Read Online Dark Warriors: A Dark Lands Anthology (Darklands) by Autumn Dawn - Free Book Online

matches, the more connections and power they will grow to have. Even now, they discuss who is the best warrior they know in hopes of introducing you to him. I’ve no doubt they followed you to the practice room and stood outside your door, waiting to waylay you.”
    Nonplussed, she considered that. She was about to adopt budding politicians. “Did they learn these bad habits from you?”
    His answer was a sly smile.
    She sighed. Compassion had prompted her to extend her word to the boys. Honor wouldn’t let her take it back. It was disappointing to hear that they hadn’t been prompted by a real need for her, but surely her instincts hadn’t been that far off. Maybe deep inside, they really did want a mother. The passage of years hadn’t stilled the fierce yearning that she still felt for hers. Though they might not admit it, the boys might feel the same.
    It made her edgy that Dagon was their guardian, and that she was about to become the other half. It was too much like…best not to go there. Determined to go into things with her eyes wide open, she asked, “Who is their mother? Does she really not care what happens to them? I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
    All expression left him. “You won’t. Ellyn said you might have any of her sons.”
    Shock made her eyes widen. Vana didn’t know what to say. If Ellyn was his mother, too…ouch. Now the kid’s search for a new mother made more sense. The woman’s callousness toward her sons made Vana want to slap her. “Does she have any more sons? She spoke of fifteen.”
    He raised a brow. “Four aren’t enough for you?”
    “I’m just curious.” That came out a trifle defensive. She hadn’t even adopted the first batch yet, and already she wanted to mother the rest. Why couldn’t she listen to her selfish instincts when it really mattered?
    Dagon sighed. “Some of them died in battle. One did not survive childhood.”
    There was pain upon pain; they were definitely not the Brady Bunch. “I’m sorry. Does anything good ever happen in your family?”
    “Possibly you, though I’m reserving judgment just now,” he said with the hint of a smile.
    The soft light in his eyes made her uneasy. She cleared her throat. “That still leaves a few, doesn’t it? Where are they?”
    “The others are with their fathers. Ellyn was not always faithful.”
    Gape mouthed, she blinked at him. His revelation was at odds with the reserved, elegant picture she’d formed of Ellyn. “But…what did your father do about that?”
    “What could he do? She was a woman,” he said harshly. Apparently that said it all.
    “Why do you act so offended? I saw some of your television programs while I was on Earth. Your women do worse things. As far as I can tell, they have no morals at all.”
    She sputtered. “You can’t judge us all by what you saw on TV! Everybody knows that it’s filled with garbage. Besides, look at me. You took me because I was…” She clamped her mouth shut. Had she really almost brought up her virginity with the man?
    Eager to change the subject, she said, “But that’s not right! Ellyn, I mean. You make it sound as if a woman could get away with murder. Isn’t there any penalty for these things? I know that women are important to you, but still…”
    A shrewd gleam appeared in his eyes. “Perhaps, as a woman, you could be impartial in these matters. Do you truly believe that a woman would be better tried by a jury of peers?”
    Like she had to think hard to answer that one! “Well, yeah. You guys don’t seem to be doing so hot.”
    The gleam turned into a satisfied, piratical smile. “I’ll remember you said that. In the meantime, you have a ceremony to prepare for. We’ll hold it at the end of the week. If you change your mind before then, let me know. I won’t announce it until the last minute to save you face if you back out.”
    The way he said it made her burn. As if she weren’t trustworthy enough to stick to her guns.