Read Online Eluria's Enforcer (The Argadian Heart Trilogy Book 1) by Adrianna Dane - Free Book Online
Authors: Adrianna Dane
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he’d devised. A union made in
Haydon. I knew in my soul it would never be honored by Guardian, nor given the
balance of Mylonna and Symion.” She looked up at him, knowing he would see the
essence of her heart and soul. “There was only one with whom I’d experience the
true balance of Lydion and that vision of union was destroyed forever.”
Devon brushed a hand along the curve of her
face and she leaned into it. She’d never realized before how truly cold her
soul had become. His touch was like a warming beacon on a frigid night.
“The night before the union celebration I
went to the House of Twilight and sold my purity. I decided if anyone would
profit from my innocence, it would not be my father. The next day he confronted
me and I was officially declared impure and no longer of any use to him. I
haven’t spoken to him since that day.”
Devon pulled her close. “It was an act of
desperation. I wish I’d been there, I should have been. There was no one to
protect you.”
She leaned back and looked at him. “Who
protected you and your family from my father’s greed, Devon?” she asked softly.
“I vowed the day I found out what he’d done, I would find a way to free you.”
Devon stroked her hair. “You’ve done that,
Eluria. That and more.”
“But too late. It was by accident I heard of
the plan to seize your father. I’d been able to pass him bits of information
from my…assignments.” She tried to pull away, but his arms anchored her. “As
soon as I heard he’d been discovered, I went to him.”
She reached up to remove the silver necklace
hanging around her neck. “He gave me this. We talked many times about you.” She
looked down at the talisman she’d worn next to her skin for so many years. “He
wanted you to have it. He had faith I’d find you.”
She offered it to him. Devon released her and
took the chain from her hand. A wrenching tugged at her heart. It was the last
link binding her to him and his family. He studied the talisman, then looked at
her. His gaze held memory—and sadness.
“Do you know what it is?”
She shook her head. It had been enough to
know it was something she was to hold in safekeeping for his return. It kept
her focused on her purpose. “I only know he meant for me to place it in your
hand and to offer you one word. Remember.”
Devon’s vision turned inward, past her, into
the Before. “It belonged to my grandfather, and his father before him. It is a
symbol of our freedom from the brutality of the Moygars—a piece of the shackle
our descendant wore. My great-grandfather had it encased in crystallite to
preserve it. It has been handed down to each eldest son since that time.” She
watched as his gaze returned to the talisman cupped in his hand. His fingers
curled into a tight fist around the memory.
“I’m so sorry, Devon.”
“It’s all that’s left. And you have protected
it. Don’t be sorry.” His determined blue gaze caught and trapped her.
“Devon.” The word was but a sob of answering
need.
Without warning, he lowered his head and his
lips claimed hers. His heat blazed through her. Instinctively, she opened her
mouth, and his tongue drove deep into her moist warmth, demanding what should
have been his long ago.
Eluria tried to pull away. She couldn’t do
this. To seal with him now would be her utter destruction. She broke free of
his consuming kiss. “Devon, no—”
His expression brooked no discussion. “Yes,
Eluria. Together we will heal the past and bind the future. Guardian would not
have brought us together on this planet without purpose.”
“It wasn’t Guardian,” she cried in denial.
Guardian wouldn’t have been so cruel as to have brought them together this way.
Not with the knowledge that she could no longer offer the balance that Devon
should have in union. “It was my father who did that. I know the level you’ve
risen to as Enforcer. He doesn’t like to share power. Nor does he like to be
thwarted.
Haydon. I knew in my soul it would never be honored by Guardian, nor given the
balance of Mylonna and Symion.” She looked up at him, knowing he would see the
essence of her heart and soul. “There was only one with whom I’d experience the
true balance of Lydion and that vision of union was destroyed forever.”
Devon brushed a hand along the curve of her
face and she leaned into it. She’d never realized before how truly cold her
soul had become. His touch was like a warming beacon on a frigid night.
“The night before the union celebration I
went to the House of Twilight and sold my purity. I decided if anyone would
profit from my innocence, it would not be my father. The next day he confronted
me and I was officially declared impure and no longer of any use to him. I
haven’t spoken to him since that day.”
Devon pulled her close. “It was an act of
desperation. I wish I’d been there, I should have been. There was no one to
protect you.”
She leaned back and looked at him. “Who
protected you and your family from my father’s greed, Devon?” she asked softly.
“I vowed the day I found out what he’d done, I would find a way to free you.”
Devon stroked her hair. “You’ve done that,
Eluria. That and more.”
“But too late. It was by accident I heard of
the plan to seize your father. I’d been able to pass him bits of information
from my…assignments.” She tried to pull away, but his arms anchored her. “As
soon as I heard he’d been discovered, I went to him.”
She reached up to remove the silver necklace
hanging around her neck. “He gave me this. We talked many times about you.” She
looked down at the talisman she’d worn next to her skin for so many years. “He
wanted you to have it. He had faith I’d find you.”
She offered it to him. Devon released her and
took the chain from her hand. A wrenching tugged at her heart. It was the last
link binding her to him and his family. He studied the talisman, then looked at
her. His gaze held memory—and sadness.
“Do you know what it is?”
She shook her head. It had been enough to
know it was something she was to hold in safekeeping for his return. It kept
her focused on her purpose. “I only know he meant for me to place it in your
hand and to offer you one word. Remember.”
Devon’s vision turned inward, past her, into
the Before. “It belonged to my grandfather, and his father before him. It is a
symbol of our freedom from the brutality of the Moygars—a piece of the shackle
our descendant wore. My great-grandfather had it encased in crystallite to
preserve it. It has been handed down to each eldest son since that time.” She
watched as his gaze returned to the talisman cupped in his hand. His fingers
curled into a tight fist around the memory.
“I’m so sorry, Devon.”
“It’s all that’s left. And you have protected
it. Don’t be sorry.” His determined blue gaze caught and trapped her.
“Devon.” The word was but a sob of answering
need.
Without warning, he lowered his head and his
lips claimed hers. His heat blazed through her. Instinctively, she opened her
mouth, and his tongue drove deep into her moist warmth, demanding what should
have been his long ago.
Eluria tried to pull away. She couldn’t do
this. To seal with him now would be her utter destruction. She broke free of
his consuming kiss. “Devon, no—”
His expression brooked no discussion. “Yes,
Eluria. Together we will heal the past and bind the future. Guardian would not
have brought us together on this planet without purpose.”
“It wasn’t Guardian,” she cried in denial.
Guardian wouldn’t have been so cruel as to have brought them together this way.
Not with the knowledge that she could no longer offer the balance that Devon
should have in union. “It was my father who did that. I know the level you’ve
risen to as Enforcer. He doesn’t like to share power. Nor does he like to be
thwarted.
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