Read Online A Soul for Vengeance by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online
Authors: Crista McHugh
Tags: Fantasy
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he ever think about the woman whose heart he’d destroyed after he returned to Gravaria?
She opened her mouth to tell him yes, but her chin quivered to the point where she didn’t trust what words may come out.
Because despite spending years hating a man she’d never met, she wanted to know more about him now that she was face to face with him.
But instead, she surrendered to her stubborn pride and merely nodded.
The light faded from his blue eyes, and his shoulders fell. “Very well. But please, why don’t you make yourself comfortable here?”
“I have no intention of staying longer than needed.” Her words sounded cold and harsh, so different from the whimpering child inside who begged her to accept his invitation. “Just give me my necklace back, and I’ll no longer burden you with my presence.”
The corner of his mouth rose. “You’ll be here for quite a while, Arden. An avalanche closed the only way in and out of this valley, so you’re stuck here until the snow melts.”
And somewhere in the back of her mind, Loku laughed hysterically.
Chapter 6
Kell slid down from the cart and stretched. Another day of being jostled from side to side until his body ached. Another day of witnessing the desolation and destruction the war with Thallus had caused. Another day of staring in awe at the massive windmills the Thallians had built along the skyline to power their machines. And another day of watching Zara constantly looking over her shoulder and jumping at the slightest sound.
Tonight, she’d led them to an abandoned barn. The rats had eaten holes through the thatched roof, allowing the snow to pour in and the wind to swirl through, but the solid walls offered some protection from the winter weather.
And it hid them from the patrols of Thallian soldiers that roamed the countryside, if Zara was to be believed. So far, though, he hadn’t come across one since they left Boznac, which suited him just fine.
Bynn’s sister barked out orders, designating duties to each of the men as they settled in for the night. All except him, of course. He caught her arm before she disappeared outside with her crossbow to “patrol” the area. “And what can I do?”
She shook his hand off. “You can stay put and focus on getting strong enough to help our cause.”
Her dismissal raised his hackles. “Are you saying I’m completely useless?”
Her eyes traveled from his face to his toes and back again. “At the moment, yes.”
Her reply heated his blood. He’d show her that he wasn’t useless. Every day, he pushed his body to do more and more, but it seemed he needed to work even harder if he wanted to take control. He glared at her, challenging her assessment of him until she finally turned away and went outside.
A growl of frustration rose from his chest as he returned to the corner of the barn where the men were building a fire and gathering ingredients for the evening meal. “Doesn’t it bother you that you’re taking orders from a woman?”
“Not as much as it seems to be bothering you,” Parros replied. He tossed a skin to Kell. “Here, have a sip of this and cool your temper.”
Kell took a long drink of the fortified wine, but his wounded pride found little comfort in the alcohol. “She should be under the care of her blood, following orders, not giving them.”
Parros leveled a knife at him. “Watch what you say about Lady Zara. She is here under the consent of her blood, and we follow her orders because she’s earned the right to give them, unlike some people.”
How dare that old knight reprimand him! He jumped to his feet, pointing to his chest. “Might I remind you that I’m a Prince of Ranello.”
“Then start acting like one.” Parros shook the knife at him like a wagging finger. “Instead of insulting Lady Zara, you should be thankful she found out where you were and organized all the events that led to your freedom.”
His angry retort faltered, and his hand fell to
She opened her mouth to tell him yes, but her chin quivered to the point where she didn’t trust what words may come out.
Because despite spending years hating a man she’d never met, she wanted to know more about him now that she was face to face with him.
But instead, she surrendered to her stubborn pride and merely nodded.
The light faded from his blue eyes, and his shoulders fell. “Very well. But please, why don’t you make yourself comfortable here?”
“I have no intention of staying longer than needed.” Her words sounded cold and harsh, so different from the whimpering child inside who begged her to accept his invitation. “Just give me my necklace back, and I’ll no longer burden you with my presence.”
The corner of his mouth rose. “You’ll be here for quite a while, Arden. An avalanche closed the only way in and out of this valley, so you’re stuck here until the snow melts.”
And somewhere in the back of her mind, Loku laughed hysterically.
Chapter 6
Kell slid down from the cart and stretched. Another day of being jostled from side to side until his body ached. Another day of witnessing the desolation and destruction the war with Thallus had caused. Another day of staring in awe at the massive windmills the Thallians had built along the skyline to power their machines. And another day of watching Zara constantly looking over her shoulder and jumping at the slightest sound.
Tonight, she’d led them to an abandoned barn. The rats had eaten holes through the thatched roof, allowing the snow to pour in and the wind to swirl through, but the solid walls offered some protection from the winter weather.
And it hid them from the patrols of Thallian soldiers that roamed the countryside, if Zara was to be believed. So far, though, he hadn’t come across one since they left Boznac, which suited him just fine.
Bynn’s sister barked out orders, designating duties to each of the men as they settled in for the night. All except him, of course. He caught her arm before she disappeared outside with her crossbow to “patrol” the area. “And what can I do?”
She shook his hand off. “You can stay put and focus on getting strong enough to help our cause.”
Her dismissal raised his hackles. “Are you saying I’m completely useless?”
Her eyes traveled from his face to his toes and back again. “At the moment, yes.”
Her reply heated his blood. He’d show her that he wasn’t useless. Every day, he pushed his body to do more and more, but it seemed he needed to work even harder if he wanted to take control. He glared at her, challenging her assessment of him until she finally turned away and went outside.
A growl of frustration rose from his chest as he returned to the corner of the barn where the men were building a fire and gathering ingredients for the evening meal. “Doesn’t it bother you that you’re taking orders from a woman?”
“Not as much as it seems to be bothering you,” Parros replied. He tossed a skin to Kell. “Here, have a sip of this and cool your temper.”
Kell took a long drink of the fortified wine, but his wounded pride found little comfort in the alcohol. “She should be under the care of her blood, following orders, not giving them.”
Parros leveled a knife at him. “Watch what you say about Lady Zara. She is here under the consent of her blood, and we follow her orders because she’s earned the right to give them, unlike some people.”
How dare that old knight reprimand him! He jumped to his feet, pointing to his chest. “Might I remind you that I’m a Prince of Ranello.”
“Then start acting like one.” Parros shook the knife at him like a wagging finger. “Instead of insulting Lady Zara, you should be thankful she found out where you were and organized all the events that led to your freedom.”
His angry retort faltered, and his hand fell to
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