Avador Book 2, Night Shadows Read Online Free
Author: Shirley Martin
one knows us. We can marry, start a new life together. Tonight! I will meet you tonight outside your window, after your family has fallen asleep–"
"No." She spoke brokenly. "No matter what, I love and respect my parents. It would hurt them too much if I left them."
"And me? Don't you think you are hurting me? My darling, you are tearing me apart. Please, let's–"
"Maeve!" Her father's voice carried from the front porch of their mansion. "You've spent enough time with the apothecary. You must come in now. Tell the laborer goodbye and that is the end of it."
"Goodbye, dear Gaderian," she whispered, and ran from him.
He wanted to call her back, beg, do anything to have her as his own. He cursed his poverty, the job that had once given him such pride. Now grief settled over him like a heavy weight, a sorrow that would accompany him throughout life. Stifling his tears, he turned away to trudge home, back to his lonely cottage. He wished he could die, end his life this very minute. He made a vow. Never again would he give his heart to any woman
"Gaderian!"
He spun around, his gaze searching the trees.
"Gaderian!" A woman stepped out from behind an oak, a strong rose scent clinging to her. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, with blonde hair so light it shone like silver, and the most luscious body he'd ever beheld, molded inside a black satin gown with a deep decolletage.
After several tries, he managed to speak. "How do you know my name? And who are you?"
She smiled, her dimples showing. "My name is Moreen. And how do I know yours? I followed you here, although of course, you didn't see me."
"Spying on me! You had no right." Sorrow over Maeve clashed with present confusion. "But why?"
"Umm." She tilted her head, as if thinking. "Maybe I get lonely at times."
"Lonely? A beautiful woman like you? But I still don't understand. Why did you come here, at this particular place? I've never seen you before."
"But I've seen you. Let's just say that nighttime is my time, and I go wherever I want, wherever my inclination leads me." She smiled winsomely. "And my inclination led me to you."
He stepped back, resolved to head home. "Well, find someone else, then, because I don't need your company." He wanted only to go home and try to sleep, try to forget Maeve, though he feared her memory would haunt him for the rest of his life. Tears clotted his throat, and he wondered how he could ever put her from his mind. Misery enclosed him, a long, painful torment that stretched for years ahead, until he died. He wanted to die now.
Lightly, she touched his arm. "Gaderian, I can show you a whole new life, a life that has no end."
He snickered. "And I can show you a fortune in gold." He chuckled, a sound he feared might soon degenerate into a sob. "So you are promising me immortality."
"Why, yes, that is exactly what I offer you." She stared into his eyes, and he couldn't have looked away if all the gold in the kingdom was strewn at his feet. Her own eyes captivated him, as if he had no will of his own. She leaned closer and licked his neck, her rose scent washing over him, strong and sweet. He felt a sharp bite, but still he couldn't move, could only surrender to the sweet lassitude that consumed him. Their bodies touching, she eased him to the ground with her, hidden by overhanging branches of oaks and willows. Pausing for a moment, she looked into his eyes, giving him a chance to draw back, to end his transmutation. But oh! he didn't want to stop this wonderful experience, this beautiful throbbing that pulsed through his body. Rapture flowed through him, a bliss too great to forego, an ecstasy beyond imagination. Everything around him looked so beautiful, as if it were daylight. The stars shone a thousand times brighter, and even the breeze sounded like music in his ears. The scent of night-blooming jasmine became the most exquisite perfume, blending with the fragrance of grass and trees, and over everything, her aroma
"No." She spoke brokenly. "No matter what, I love and respect my parents. It would hurt them too much if I left them."
"And me? Don't you think you are hurting me? My darling, you are tearing me apart. Please, let's–"
"Maeve!" Her father's voice carried from the front porch of their mansion. "You've spent enough time with the apothecary. You must come in now. Tell the laborer goodbye and that is the end of it."
"Goodbye, dear Gaderian," she whispered, and ran from him.
He wanted to call her back, beg, do anything to have her as his own. He cursed his poverty, the job that had once given him such pride. Now grief settled over him like a heavy weight, a sorrow that would accompany him throughout life. Stifling his tears, he turned away to trudge home, back to his lonely cottage. He wished he could die, end his life this very minute. He made a vow. Never again would he give his heart to any woman
"Gaderian!"
He spun around, his gaze searching the trees.
"Gaderian!" A woman stepped out from behind an oak, a strong rose scent clinging to her. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, with blonde hair so light it shone like silver, and the most luscious body he'd ever beheld, molded inside a black satin gown with a deep decolletage.
After several tries, he managed to speak. "How do you know my name? And who are you?"
She smiled, her dimples showing. "My name is Moreen. And how do I know yours? I followed you here, although of course, you didn't see me."
"Spying on me! You had no right." Sorrow over Maeve clashed with present confusion. "But why?"
"Umm." She tilted her head, as if thinking. "Maybe I get lonely at times."
"Lonely? A beautiful woman like you? But I still don't understand. Why did you come here, at this particular place? I've never seen you before."
"But I've seen you. Let's just say that nighttime is my time, and I go wherever I want, wherever my inclination leads me." She smiled winsomely. "And my inclination led me to you."
He stepped back, resolved to head home. "Well, find someone else, then, because I don't need your company." He wanted only to go home and try to sleep, try to forget Maeve, though he feared her memory would haunt him for the rest of his life. Tears clotted his throat, and he wondered how he could ever put her from his mind. Misery enclosed him, a long, painful torment that stretched for years ahead, until he died. He wanted to die now.
Lightly, she touched his arm. "Gaderian, I can show you a whole new life, a life that has no end."
He snickered. "And I can show you a fortune in gold." He chuckled, a sound he feared might soon degenerate into a sob. "So you are promising me immortality."
"Why, yes, that is exactly what I offer you." She stared into his eyes, and he couldn't have looked away if all the gold in the kingdom was strewn at his feet. Her own eyes captivated him, as if he had no will of his own. She leaned closer and licked his neck, her rose scent washing over him, strong and sweet. He felt a sharp bite, but still he couldn't move, could only surrender to the sweet lassitude that consumed him. Their bodies touching, she eased him to the ground with her, hidden by overhanging branches of oaks and willows. Pausing for a moment, she looked into his eyes, giving him a chance to draw back, to end his transmutation. But oh! he didn't want to stop this wonderful experience, this beautiful throbbing that pulsed through his body. Rapture flowed through him, a bliss too great to forego, an ecstasy beyond imagination. Everything around him looked so beautiful, as if it were daylight. The stars shone a thousand times brighter, and even the breeze sounded like music in his ears. The scent of night-blooming jasmine became the most exquisite perfume, blending with the fragrance of grass and trees, and over everything, her aroma
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