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A.O.E.M.: Snow Blind
Aubrey Ross
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2005 Aubrey Ross
An Authorized Excerpt
“There’s a reason I asked you here tonight.”
He chuckled and reached for her hand. “Other than your ravenous appetite for the pleasure we give each other?”
Despite his playfulness, her expression remained serious. “I have something I need to tell you.”
His heart lurched and his pulse raced. Was she carrying his child? They’d been careful, but occasionally --
“I applied to the Royal Academy.”
“What?” He released her hand and sat, his gaze searching her face. Why would she do such a thing? He was the premier instructor at the Royal Academy, had been long before their affair began. His father was Chancellor of the Royal Guard. He didn’t want to consider the implication, but his gaze narrowed and his throat tightened. Was this the reason she’d been sleeping with him? Did she hope he’d pave the way for her acceptance?
She sat as well, drawing up the sheet to cover her nudity. “You of all people should understand the opportunity this provides. I’m only the third female to be selected in the history of the academy.”
“You were approved?” Thank the gods. She hadn’t been using him, but this created complications… so many complications. “When did you find out?” He wanted to be happy for her. As she said, it was a fabulous opportunity. Royal guards were compensated generously. Her future would be secure.
“Earlier today, right before I contacted you.” She stared at him with a mixture of hope and anxiety. “I know we’ll have to be discreet, but I’ll be at the mountain fortress with you. I thought you’d be happy for me.”
“You don’t even realize what you’ve done, do you?” He scrubbed his jaw and sadly shook his head. All their passion and pleasure disintegrated before his eyes. “It’s forbidden for the instructors to have social relationships with the cadets. I understand and support the policy. We’ll be together at the fortress. I’ll see you, be near you, but I won’t be able to touch you.”
She scooted off the bed and slipped into a knee-length robe. Tension showed in every move she made. “I care for you. You must know how much you mean to me.” She paused and Dezmon looked away. Here came the but. “But this is important to me. I wasn’t born to nobility. You’ve enjoyed privileges that will never be available to me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d applied? That had to have been months ago.”
“I honestly didn’t think it would matter. I had no idea I’d be approved.”
“You’re brilliant, physically conditioned, and stubborn as hell. I’m not surprised.” He paused, torn between pride and disappointment. She deserved this honor, this opportunity. “The training will be harder than you can imagine, strength and endurance exercises, high stress simulations. Your mentor will push you to the limit every single day. Who is your mentor?”
“I don’t know. The message didn’t say.”
Trepidation ran icy fingers down his spine. Did it really matter who mentored her? Their relationship had ended with her acceptance. She might not have realized it, but she’d asked him here to say goodbye.
Curiosity nudged his mind. He glanced beyond Sekarrah and turned his attention inward. Isolating his father’s telepathic signal, he asked permission to initiate a link.
It’s rather late, son. What can I do for you? His father’s deep voice manifested in Dezmon’s mind.
Sorry to bother you, sir. I was wondering if the inductees have been assigned.
A rumbling chuckle preceded his father’s reply. You’ve heard about her already? This could be an interesting term. I guess there’s no harm in telling you. Her aptitude tests were amazing. She scored even higher than you, so the council voted unanimously to assign our number one inductee to our number one instructor.
I’ll be her mentor.
You don’t have a problem with instructing a girl, do you?
No, sir. I just --
Good, because I assured the council that no son of mine would be so shallow he couldn’t see beyond gender.
Thanks for the heads up. I wouldn’t want to insult her with my surprise.
I’ll see you when you arrive.
Dezmon terminated the telepathic link and expelled a ragged breath.
“Were you talking with your father?” Sekarrah stood beside the bed, her arms crossed over her chest. Wariness had replaced her enthusiasm.
“Yes.”
“What did the chancellor say?”
“I’m your mentor.”
“But you’re the premier instructor. Only the inductee with the highest scores is assigned to you.”
“That’s right. You have a higher aptitude than any of the other inductees.” They stared at each other in stunned silence. Dezmon was the first to look away. “How badly do you want this? I’m the toughest instructor at the academy.”
“Can’t you request that I be reassigned? I know you didn’t want to flaunt our relationship, but we’re two consenting adults.”
“If our relationship comes to light now it will taint your acceptance. They’ll say you slept your way into the academy. And requesting that you be reassigned makes me look like a bigot. If you really want this, there’s no way out. I’m going to be your mentor.”
“And social interaction with instructors is forbidden.”
“The cadet is discharged and the instructor’s employment is terminated. If your mentor so much as kissed you, he’d face criminal charges.”
She pushed her hair back from her face, her gaze filled with frustration and regret. “As a royal guard I’d live at the palace. I’d be respected and noticed for something other than my face and form. I don’t want this, Dezmon, I need it. Can’t you understand that?”
A stiff nod was all he could manage. “I have to go.” He understood her reasoning, respected her ambition, but it didn’t ease the sadness squeezing his heart. “When you’re presented to me at the fortress, it’s imperative that you act as if we’ve never met before.”
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