Warrior's Mind (Book 2 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 41

"Hey, be gentle!" Michael grumbled, his finger poking into Leyla's back as he glared at Delphine. "She is very special to me, you know?"

Why was Michael always so damned cute!? Leyla laughed, pinching his cheek, "You are too ridiculous to be a Book Keeper, you know that right?"

Delphine wrapped her arms tighter around her, frowning when Leyla stumbled. "Please Consort, just a few more steps."

"You're cute too, Delphine." Leyla turned her body so that she could squeeze the girls' cheeks between her palms. "But you're always so serious. You should relax a little. Maybe training would help. Would you like to learn how to wield a sword?"

"Hah! No, no, no!" Michael wagged his finger this way and that. "She'll only hurt herself, La-La! You can't teach her stuff like that!"

"Really?" Leyla tried to think it through, but she was distracted by the sudden urge to dance. "Michael, remember that wedding in the Grasslands?"

Michael raised his head from where he was supporting himself against the wall. "Of course! It was full of idiots who wanted to dance with you, but you wouldn't budge. I'm pretty sure you threatened to unman one of them." Then he laughed so hard, he almost fell over.

Delphine tried to catch him, but only managed to get tangled up and fall herself. Leyla covered her mouth with her hand to stop from laughing, but it bubbled up to her throat and escaped past her lips.

"Consort, this situation is not funny!" Delphine huffed as she used Michael's shoulder to straighten herself.

"Sorry!" Leyla grinned, then she was holding her hands out to both her companions. "I think we should do that dance now."

"Yes!" Michael's eyes lit up, but Delphine was protesting again.

"Please, Consort! Let's just get to that door..."

As if by magic, the door she pointed to opened at that very moment and a surprised looking Raphael stepped out.

"What's going on here?"

"Look, Michael!" Leyla pointed, "Your brother knows how to look surprised!"

"Care to explain?" Raphael arched a brow at Delphine.

"Hey!" Leyla stepped in front of the embarrassed looking girl. "Don't give her that look, she is a nice girl!" She attempted to put her hands on her hips, but missed and lost her balance.

In the next moment, Raphael was picking her up, cradling her in his arms like a baby. No one had ever held her like this. It was kind of nice, Leyla thought as she leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling. That made her feel dizzy, so she turned her face into the crook of his shoulder.

"Will you manage to take Michael to his quarters?" Raphael asked over her head, his tone defeated.

"Yes, Prorex," Delphine replied.

Leyla could hear Michael's protests growing weaker as they moved back down the stairs as Raphael turned them back towards his room.

"The world is spinning!" Leyla giggled, kicking her feet.

"Stop fidgeting." Raphael commanded, but his voice lacked anger.

Leyla looked up at his handsome face, taking in his strong jawline and his long lashes. "Why do you have to be so good looking?"

His step faltered, then he kicked the door closed. "Is it bad to be good looking?"

"No," She considered him for a moment. "But it makes it harder to hate you."