Read Online Eternal Darkness (A Novel of the Amagarians Book 1) by Stacy Reid - Free Book Online
Authors: Stacy Reid
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within seconds, ready if he were to make any sudden move toward her. The very thing he dreaded had sneaked upon him, and he’d have to deal with the consequences. Was this how it had been for his brother when Vlad lost his mate? He’d not willingly give over to his demon, but control had been wrested from him?
“The ones who hurt her?” Drac questioned.
A lengthy silence ensued. He knew the reason lay in the distortion of his voice. Two voices spoke, his and the sibilant hiss of his beast.
“Talon took them to the sheriffs in the castle. They will be placed in the dungeon under guard,” Lachlan responded.
All of Drac’s focus rested on the Princess in the bed.
Ours
, his beast whispered.
She lay bruised and battered. Blood soaked her caftan, purple splotches marred the perfection of her skin, and her chest rose shallowly. His gaze rested on her neck. He had feasted on her blood, a primitive desire from his beast, and he had acted on it without thought. The punctures were healed over from the venom he swiped with his tongue, but her throat still looked tender and raw.
He did not relish her pain, it was repugnant to him.
Why?
You know why.
A voice filled with malevolence sang.
Drac wove back the pattern, reinforcing the shield to keep his demon suppressed. And even then he could hear the echoes of cruel laughter in his mind.
“Our healers have been summoned, and they will be here shortly to examine the princess,” Gidon said.
Drac heard the curiosity that underlined the king’s words. He did not respond as he looked at Saieke, willing her to consciousness. What could he say? He had tasted her pain and lost mastery of his self? Like his brother?
His gut twisted in hard knots, and evil brushed against his senses.
Like your brother...relinquish rule to me and I will make you King of Amagarie.
Drac ignored the hiss. Though he bonded with his demon and accepted the brutality embedded in him, his beast never let an opportunity pass to try and seduce Drac to let him have free rein to devour.
There was a rustle of sound, and the door was flung open to admit Talon and two of their most proficient healers. They had their baskets, cloths, and basins of hot water scented with medicinal herbs. Drac rose from the bed to stand beside his king and give the healers space. He felt Gidon’s stare, but his gaze did not leave her.
“My King,” the head healer said. “If we could be offered privacy for the princess, we are going to remove her caftan. We will set her shoulder and leg and give her a healing draught to help with the pain and provide a restful sleep.” She kept her head slightly bowed as she waited for his response.
“I cannot leave until she wakes.” Drac could not explain his behavior or the knowledge that if they tried to remove him from her presence with knowing how she fared, the leash on his darkness would slip another fraction. Drac did not know what his king saw, but he inclined his head and
shiktred
from the room with Lachlan and Talon.
Drac sank in the great chair closest to the bed, watching the healers every move, willing her to consciousness.
***
Saieke woke slowly. She shifted and hissed from the pain that slashed through her ribs. Her hand flew to her throat, feeling for torn flesh, and encountered smoothness. She scanned the chamber and her eyes collided with dark and fathomless ones. Saieke swallowed nervously as she eyed Drac. He said nothing, just sat in the great armchair by her bedside. She tried to lift herself and let out filled moan at the hurt that it caused.
“I will alert the healer.” There was no particular inflection in his voice to give her an inkling of his thoughts, and his emotions were leashed.
Why was he in her chamber?
“Please alert no one. I will attend my needs,” Saieke replied, wanting him to leave the room. She needed to be alone and not in the presence of any Darkan.
“You have a fractured shoulder, several cracked ribs, a broken shin and hip, and
“The ones who hurt her?” Drac questioned.
A lengthy silence ensued. He knew the reason lay in the distortion of his voice. Two voices spoke, his and the sibilant hiss of his beast.
“Talon took them to the sheriffs in the castle. They will be placed in the dungeon under guard,” Lachlan responded.
All of Drac’s focus rested on the Princess in the bed.
Ours
, his beast whispered.
She lay bruised and battered. Blood soaked her caftan, purple splotches marred the perfection of her skin, and her chest rose shallowly. His gaze rested on her neck. He had feasted on her blood, a primitive desire from his beast, and he had acted on it without thought. The punctures were healed over from the venom he swiped with his tongue, but her throat still looked tender and raw.
He did not relish her pain, it was repugnant to him.
Why?
You know why.
A voice filled with malevolence sang.
Drac wove back the pattern, reinforcing the shield to keep his demon suppressed. And even then he could hear the echoes of cruel laughter in his mind.
“Our healers have been summoned, and they will be here shortly to examine the princess,” Gidon said.
Drac heard the curiosity that underlined the king’s words. He did not respond as he looked at Saieke, willing her to consciousness. What could he say? He had tasted her pain and lost mastery of his self? Like his brother?
His gut twisted in hard knots, and evil brushed against his senses.
Like your brother...relinquish rule to me and I will make you King of Amagarie.
Drac ignored the hiss. Though he bonded with his demon and accepted the brutality embedded in him, his beast never let an opportunity pass to try and seduce Drac to let him have free rein to devour.
There was a rustle of sound, and the door was flung open to admit Talon and two of their most proficient healers. They had their baskets, cloths, and basins of hot water scented with medicinal herbs. Drac rose from the bed to stand beside his king and give the healers space. He felt Gidon’s stare, but his gaze did not leave her.
“My King,” the head healer said. “If we could be offered privacy for the princess, we are going to remove her caftan. We will set her shoulder and leg and give her a healing draught to help with the pain and provide a restful sleep.” She kept her head slightly bowed as she waited for his response.
“I cannot leave until she wakes.” Drac could not explain his behavior or the knowledge that if they tried to remove him from her presence with knowing how she fared, the leash on his darkness would slip another fraction. Drac did not know what his king saw, but he inclined his head and
shiktred
from the room with Lachlan and Talon.
Drac sank in the great chair closest to the bed, watching the healers every move, willing her to consciousness.
***
Saieke woke slowly. She shifted and hissed from the pain that slashed through her ribs. Her hand flew to her throat, feeling for torn flesh, and encountered smoothness. She scanned the chamber and her eyes collided with dark and fathomless ones. Saieke swallowed nervously as she eyed Drac. He said nothing, just sat in the great armchair by her bedside. She tried to lift herself and let out filled moan at the hurt that it caused.
“I will alert the healer.” There was no particular inflection in his voice to give her an inkling of his thoughts, and his emotions were leashed.
Why was he in her chamber?
“Please alert no one. I will attend my needs,” Saieke replied, wanting him to leave the room. She needed to be alone and not in the presence of any Darkan.
“You have a fractured shoulder, several cracked ribs, a broken shin and hip, and
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