Read Online Before Beauty by Brittany Fichter - Free Book Online Page A

wielded a special gift. It had
been the very reason Destin was the most feared kingdom in the
realm. And it was most definitely not the kind of power Ansel
wanted involved with Isa.
    “ It wouldn’t be difficult for me,”
Everard continued, “to find whomever or whatever you’re protecting.
It also would not be difficult for me to share the sickness of this
place with them.”
    This was more than Ansel could
take. Defenseless against such a threat, he closed his eyes and
spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “I have a family, Your
Highness. I promised them I would come home safely.”
    “ Tell me about this
family.”
    “ You wouldn’t be interested in the
family of a common merchant, Sire. We are much like other families
of our kind.”
    The prince paused again for a
moment before replying. “No, I don’t think you are. You’re too
careful, too protective of them. Oh come now, don’t be so
surprised. I’ve given my life to studying strategy and defense, and
you, Tradesman, are putting up all your defenses. Now, I truly do
wish to hear about your family. As you can guess, I get few
visitors at the moment. Entertain me.”
    Ansel swallowed hard before
answering. King Rodrigue had despised weakness, and after his son’s
attempt to weed out Ansel’s daughter, it appeared the prince
despised it as well. Ansel chose his words carefully.
    “ My wife is a shrewd woman, and
runs my store as well as I do. She has also taught all of the
children to be of use there. The youngest, Megane, is just a child,
but she already shows a talent for weaving. Launce, my boy, is
nineteen, and he’s training to take over the mercantile one day. My
oldest daughter…” Ansel’s voice faltered for a moment. What if the
prince knew her name? What if he remembered her? “My oldest
daughter has a strong heart and a quick mind like no
other.”
    The prince held up his hand, and
Ansel stopped.
    “ A strong heart, you say. What is
this daughter’s name?”
    Ansel faltered again before
answering. “Isabelle, Sire.”
    “ And what about her heart makes it
so strong?” The prince’s voice was cynical, but Ansel detected a
keen interest in it. His heart pounded as he struggled to answer
the prince’s question.
    “ She…suffered an injury as a
child, but she never gave up. She was determined to be strong once
again, and she is. Isabelle never gives up hope.” Ansel prayed that
would be the end of the prince’s interest in his daughter, that the
assurance of her strength and productivity would be enough, but he
had no way of knowing. The prince’s expressions were hidden in the
dark. It seemed like a very long time that the two men sat there in
silence, one kneeling and the other hunching in his throne.
Finally, the prince spoke.
    “ So, Ansel Marchand, I have an
assignment for you.” His voice was quiet and terrible again, and
for the first time, Ansel could just make out two glowing rings of
fire what watched him through the darkness. It sent a shudder down
his spine.
    “ Yes, Sire?”
    “ When the road is clear enough to
return, you will go back to your home. Isabelle will gather her
things and say goodbye to her family and friends. Then you will
bring her back here to me before dusk on the third day. Three days
should be more than enough time for her to do so
properly.”
    It was as if Ansel’s heart had
stopped and his lungs had collapsed. He fought for his voice as he
threw himself at his prince’s feet.
    “ Your Highness, please! There must
be some mistake! Take me! I will stay here in the stead of your
servants! I will do anything you ask of me! But this I cannot
do!”
    “ You can,” the prince said
testily, “and you will.”
    “ No!” Ansel rose to his feet, his
voice shaking as rage overcame his fear. “I will not give my child
to you! You may sit here in the darkness of your great Fortress,
but outside of it, you are nothing! If you were still in power, the
trade routes would no longer be filled with