[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]almost impossible for him to bear.
Dane worked the veils again. They took Vanlyn to his room. Eselda had come to care
for him.
She was all I knew for what seemed liked weeks, Vanlyn said. I could feel her
power bringing me back from death.
There were whispers from the servants. The High Lord was making no effort to find
the brigands who had tortured his son. The High Lady was furious. The servants didn t
seem to realize that Vanlyn heard these whispers.
I awoke one day to find a servant administering my medicine, Vanlyn said.
Eselda did that every day.
Where s Eselda? Vanlyn asked, his voice hoarse.
The servant lowered her eyes and didn t respond. When she finished, she left without
a word.
I asked everyone, and no one would talk to me, he said. Finally, one of the elderly
matrons requested I stop asking. They feared the master s ire.
When he was finally well enough, Vanlyn went searching for his sister and mother
and found no evidence that they had even lived in the manor.
Finally, he approached his father.
Where are Mother and Eselda?
What? His father looked up from the piles of papers on his desk. Oh, you re out
of bed now?
Dane s hands fisted at the unfeeling response. His anger waxed hotter. Beside him,
he felt the tension coiling in Vanlyn s body.
Where are Mother and Eselda? Vanlyn asked again, his voice rising.
Don t raise your voice to me, boy!
Answer me, damn it!
His father came to his feet and slammed his palms flat on the desk. You watch you
tongue!
What did you do to them?
I didn t do anything, you stupid little man-child, Aelden rolled his eyes. I suppose
no one told you. They re gone.
Gone?
Gone. Dead. Killed by fiends. His father resumed his seat, calm as though they
were discussing the weather.
Dead? Vanlyn s whole world crumbled with those words. How?
I had to send them away for their safety. Fiends attacked their coach. No one
survived.
His body quaked. Vanlyn s throat tightened, and tears stung his eyes. Where are
they? Their memorial
There was no memorial. We ve no time for such things. The fiends have been
advancing.
You. Vanlyn s voice broke. H-how c-could you ?
Behind him, he heard a sound. Vanlyn turned.
Argent was standing in the doorway, his face twisted with a smirk, his eyes glittering
with knowledge.
And Vanlyn understood.
I knew, Vanlyn said. I knew he d had them killed. His face said as much. How
could I have forgotten?
The answer came, moments later when Vanlyn went for his brother, his rage erupting
in an incoherent scream, but Vanlyn never reached Argent. Never without one of his
bodyguards nearby, the man intervened. Vanlyn still weak from his injuries had
succumbed to the blows. He lay there curled in a ball of pain, his eyes wide and unseeing.
It was too much, Vanlyn said. I didn t remember anything after that. Not the
beating, not the knowledge that it was Argent s doing nothing.
Something wet hit Dane s hands. Vanlyn was crying. Damn you, Argent. I want to
kill you for everything you ve done but I can t. Oh Dear Lady&
It was enough. Dane touched Vanlyn with his power, sending the younger man into
sleep. He wove only good dreams for him where he was loved, happy and safe.
Dane dispelled his power and moved from Vanlyn s arms. Gently, he drew the
covers up and kissed him on the lips.
I said I didn t want blood on your hands, Dane said, his rage barely contained. He
recognized the electrical current traveling up and down his spine, knowing what it meant.
But it is deep on mine, red and cold, so it will make no difference if I spill blood again.
Chapter Thirty
Dane wasn t aware of anything around him. His vision clouded by a red haze of fury,
his muscles corded and hard with tension, his feet were, at first, silent on the floor. As he
hastened his stride, he was partially aware of the scraping of claws on stone.
His skin stretched and pulsed in several places, each a sluggish heartbeat under his
skin. His stride changed, from the purposeful gait of a man to the loping of something
monstrous.
Dane?
He heard a voice calling a name that he almost didn t recognize.
Dane, where are you going?
The beast fluttered its wings, testing them in the confines of the hallway. It ached to
be free, to claim the sky. To fall upon hapless prey and rend flesh in pieces.
To taste blood.
Dane, stop!
Something leapt upon his shoulders, bearing him down with its weight. The monster
reacted, and it struggled, trying to throw the thing off. Wings beat the air, fanning the
strength of sweat and blood lust.
Dane, stop, do you hear me!
Claws scored flesh, and animalistic grunts uttered from his throat. The weight
remained on him until his strength began to ebb.
That s it, my friend. The voice, familiar and soothing, finally penetrated the animal
madness.
Dane breathed deeply in and out, and his chest ached with each motion. Slowly, the
fire ebbed, until it was mere embers in his chest.
Are you all right?
A face came into focus, which looked at him with a mixture of anxiety and
confusion.
Lahn? Dane had completely forgotten his friend was still in the manor.
I m going to release you now, Lahn said. I have your word you won t
transform?
Why would I& The memories came flooding back of his anger along with the
dark mission he had set for himself. Oh gods and fiends, was I
You were near your third stage. Lahn s voice held and accusation that made Dane
cringe. What did you think you were doing?
Dane averted his eyes. I was going to kill Argent and Aelden Sarn.
By the gods, why? Lahn said. Then he lifted an eyebrow. It has something to do
with Vanlyn, doesn t it?
Dane lifted his head and nodded.
I see, Lahn said. And I take it, he doesn t know?
He s upstairs asleep, Dane said.
Go and calm your ire, Lahn said. I ll sit with Vanlyn and let him know you ve
gone if he wakes up.
How do you know I won t leave the island?
You do realize that question would make one doubt your integrity.
Dane snorted. Very well. He turned away, and his shoulders fell from the pressure
of what he d almost done. Thank you. If you hadn t stopped me&
Make no mention of it, Lahn said.
* * * *
Lahn was waiting for him in the same place when he returned. Dane was dripping
wet. The lull in the storm had ended quickly as he d flown a short distance, the wind
whistling past his ears, the air cool on his heated skin.
Look at you, Lahn said. What a drenched and ragged mess you are.
Thank you, Dane said, dryly. Is Vanlyn
He s waiting for you in the kitchen.
Is he very angry?
A great deal, even more so than before, Lahn said. What have you been doing,
Dane Tanderes? Not following my advice I see.
Dane didn t respond. He was not going to give Lahn the satisfaction of knowing he
was right.
A tantalizing scent wafted from the kitchen. The glow of a warm fire beckoned,
although Dane didn t truly need it. Vanlyn was at the stove stirring a pot. It was an
unusual sight, a prince at a domestic chore. Then Dane recalled Vanlyn saying something
about him spending a lot of time with the servants before his father had put an end to it.
No, don t think about Sarn or his son.
Vanlyn?
He turned, and despite Lahn s saying he was angry, the young prince smiled in
welcome. Welcome home. Why don t you sit?
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