk being tortured for eternity - by the Gods themselves - if you harm a Druid,” Tia lied
bravely as she laid her hand in his.
                She jumped as his warm fingers wrapped around hers. She
wasn’t sure what surprised her more; how warm he was, or how handsome he looked
when he smiled at her? Flushing guiltily, Tia dropped her eyes and reminded
herself that beauty couldn’t cover the ugliness inside of a person.
                “I live for thousands of years, I am sure I could harm one Druid and the Gods would eventually forgive me.” Bylan gave her a salacious
grin and gently tugged her towards his tent.
                Tia knew he probably didn’t believe her lie and chose not
to respond as she allowed him to pull her along behind him. A warm breeze blew
through her hair and a shiver passed through her body. Apprehensively, she
wondered if it was fear or desire for the handsome Warlord. Tia desperately
hoped it was fear. Not wanting to continue to follow that line of thinking, she
turned her attention to the guards stationed just outside the large entrance to
Bylan’s tent. Tia noticed that the guards were surprised to see her there. If she was honest with herself, she was
surprised too.
                Stepping inside, she quickly surveyed her surroundings.
The first thing she observed was that the tent was tall enough for her to stand
in. This was shocking for the simple fact that she was six feet tall. From the
outside it appeared to be small and yet, the inside was actually quite
spacious. The Warlord had an actual bed in one corner! And then it dawned on
her. The tent was enchanted. Knowing this was a common occurrence, she didn’t
give it much thought.
    Two
poles with chains wrapped around them caught her attention. They stood about
five feet apart near one wall of the tent. Caught up in ruminating about the
poles, she didn’t notice Bylan circle the inside of the tent and come to a stop
behind her.
                “I have always wanted to try other beings,” Bylan
whispered just barely loud enough for Tia to hear.
                “What do you mean?” She whispered back in her innocence
as she turned to face him. Conscientiously putting the poles from her mind, she
hoped he was about to say something that would help her get him back into the
peace council.
                “I mean, my pretty little Druid, that I have always
wanted to fuck beings other than Phoenix women,” he stated crudely, lightly
stroking her arms.
                Tia felt her mouth fall open and her eyes widen in surprise.
Never having been exposed to this form of harassment, she was unable to
immediately think of a single thing to say