Read Online Entwined (Intergalactic Loyalties) by Jessica Coulter Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jessica Coulter Smith
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he accept the burden of yet another woman to care for.”
Bane paled and took a deep breath. Ariana broke free with a cry and rushed to his side. As his arms wrapped around her, she buried her face against his chest, breathing in his scent for what she assumed would be the last time. She knew enough about Keshpan law to know it wouldn’t be possible to get Bane out of this situation. Once the Arch Prime made up his mind, there was no way around the decision.
“I love you,” she said brokenly.
“Shh, my love. It can’t be good for you to be this upset. You’ll make yourself sick.”
“I can’t help it. I don’t want to lose you.”
He nodded to Cael and his brother came over. With infinite tenderness and a sad look in his eyes, he handed Ariana to Cael. “Please accept Ariana. I can go to my death peacefully knowing she’ll be taken care of. I trust you not to harm her in any way.”
Cael gave a jerky nod. “I’ll treat her with utmost respect, the way you would.”
The Prime Minister motioned the men forward. “You’ll both need to sign the documents transferring ownership of Ariana from Bane to Cael. Once that’s done, we’ll move out for the sentence to be carried out.”
Ariana sobbed against Cael, not wanting to think about losing Bane forever. She knew there would never be another love in her life, not like she loved him.
She watched as the men signed their names and the Prime Minister accepted the papers. He stood and motioned for Bane to precede him out a side door. Ariana and Bane’s brothers followed. When they stepped out into the bright sunlight, they saw a man with a long silver weapon.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“A laser. His death will be quick,” Arko answered, his jaw set.
Tears still streaked Ariana’s face, and she couldn’t seem to stop the flood. She watched in horror as the executioner took aim, her beloved Bane looking resigned to his fate. As the man pressed something on the side of the device, Ariana broke free and jumped in front of Bane, reaching for him. She felt a searing pain in her back, pain unlike anything she’d ever felt before, and then nothing. Her eyes slid shut as she fell forward.
* * *
Bane caught her, crying out his anguish. Why had she done such a foolish thing? Didn’t she know that his life was forfeit despite her brave act? Or had it just not mattered to her? Had the thought of living without him been too much for her to bear? He knew if their roles were reversed, that’s how he would feel.
He clutched her in his arms as he sank to his knees. Blood poured from the wound in her back, and he gazed up at his brothers. Cael knelt at his side, reaching for Ariana. His first instinct was to pull away, to keep her to himself, but he knew his brother was just trying to help. He allowed Cael to get closer, allowed him to touch his beloved.
Cael raised eyes filled with sorrow and shook his head. With a hoarse cry, Bane held Ariana close to his chest as tears fell. He felt as if there was a gaping hole where his heart had been. Without Ariana, his life was meaningless. Without her, he was ready to face death, to join her in the afterlife. Surely their creator would be kind enough to allow their souls to find one another. He couldn’t bear the thought of an eternity without her.
Cael pried Ariana from his arms. “Give her to me, Bane. I’ll take care of her.”
Bane nodded and stood. He faced the executioner. “I’m ready now.”
The man faced the Prime Minister, who shook his head.
“There will be no execution today,” the Prime Minister said. “Bane, you’ll be transferred to the prison while we re-evaluate your case.”
Bane panicked. They couldn’t do this; they couldn’t let him live without his beloved. “Please, sir. I don’t wish for you to re-evaluate anything. I’m ready now.”
The Prime Minister gave him a sympathetic look and began to walk away, motioning for the executioner to follow. He called over his shoulder,
Bane paled and took a deep breath. Ariana broke free with a cry and rushed to his side. As his arms wrapped around her, she buried her face against his chest, breathing in his scent for what she assumed would be the last time. She knew enough about Keshpan law to know it wouldn’t be possible to get Bane out of this situation. Once the Arch Prime made up his mind, there was no way around the decision.
“I love you,” she said brokenly.
“Shh, my love. It can’t be good for you to be this upset. You’ll make yourself sick.”
“I can’t help it. I don’t want to lose you.”
He nodded to Cael and his brother came over. With infinite tenderness and a sad look in his eyes, he handed Ariana to Cael. “Please accept Ariana. I can go to my death peacefully knowing she’ll be taken care of. I trust you not to harm her in any way.”
Cael gave a jerky nod. “I’ll treat her with utmost respect, the way you would.”
The Prime Minister motioned the men forward. “You’ll both need to sign the documents transferring ownership of Ariana from Bane to Cael. Once that’s done, we’ll move out for the sentence to be carried out.”
Ariana sobbed against Cael, not wanting to think about losing Bane forever. She knew there would never be another love in her life, not like she loved him.
She watched as the men signed their names and the Prime Minister accepted the papers. He stood and motioned for Bane to precede him out a side door. Ariana and Bane’s brothers followed. When they stepped out into the bright sunlight, they saw a man with a long silver weapon.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“A laser. His death will be quick,” Arko answered, his jaw set.
Tears still streaked Ariana’s face, and she couldn’t seem to stop the flood. She watched in horror as the executioner took aim, her beloved Bane looking resigned to his fate. As the man pressed something on the side of the device, Ariana broke free and jumped in front of Bane, reaching for him. She felt a searing pain in her back, pain unlike anything she’d ever felt before, and then nothing. Her eyes slid shut as she fell forward.
* * *
Bane caught her, crying out his anguish. Why had she done such a foolish thing? Didn’t she know that his life was forfeit despite her brave act? Or had it just not mattered to her? Had the thought of living without him been too much for her to bear? He knew if their roles were reversed, that’s how he would feel.
He clutched her in his arms as he sank to his knees. Blood poured from the wound in her back, and he gazed up at his brothers. Cael knelt at his side, reaching for Ariana. His first instinct was to pull away, to keep her to himself, but he knew his brother was just trying to help. He allowed Cael to get closer, allowed him to touch his beloved.
Cael raised eyes filled with sorrow and shook his head. With a hoarse cry, Bane held Ariana close to his chest as tears fell. He felt as if there was a gaping hole where his heart had been. Without Ariana, his life was meaningless. Without her, he was ready to face death, to join her in the afterlife. Surely their creator would be kind enough to allow their souls to find one another. He couldn’t bear the thought of an eternity without her.
Cael pried Ariana from his arms. “Give her to me, Bane. I’ll take care of her.”
Bane nodded and stood. He faced the executioner. “I’m ready now.”
The man faced the Prime Minister, who shook his head.
“There will be no execution today,” the Prime Minister said. “Bane, you’ll be transferred to the prison while we re-evaluate your case.”
Bane panicked. They couldn’t do this; they couldn’t let him live without his beloved. “Please, sir. I don’t wish for you to re-evaluate anything. I’m ready now.”
The Prime Minister gave him a sympathetic look and began to walk away, motioning for the executioner to follow. He called over his shoulder,
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