Read Online Claimed & Seduced by Shelley Munro - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shelley Munro
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brute, and he’d never leave her alone.
She’d never be safe until he was dead.
* * * * *
L ooking at the list made his head hurt and his heart ache. The women, or at least the names he recognized, were facsimiles of his mother. Jarlath stepped into the sanitizer and turned on a combination of water and steam. The warm mixture pummeled his body from three different directions and the irritating itchy sensation on his back faded.
Grata! He didn’t want any of the women, but if he didn’t make an attempt and meet or spend time courting them, his parents would become pushier. They might even decide to choose his bride for him, and that would be a disaster.
He switched the unit to dry mode and turned his body until the moisture on his skin evaporated.
Once dressed—this time in clothes suitable for a prince—he wandered out to his sitting room and stared at the crumpled list. The first name—Decima Nabil. A petite woman, he recalled. From a good family. Impeccable breeding. A little older than most since she’d had two seasons already. Her dark green eyes hinted at a slumbering feline. He didn’t know for sure since this was a touchy subject and seldom discussed in public, but it was a decent indicator. If he chose her as his wife and they had children, there was a chance their offspring wouldn’t have the ability to shift. It mightn’t be fair, but he couldn’t marry her.
Ernestine Aniko—tall and slender but very shy. From memory, she had a stammer and she blushed each time anyone drew attention to her. No, he couldn’t marry a woman who tried to melt into the furniture.
“ Grata ,” he muttered and reached for his com. “Ellard, I’m going to the night market.”
“Wait. I’ll take Mareeka home and come with you. It’s safer.”
“No, stay with your girl. You deserve some down time. I’ll wear a disguise.”
It was an impulse but the decision felt right. Another departure from habit and one Ellard noted—if his silence was anything to go by.
“You weren’t happy with me this morn for going off without telling you. I’m correcting my error. I’ll have my weapon and my com unit with me. I can shift to feline. Combined with my disguise I’ll be safe enough. No one expects to see Prince Jarlath ambling around the market.”
“No, I’ll take Mareeka—”
“Stop treating me like an immature cub. Besides, I don’t want to take the blame for mucking up your love life. I’m grown and responsible.”
“Not recently,” Ellard retorted.
“It’s the square outside the castle. The castle guards are always alert. I’m going out and you’re remaining in and getting lucky. Maybe you can talk your Mareeka into staying the night.”
“Jarlath,” Ellard muttered in an undertone.
Jarlath grinned at the unspoken warning. “Give Mareeka a kiss for me.”
“Not bloody likely.”
Jarlath was still laughing as he clicked off and slapped the com on his bed. He opened his wardrobe and scowled at the rows of suits. Time to look like his brother again.
Five mins later, Jarlath strode from his suite of rooms, paused at the main staircase and backtracked to exit the castle via a lesser used doorway at the rear. He nodded to the guard and stalked outside.
Dusk had settled over the land and colored lights illuminated the castle square. Tables sat in haphazard rows and vendors bustled around, unpacking their wares ready for display. The aroma of cooking meat filled the air and the taverna on the corner was doing a brisk trade. He halted at the top of the steps leading to lower levels. The next level down, flymo pilots jostled for spaces to land and disgorge passengers. A spot opened up and a flymo pilot pounced on the opportunity. He zipped his compact gray craft into the space, a door flipped open and two adults and two children exited. The children ran past him, their bright green eyes alive with excitement. Their parents followed at a slower pace.
Jarlath pulled his hat lower on his face and
She’d never be safe until he was dead.
* * * * *
L ooking at the list made his head hurt and his heart ache. The women, or at least the names he recognized, were facsimiles of his mother. Jarlath stepped into the sanitizer and turned on a combination of water and steam. The warm mixture pummeled his body from three different directions and the irritating itchy sensation on his back faded.
Grata! He didn’t want any of the women, but if he didn’t make an attempt and meet or spend time courting them, his parents would become pushier. They might even decide to choose his bride for him, and that would be a disaster.
He switched the unit to dry mode and turned his body until the moisture on his skin evaporated.
Once dressed—this time in clothes suitable for a prince—he wandered out to his sitting room and stared at the crumpled list. The first name—Decima Nabil. A petite woman, he recalled. From a good family. Impeccable breeding. A little older than most since she’d had two seasons already. Her dark green eyes hinted at a slumbering feline. He didn’t know for sure since this was a touchy subject and seldom discussed in public, but it was a decent indicator. If he chose her as his wife and they had children, there was a chance their offspring wouldn’t have the ability to shift. It mightn’t be fair, but he couldn’t marry her.
Ernestine Aniko—tall and slender but very shy. From memory, she had a stammer and she blushed each time anyone drew attention to her. No, he couldn’t marry a woman who tried to melt into the furniture.
“ Grata ,” he muttered and reached for his com. “Ellard, I’m going to the night market.”
“Wait. I’ll take Mareeka home and come with you. It’s safer.”
“No, stay with your girl. You deserve some down time. I’ll wear a disguise.”
It was an impulse but the decision felt right. Another departure from habit and one Ellard noted—if his silence was anything to go by.
“You weren’t happy with me this morn for going off without telling you. I’m correcting my error. I’ll have my weapon and my com unit with me. I can shift to feline. Combined with my disguise I’ll be safe enough. No one expects to see Prince Jarlath ambling around the market.”
“No, I’ll take Mareeka—”
“Stop treating me like an immature cub. Besides, I don’t want to take the blame for mucking up your love life. I’m grown and responsible.”
“Not recently,” Ellard retorted.
“It’s the square outside the castle. The castle guards are always alert. I’m going out and you’re remaining in and getting lucky. Maybe you can talk your Mareeka into staying the night.”
“Jarlath,” Ellard muttered in an undertone.
Jarlath grinned at the unspoken warning. “Give Mareeka a kiss for me.”
“Not bloody likely.”
Jarlath was still laughing as he clicked off and slapped the com on his bed. He opened his wardrobe and scowled at the rows of suits. Time to look like his brother again.
Five mins later, Jarlath strode from his suite of rooms, paused at the main staircase and backtracked to exit the castle via a lesser used doorway at the rear. He nodded to the guard and stalked outside.
Dusk had settled over the land and colored lights illuminated the castle square. Tables sat in haphazard rows and vendors bustled around, unpacking their wares ready for display. The aroma of cooking meat filled the air and the taverna on the corner was doing a brisk trade. He halted at the top of the steps leading to lower levels. The next level down, flymo pilots jostled for spaces to land and disgorge passengers. A spot opened up and a flymo pilot pounced on the opportunity. He zipped his compact gray craft into the space, a door flipped open and two adults and two children exited. The children ran past him, their bright green eyes alive with excitement. Their parents followed at a slower pace.
Jarlath pulled his hat lower on his face and
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