Read Online Evermine: Daughters of Askara, Book 2 by Hailey Edwards - Free Book Online

hands slipped off the armrests when I adjusted myself with sweat-slicked palms. Breathe, Emma. “What can I do for you?” I picked up a new marker and tapped its dyed clay tip on parchment. “It’s not a worker, is it?” All his new colonists had checked in with me, happy with their lot, content to live in tent city, as many called the colony.
    A tic worked in his jaw. “Our caravan was ambushed by Askaran raiders this morning. We lost two males, a third was critically injured.” His fingers tapped a rhythm on his ankle my toes twitched to match. “So, consul, what are you going to do about it?”
    My foot froze in place. Throat already raw, I asked, “What were their names?”
    “Anders and John.” He blinked in what I thought was surprise. “They were—”
    “Twins.” I finished his sentence, already sick as their shy smiles filled my memory. “They were part of my first dozen cases.” Loss blurred my vision. They’d lived down the hall for months instead of weeks, both full of shy wit. “They wanted to be placed together, but no one who could afford two wanted them. It was either working the colony’s mines or splitting up.” Second-guesses choked me. If I’d pushed harder for their separation, they might still be alive.
    I’d fumbled Helen and Joshua’s placement, now I’d cost Anders and John their lives. What had I been thinking by coming here and accepting this position? My sole area of expertise was in running a diner. No one died if their fries were served cold or their drinks were flat. I had no right to make these decisions, but if I didn’t, who would? No one .
    Slaves—ex or not—we mattered only to ourselves.
    “Emma.” Harper climbed to his knees, as if he meant to stand.
    I lost sight of him for a few seconds. Blinking, I brought the room into focus and gulped air heavy with his cardamom scent. His rough hands cupped my face, forcing my gaze up to his.
    His breath fanned my neck, and my chest flushed. “What will you do?”
    “I’ll contact Nesvia, and we can—”
    “Not good enough.” His warmth slid away from me. I scrambled to get it back. “This has happened twice in less than three months.” The air crackled with his anger. “You can do better.”
    “I can’t demand an audience. She’ll be in Rihos.” My excuse sounded weak, even to me.
    “And?” His illusion fizzled for an instant, and his black eyes peered out at me.
    “I can’t.” I shook my head, dislodging his eerie calmness. My hands curled into claws, stabbing into the wood of my desk. He was lucky I didn’t clutch his collar and shake him senseless, or shake sense into him. I wanted to scream. I wanted him to scream. I wanted a reaction from him when faced with the place where we spent our childhood, where he’d been imprisoned, where we were headed again unless he woke up and realized it was a very bad idea.
    Earth, Askara, all the same. Every little thing is fine as long as we don’t talk about it.
    Five years lost. A year later, and he still acted like it was nothing.
    “How many more will die before summer court ends?” He paced. “They planted explosives, blew up an older section of the mine.” He stopped, raking fingers through his hair. “When we left, everyone was accounted for except those in the lowest quadrant. Just because I can only report two bodies doesn’t meant there aren’t more, or that there won’t soon be.”
    “You never said…” More bodies, more lives lost, no alternatives. “I’ll contact Nesvia—”
    “That’s not—” He spun toward me, and I cut him off.
    “She’s Askara’s queen. I can’t just grab her by the ear and drag her to the colony.”
    His lips thinned.
    “I’ll send my courier. Once Nesvia approves our request for an audience, we’ll leave.” I turned to Isabeau, who inspected Dillon with due interest. “Find Aaron and send him on the fastest horse in the stable.” She knew I’d caught her staring. Blushing, she nodded and rushed