Read Online Dalir's Salvation by Nina Crespo - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nina Crespo
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them play.
He’d felt their connection to the music and finally understood why they’d needed the band as a refuge. Over the past five years, they’d turned down deals from record companies promising to turn them into stars. What was the point? Once they phased to the next mission, no one would remember they’d contracted them or the music they played. All recordings along with memories of the band would also disappear. Yet, they hadn’t turned bitter over the loss of fame. Content to return to nothing, they’d continuously rebuilt their popularity. For them, the music reigned supreme.
He propped his black boot on the seat the girl and the guy had vacated.
Taliana had treasured the same connection to music when she’d played. The lute, the lire, guitar, piano, she played them all, as well as other instruments. Talent didn’t describe what she’d possessed. It still amazed him how she’d taken lines from the stories he’d written and turned them into lyrics. What was that one song she’d sang for him? The music playing on stage competed with his recollection. Dalir projected the melody Taliana had performed for him long ago across the club to the band on stage.
Contented Wrath paused mid-song.
Hushed twitters in the audience grew into piercing whistles and shouts for the band to resume.
The keyboardist played a soft, flowing chord. The bass and electric guitarists merged into the fluid melody.
This version of Taliana’s song contained Contented Wrath’s musical influence, but it had the same resonant power. With his eyes closed, it made it easier to imagine her sweet, soothing voice blending into the song. He envisioned her smiling at him. It was as if he could smell the sweet grass underneath him as he lay there, watching her, listening. One of the stories he’d written as a boy was about a warrior, returning from battle. She’d transformed it into a song about a lost heart finding a home. She’d sung it to him the week before he’d lost her.
An image of Taliana on the edge of the cliff emerged. I love you, was the final thought she’d sent him before Kell had slit her throat. Dalir’s chest tightened. Kell’s dagger, imbued with ancient power, hadn’t allowed him to heal her. Taliana had died in his arms.
Dalir’s breastbone stung with a burning ache. It spread wider and wider from the spot until it engulfed him. He hadn’t given her his entire heart. His position as commander had meant more to him. He’d delayed their wedding to stay with the warriors longer. He should have handed his duties to Ronan right away and married her. She would have lived under his protection and the royal guard’s. If he hadn’t stayed in the field, he might have noticed Kell’s odd behavior and stopped him. What happened at the temple would have never occurred. The safety of the oracles came second only to the royal house. He’d failed Taliana and his father.
The music on stage ceased.
A stunned silence filled the club followed by thunderous applause.
Dalir rose from his seat. “Consider the song a gift.” They needed it. The band had talent but not as much as Thane’s Redemption.
The members of Contented Wrath exchanged looks of confusion. The lead singer announced a brief intermission.
Dalir drifted through the club the opposite way he’d came in.
Patrons, still in awe, gushed and speculated about the origins of Contented Wrath’s new song.
“That was so beautiful.” At a corner table, Ari sniffled and swiped tears as she dug through her purse.
He’d barely heard her over clinking glasses and pop music playing through the house speakers. He gripped her arm and pulled her up. “What are you doing here?”
Her mouth opened. “You.” She glared. “What I do now or at any other time is none of your business.”
“The hell it isn’t. You should be in bed.”
“Doing what? Waiting for your sorry ass to show up. I don’t think so.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp. “What did you
He’d felt their connection to the music and finally understood why they’d needed the band as a refuge. Over the past five years, they’d turned down deals from record companies promising to turn them into stars. What was the point? Once they phased to the next mission, no one would remember they’d contracted them or the music they played. All recordings along with memories of the band would also disappear. Yet, they hadn’t turned bitter over the loss of fame. Content to return to nothing, they’d continuously rebuilt their popularity. For them, the music reigned supreme.
He propped his black boot on the seat the girl and the guy had vacated.
Taliana had treasured the same connection to music when she’d played. The lute, the lire, guitar, piano, she played them all, as well as other instruments. Talent didn’t describe what she’d possessed. It still amazed him how she’d taken lines from the stories he’d written and turned them into lyrics. What was that one song she’d sang for him? The music playing on stage competed with his recollection. Dalir projected the melody Taliana had performed for him long ago across the club to the band on stage.
Contented Wrath paused mid-song.
Hushed twitters in the audience grew into piercing whistles and shouts for the band to resume.
The keyboardist played a soft, flowing chord. The bass and electric guitarists merged into the fluid melody.
This version of Taliana’s song contained Contented Wrath’s musical influence, but it had the same resonant power. With his eyes closed, it made it easier to imagine her sweet, soothing voice blending into the song. He envisioned her smiling at him. It was as if he could smell the sweet grass underneath him as he lay there, watching her, listening. One of the stories he’d written as a boy was about a warrior, returning from battle. She’d transformed it into a song about a lost heart finding a home. She’d sung it to him the week before he’d lost her.
An image of Taliana on the edge of the cliff emerged. I love you, was the final thought she’d sent him before Kell had slit her throat. Dalir’s chest tightened. Kell’s dagger, imbued with ancient power, hadn’t allowed him to heal her. Taliana had died in his arms.
Dalir’s breastbone stung with a burning ache. It spread wider and wider from the spot until it engulfed him. He hadn’t given her his entire heart. His position as commander had meant more to him. He’d delayed their wedding to stay with the warriors longer. He should have handed his duties to Ronan right away and married her. She would have lived under his protection and the royal guard’s. If he hadn’t stayed in the field, he might have noticed Kell’s odd behavior and stopped him. What happened at the temple would have never occurred. The safety of the oracles came second only to the royal house. He’d failed Taliana and his father.
The music on stage ceased.
A stunned silence filled the club followed by thunderous applause.
Dalir rose from his seat. “Consider the song a gift.” They needed it. The band had talent but not as much as Thane’s Redemption.
The members of Contented Wrath exchanged looks of confusion. The lead singer announced a brief intermission.
Dalir drifted through the club the opposite way he’d came in.
Patrons, still in awe, gushed and speculated about the origins of Contented Wrath’s new song.
“That was so beautiful.” At a corner table, Ari sniffled and swiped tears as she dug through her purse.
He’d barely heard her over clinking glasses and pop music playing through the house speakers. He gripped her arm and pulled her up. “What are you doing here?”
Her mouth opened. “You.” She glared. “What I do now or at any other time is none of your business.”
“The hell it isn’t. You should be in bed.”
“Doing what? Waiting for your sorry ass to show up. I don’t think so.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp. “What did you
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