Read Online Born Of Fire And Darkness (Book 2) by India Drummond - Free Book Online

between them with long, languid steps, her sheer gown sweeping the floor. “Braetin is weak,” she said. “Even with the energy I provided her, she is not what she once was. For obvious reasons, I did not give her enough to restore her completely. It will take her years to recover.”
    Graiphen furrowed his brow. He’d lost consciousness and not seen the method Pang had used to restore his mistress. “But she is feeding. More come every day to offer themselves to her.”
    “And if that stopped, she would die.”
    The word hit him hard. Die? He had been taught from childhood that the Spirits were immortal. Ever since he’d seen their true forms that day in the rift room, he’d considered their origins and nature. The temple scrolls had taught him nothing that would explain what he’d seen. Speaking of anything that happened within the inner sanctum was forbidden, which made inquiries unwise.
    “Some of my brethren are dead already, doomed by the acts of one of our own. When his people expelled us from this world, only the strongest survived. Me, your mistress, and two others.”
    Four of the Spirits were dead? Graiphen took in the news with quiet alarm. After a moment, curiosity got the better of him. “Which of your brethren survived?”
    “The ones you call Usher and Slondaemon. But Braetin would never call them forth.”
    “Why not?” Graiphen’s mind reeled. Of the eight Spirits of Light and Shadow, four were dead . Usher, the Spirit of Shadow who was said to guard the human dead, and Slondaemon, the Spirit of Shadow whose realm was disease and decay, were the only survivors.
    Kiarana shrugged. “I suspect she finds me less of a threat. She never did understand the power of love and light. Perhaps she thought I’d be easier to betray once she returned to full power.”
    That, Graiphen thought, sounded exactly like the way Braetin would have made the choice. He’d known no pact she had made that she did not later betray. Some found it a difficult concept. How they could follow a god they could not trust? Graiphen understood that it taught her devotees to always be useful, to never rest on their laurels.
    Kiarana went on. “Even knowing what she has in mind for me, I accepted her offer and gave her what she demanded in exchange for what I wanted. Now I’m planning for the moment she will try to do away with me. She will not find it easy.”
    “When there were eight of you in this world, none tried to do away with the others. You lived in peace and perfect balance. Why should she betray you?” The question, of course, was a false one, but he could not bring himself to acknowledge that Pang’s concerns were rightful.
    With a chuckle, Kiarana shook her head. “Because it is her nature. And don’t be so sure none tried to do away with the others. There were rifts and alliances even then. Still, the past is of little importance. I’d rather talk about today.” She shivered as though an unpleasant thought had crossed her mind.
    “You, my dear Ultim Qardone, could be master of all eight temples.”
    “But if Braetin’s followers uncovered how to summon her here, surely Slondaemon’s and Usher’s could do the same.”
    Kiarana smiled brightly. “No, only one rift can appear at a time and remain stable. Two would fork the power, rendering both useless, or worse, deadly. Once Braetin is gone, I can give you the key to ensure no other rifts can ever be created for Slondaemon and Usher to pass through. If the link to this world is severed, none can connect to this place again. I alone will feast on the delights of this world. It is like a banquet to a hungry soul.”
    Graiphen studied her. “But wouldn’t that mean you could not return to your own world? I saw your forms. You are not here in the flesh. If the connection is severed, you would no longer be here.”
    “If you join with me, I will teach you how to open the rift completely to bring me through in the flesh. It is not something my people do,