Read Online Beguiled (Book 2 Immortal Essence series) by Rashelle Workman - Free Book Online Page B

royalty. At all costs.” Palmo’s eyes narrowed. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll do all in your power to keep me safe. Otherwise I’ll make sure you suffer for your insolence ,” he said sharply.
    “Stop being a baby and see if you can find a way out,” I snapped. No need to mention the obvious. I f Palmo died, he wouldn’t have a way to make Zaren pay for his pretend crimes. “And , for your information, Zaren isn’t—”
    Zaren ran a hand along my side . His face was impassive, but I understood he wanted me to stop. Zaren didn’t care what Palmo thought. I wouldn’t either. Chev whimpered and Palmo’s insipidness was forgotten. The human girl was pregnant, by Dervinias, which shouldn’t be feasible . Runnin g to her side, I kneeled .
    “How did this happen?” I asked, tentatively touching her belly. A part of me wanted to believe it wasn’t real.
    “Well Venus, when a boy and a girl get together in an intimate way,” Dervinias began sarcastically .
    “Shut up. ” I glared. Chev’s pregnancy was shocking . She should’ve died. The mortal body of a human and the immortal “essen ce” of a kelvieri should be like steel toxin in Chev’s body . But here she was, a mockery to all the doctrine I was taught, looking as though she were ready to pop. The gestation al period of a kelvieri child was two months. I knew it was a lot longer for humans. It had only been six weeks. What was she growing? She didn’t look very good. Not to mention the issue of Kelari’s air. It was different from Earth’s. That alone should’ve killed her.
    “How is she able to breathe without difficulty?” I asked Dervinias.
    “Earth’s air became poison ous to her. I think the child has changed her somehow, but honestly, I don’t know,” Dervinias said with quiet reverence. He appeared to be in awe of Chev and the child.
    To Chev, I asked the obvious, “Are you pregnant?” I really just wanted to verify the two of them had sex . “Dervinias didn’t . . . ” I searched for a word that wouldn’t remind her she was a rat in Dervinias’s crazy lab of horrors. “He didn’t hurt you?”
    “No. Venus , it was wonderful.” It l ooked like she wanted to go on, like she desperatel y wanted someone to confide in. A friend. But I couldn’t be that for her. Not now. Maybe not ever.
    “ I still can’t believe it,” Dervinias said, shaking his head, a goofy grin plastered on his face.
    The two of them together was weird. Dervinias, though he looked like a sixteen-year-old human teen, was actually much older. He was a killer. Chev, as far as I knew, was nothing more than a girl from Wyoming who loved to ride horses.
    Zaren bent down and placed a hand on Chev’s raised abdomen. “The baby will come soon , ” he said.
    Dervinias pushed Zaren’s hand off. “Don’t touch her. ” D esperation throbbed in his voice, along with something else.
    “Do you mean to sa y you have feelings for this human?” Zaren asked , indicating Cheverly .
    I watched Dervinias’ s face soften. “I do. It may be . . . ” he stifled before continuing, “difficult to believe, but it’s true.”
    I rocked on my heels. Michael told me Dervinias killed his mother, and he’d been killing humans for a long time, so why would Dervinias care for one he impregnated?
    “We’re going to get out of here,” I cooed, desperate to believe the words, hoping they would comfort Chev.
    Chev nodded, but she couldn’t hide the doubt in her eyes .

10. Creep
     
    “Check this out, ” Palmo shouted.
    We all crouched around the door, kneeling like worshippers praying over our sacrifice.
    “Cover your eyes, I’m going to blow away the dust ,” Zaren commanded.
    We did and he blew. Particles struck my skin.
    “Okay,” Zaren said when he finished .
    “Talk about creepy,” Dervinias said , peering closer .
    I had to agree. An intricate image o f a sandy beach with a large tree in the center was etched into the door . At the base of the