By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Amberlyn Holland
another step closer and looked her over in the pale light of the dim wall sconce. A deep line appeared on his forehead and a frown darkened his charming mask.
"Please tell me you weren't outside at this time of night? Like that?"
Lia remained silent. Despite what he seemed to think, she was still in charge of the valley and he had no authority over her.
He shook his head, ruffling his artfully arranged black hair. "Really, Liadan. Some of the elder families are already concerned about your inexperience, your lack of preparation and your, well, misspent youth."
He took another step forward and invaded her space. She straightened her spine, refusing to back down, refusing to give an inch, knowing he would take it as a victory.
Lia gritted her teeth when Gui ran a cold, too smooth finger down her cheek in an insincere gesture of affection.
"I've been thinking. Perhaps it would be better for you, and the valley, if we appeared to be more…in accord." Gui's voice dropped on the last word, hinting at something that made Lia want to shudder in disgust.
For several seconds, she was speechless at his gall.
His wife had barely been dead half a year. And Gui had never hidden his view that he considered Lia wholly inappropriate and unladylike.
Not to mention, he was the one who'd talked her sister into the marriage contract that had the future of their valley teetering on the edge of disaster.
The political mess she was losing sleep over had been entirely Gui's idea. He had to know what any hint of an inappropriate relationship between her and any man would mean to Daen. In turn, what consequences it would have for her and the entire valley.
Acidic words tried to fight their way past her lips but she swallowed the bitterness. He was Tanis's father, and Tanis would one day take her proper place as leader of the valley. Antagonizing Gui would only make the situation messier.
Lia pasted on a smile and sidestepped, slipping easily around him. "Perhaps. We should talk about it in the morning. I'm sorry, I'm terribly tired."
"Of course. I look forward to sharing breakfast. Sweet dreams."
He turned and headed toward the east wing and his suite of rooms. It didn't escape her notice that, not only had he failed to check in on his daughter, he hadn't even glanced at her door when he'd walked by it.
Lia leaned against it now and whispered to the sleeping child.
"I will fix this, Tanis. You will have a valley to lead one day. One free of the political ax hanging over our head at the moment."
-2-
"She bewitched me."
Daen stood in front of the Baronet's fireplace, gripping a crystal glass of brandy so tight in his fist, Caerwyn worried it might shatter.
"I'm sure of it now, looking back. She's a pretty enough girl, in a provincial sort of way. Not my usual type at all." A large gulp of brandy soothed a little of the Prince's jagged energy.
Daen had been erratic since he'd begun explaining his predicament to Caerwyn and his men. The calm, composed man from the clearing vacillated between edgy anger and needy crying while he spoke of the circumstances of his betrothal. A slight edge of unease curled in Caerwyn's stomach when the man's obvious obsession chased logic from his eyes.
Something about his demeanor did not sit right with Caerwyn. Something seemed off with Daen's demand for vengeance against a woman he felt so strongly about. Regardless of Caer's concern however, he listened. If the man had been wronged, he was entitled to be heard by the Lord of Vengeance. The uneasiness could simply stem from sorcery if it had indeed been used.
"You believed she used sorcery, then? That she used unnatural means to subvert your will?" Caer asked, making sure they were clear on the details. His particular Attribute was not one that should be unleashed without careful review of all the facts and evidence.
"Of course, she must have used sorcery against me. Why else would I have asked for a betrothal agreement
"Please tell me you weren't outside at this time of night? Like that?"
Lia remained silent. Despite what he seemed to think, she was still in charge of the valley and he had no authority over her.
He shook his head, ruffling his artfully arranged black hair. "Really, Liadan. Some of the elder families are already concerned about your inexperience, your lack of preparation and your, well, misspent youth."
He took another step forward and invaded her space. She straightened her spine, refusing to back down, refusing to give an inch, knowing he would take it as a victory.
Lia gritted her teeth when Gui ran a cold, too smooth finger down her cheek in an insincere gesture of affection.
"I've been thinking. Perhaps it would be better for you, and the valley, if we appeared to be more…in accord." Gui's voice dropped on the last word, hinting at something that made Lia want to shudder in disgust.
For several seconds, she was speechless at his gall.
His wife had barely been dead half a year. And Gui had never hidden his view that he considered Lia wholly inappropriate and unladylike.
Not to mention, he was the one who'd talked her sister into the marriage contract that had the future of their valley teetering on the edge of disaster.
The political mess she was losing sleep over had been entirely Gui's idea. He had to know what any hint of an inappropriate relationship between her and any man would mean to Daen. In turn, what consequences it would have for her and the entire valley.
Acidic words tried to fight their way past her lips but she swallowed the bitterness. He was Tanis's father, and Tanis would one day take her proper place as leader of the valley. Antagonizing Gui would only make the situation messier.
Lia pasted on a smile and sidestepped, slipping easily around him. "Perhaps. We should talk about it in the morning. I'm sorry, I'm terribly tired."
"Of course. I look forward to sharing breakfast. Sweet dreams."
He turned and headed toward the east wing and his suite of rooms. It didn't escape her notice that, not only had he failed to check in on his daughter, he hadn't even glanced at her door when he'd walked by it.
Lia leaned against it now and whispered to the sleeping child.
"I will fix this, Tanis. You will have a valley to lead one day. One free of the political ax hanging over our head at the moment."
-2-
"She bewitched me."
Daen stood in front of the Baronet's fireplace, gripping a crystal glass of brandy so tight in his fist, Caerwyn worried it might shatter.
"I'm sure of it now, looking back. She's a pretty enough girl, in a provincial sort of way. Not my usual type at all." A large gulp of brandy soothed a little of the Prince's jagged energy.
Daen had been erratic since he'd begun explaining his predicament to Caerwyn and his men. The calm, composed man from the clearing vacillated between edgy anger and needy crying while he spoke of the circumstances of his betrothal. A slight edge of unease curled in Caerwyn's stomach when the man's obvious obsession chased logic from his eyes.
Something about his demeanor did not sit right with Caerwyn. Something seemed off with Daen's demand for vengeance against a woman he felt so strongly about. Regardless of Caer's concern however, he listened. If the man had been wronged, he was entitled to be heard by the Lord of Vengeance. The uneasiness could simply stem from sorcery if it had indeed been used.
"You believed she used sorcery, then? That she used unnatural means to subvert your will?" Caer asked, making sure they were clear on the details. His particular Attribute was not one that should be unleashed without careful review of all the facts and evidence.
"Of course, she must have used sorcery against me. Why else would I have asked for a betrothal agreement
Readers choose
Arlene James
Emily Jane Trent
Flora Speer
Tereska Torres
Shannon K. Butcher
Bowen Greenwood
Shannon Hale
Frank Moorhouse
Desiree Holt
Mary Daheim