Read Online Beguiled (Book 2 Immortal Essence series) by Rashelle Workman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rashelle Workman
Ads: Link
“Now.”
9. Believe
Thick vapor filled the room making it difficult to see the others. The ground shook. Chev cried out, and I heard Dervinias speaking to her tenderly .
An arm rounded my shoulders and I flinched. “It’s me. Zaren. Are you hurt?”
“No,” I hissed. “But I should be. I’m sorry to bring you into this.”
He snorted. “Don’t say those things . There isn’t a place in the U niverse I’d rather be.” Zaren took my face in his hands and kissed me. It was full of a passion I hadn’t known he possessed. I melted into him, wishing with all my heart we were alone.
Seconds later, he released me, leaning his forehead against mine. “I love you Venus of Alayeah. With everything I am.”
“I-I love you too, Zaren.” My immortal heart, my epsis , thundered against my chest. I did love him.
“ Awwww , how very touching,” Palmo said, his voice like oil, thick and slippery.
“I concur, dear brother. Very romantic,” Dervinias added.
Zaren gripped my hand, “Don’t worry about them. They’re jealous .”
I nodded . “Dervinias and Palmo are brothers?” I whispered, trying to stifle my shock.
“Apparently. Though it doesn’t surprise me. The king of Canaru has something of a reputation .”
“Really?” I was beginning to realize I knew nothing about the other rulers of Kelari. I was like a minnow in a piranha tank. The Chans, my tutors, and my parents had taught me much, but they hadn’t taught me everything. That wouldn’t do if I wanted to keep my country thriving .
The vapor clear ed and I looked around. Zaren gave my hand a quick squeeze before releasing it. “Be ready.”
“For what?” Palmo asked, terror in his voice.
“Anything,” Zaren answered.
Zaren’s back touched mine. Whatever Ramien had planned, Zaren obviously believed it wouldn’t be good. I had no weapon but my body, so I widened my stance, and lowered my center.
We were no longer in the same room. T his one was perfectly circular. Thousands of dimly lit lights were nestled randomly in the rock walls. A chilly wind blew , bringing with it the stench of brine. Water seeped in from tiny crack s in the rocky walls . Above , water dripped in a steady beat.
On the floor , in the center of the room , lay a golden door. Intrigued, I bent down to get a closer look . Zaren pulled me up. “Wait,” he hissed.
Palmo muttered, like a nervous old man, his lips flapping incoherently. The last part I understood, no doubt because he meant for me to hear. “It seems , once again, I’m required to suffer unnecessarily thanks t o you, Venus. ” Palmo spoke my name like it contained something vile . “ I don’t know why, but everyone is overly concerned about you—whether you live or die , whether you stay on Kelari or not, whether we marry or not . . . ” Palmo gave me a once over. “You aren’t the slightest bit impressive. At all. Amberlee is better suited to rule Alayeah. ” He sniffed and shoved his hands into his armpits. “ What happens to you mea ns nothing to me, as long as you don’t hurt Amberlee. So why am I here ? ”
“I have no idea.” I shrugged. When we were younger, Palmo came to our families’ castle often, with hi s parents, the king and queen of Canaru . He constantly teased me. I considered him a nuisance. My parents always made me behave nicely, since we were betrothed. He was always sweet to my sis ter though. I was curious why Ramien brought him here as well. I gave Zaren a n inquiring look .
Zaren fixed his gaze on Palmo. “ Ramien said you were here for a reason. They matter only to you. Remember those words .”
“They should matter to you as well , guardian. ” Palmo marched over, trying to intimidate Zaren . I covered my mouth to hide my laugh. Palmo was a head shorter than Zaren. He barely stood taller than me. Not to mention Palmo’s body was . . . much more feminine than Zaren’s. The boy went on, “ As a Formytian, it is your sacred duty to protect
9. Believe
Thick vapor filled the room making it difficult to see the others. The ground shook. Chev cried out, and I heard Dervinias speaking to her tenderly .
An arm rounded my shoulders and I flinched. “It’s me. Zaren. Are you hurt?”
“No,” I hissed. “But I should be. I’m sorry to bring you into this.”
He snorted. “Don’t say those things . There isn’t a place in the U niverse I’d rather be.” Zaren took my face in his hands and kissed me. It was full of a passion I hadn’t known he possessed. I melted into him, wishing with all my heart we were alone.
Seconds later, he released me, leaning his forehead against mine. “I love you Venus of Alayeah. With everything I am.”
“I-I love you too, Zaren.” My immortal heart, my epsis , thundered against my chest. I did love him.
“ Awwww , how very touching,” Palmo said, his voice like oil, thick and slippery.
“I concur, dear brother. Very romantic,” Dervinias added.
Zaren gripped my hand, “Don’t worry about them. They’re jealous .”
I nodded . “Dervinias and Palmo are brothers?” I whispered, trying to stifle my shock.
“Apparently. Though it doesn’t surprise me. The king of Canaru has something of a reputation .”
“Really?” I was beginning to realize I knew nothing about the other rulers of Kelari. I was like a minnow in a piranha tank. The Chans, my tutors, and my parents had taught me much, but they hadn’t taught me everything. That wouldn’t do if I wanted to keep my country thriving .
The vapor clear ed and I looked around. Zaren gave my hand a quick squeeze before releasing it. “Be ready.”
“For what?” Palmo asked, terror in his voice.
“Anything,” Zaren answered.
Zaren’s back touched mine. Whatever Ramien had planned, Zaren obviously believed it wouldn’t be good. I had no weapon but my body, so I widened my stance, and lowered my center.
We were no longer in the same room. T his one was perfectly circular. Thousands of dimly lit lights were nestled randomly in the rock walls. A chilly wind blew , bringing with it the stench of brine. Water seeped in from tiny crack s in the rocky walls . Above , water dripped in a steady beat.
On the floor , in the center of the room , lay a golden door. Intrigued, I bent down to get a closer look . Zaren pulled me up. “Wait,” he hissed.
Palmo muttered, like a nervous old man, his lips flapping incoherently. The last part I understood, no doubt because he meant for me to hear. “It seems , once again, I’m required to suffer unnecessarily thanks t o you, Venus. ” Palmo spoke my name like it contained something vile . “ I don’t know why, but everyone is overly concerned about you—whether you live or die , whether you stay on Kelari or not, whether we marry or not . . . ” Palmo gave me a once over. “You aren’t the slightest bit impressive. At all. Amberlee is better suited to rule Alayeah. ” He sniffed and shoved his hands into his armpits. “ What happens to you mea ns nothing to me, as long as you don’t hurt Amberlee. So why am I here ? ”
“I have no idea.” I shrugged. When we were younger, Palmo came to our families’ castle often, with hi s parents, the king and queen of Canaru . He constantly teased me. I considered him a nuisance. My parents always made me behave nicely, since we were betrothed. He was always sweet to my sis ter though. I was curious why Ramien brought him here as well. I gave Zaren a n inquiring look .
Zaren fixed his gaze on Palmo. “ Ramien said you were here for a reason. They matter only to you. Remember those words .”
“They should matter to you as well , guardian. ” Palmo marched over, trying to intimidate Zaren . I covered my mouth to hide my laugh. Palmo was a head shorter than Zaren. He barely stood taller than me. Not to mention Palmo’s body was . . . much more feminine than Zaren’s. The boy went on, “ As a Formytian, it is your sacred duty to protect
Similar Books
