Leilani snorted. “Yeah, I imagine not. That's the only benefit to me being so poor at signing. It's hard to fight if you have to think so carefully about every word before you sign it.”
Zeb grabbed Leilani's hand. “I want you to help me.”
Leilani raised her eyebrows. “No!” she said firmly. “We have been down this path. I am not going to be your aide again. Not now, not ever–”
The Strains blared a high pitched tone, and Leilani winced.
“They say, 'listen.'” Zeb squeezed Leilani's fingers. “That's not what I meant. You're just as smart as me and probably twice as competent. Honestly, if either of us could do this alone, it's you, but there needs to be at least one Highmost involved for them to take the project seriously. I'm not saying it is right, but that's the way it is, and we need to work with that for the time being.”
Leilani's brows furrowed. “What are you saying, then?”
“It's a partnership. We are going to work together. If you are willing that is.” Zeb's eyes grew wide and earnest.
Leilani hesitated.
This is going to be a lot of work. Two steps forward, one step back sort of work, probably, and working with Zeb might actually be fun if she isn't able to tell me what to do.
Zeb gripped Leilani's wrist harder. “Please, Leilani, I need you, but it isn't just that. All of Gelia needs you.”
Leilani smiled. “No, Zeb. It needs us.”
The End
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ABOUT H. L. BURKE
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
For information about H. L. Burke's latest novels, author news and events, or to contact the writer, go to
www.hlburkeauthor.com
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Also by H. L. Burke
For Middle Grade Readers
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
For Young Adult Readers
An Ordinary Knight
Beggar Magic
Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors
Nyssa Glass and the Juliet Dilemma
Nyssa Glass and the Cutpurse Kid
The Elemental Realms Series
An Epic Fantasy Saga
Book One: Lands of Ash
Book Two: Call of the Waters
The Dragon and the Scholar Saga (1-4)
A Fantasy Romance Series
Dragon's Curse
Dragon's Debt
Dragon's Rival
Dragon's Bride