Read Online Ghost in Her Heart by Autumn Dawn - Free Book Online Page A

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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. “What do I have to
do?”
    “We’ll go over it later. In the meantime,
spend time with the boys. Make sure you can handle them. We’ll talk
again later.” He waved her out as if she held no more interest for
him than a gnat.
    Burning with a surprising amount of
resentment over his attitude, she let herself out. The man had a
way of pushing her buttons. With any luck, he’d get stuck with a
woman who would know how to push back.
     
    ***
    “You should have her tested.”
    Dagon looked at Ser over his breakfast table.
They’d been friends for many years, yet Ser still managed to
surprise him with comments straight from the blue. “Who?”
    “The girl. Vana. I see the way she looks at
you when we’re in the harem. How quickly she turns away if you look
at her. She likes you. I think she’s worth testing.”
    As a trusted advisor, Ser’s opinion held
weight. Dagon toyed with a stick of spiced bread as he considered
his words. There were many reasons he hadn’t let himself
romanticize about his future wife. The council was still reviewing
the secret recordings of the women, observing them when they were
unaware. It was important to know what they were like when they
thought no one was watching. Just as Dagon had been elected for the
right to be Tzar, so would his consort have to pass the council’s
scrutiny. “You think she would make a good queen?”
    “It’s possible,” Ser said firmly. He wouldn’t
have spoken if he weren’t convinced of it. It was his way.
    Encouraged by Ser’s words, Dagon allowed
himself a small smile. Vana was a choice he could bear. Of course,
he didn’t have to choose whomever the council selected. He could go
without. That option was hardly palatable.
    And Vana was…acceptable. He ignored his
quickened pulse. True, her soft heart would have to be governed,
but he could easily do that. It was preferable to the
alternative.
    Perhaps she was too contentious for her own
good, but at least she had spirit. She was athletic, intelligent
and good with children. Her body….
    He glanced casually at Ser. “Very well. Since
you suggested it. We’ll test her.”
     
    ***
    The ceremonial robes they’d insisted she wear
kept tripping her. Tired of stumbling over the layered silk hem,
she plopped herself in a chair and fingered the gold embroidery.
The high-collared robe was stiff, blue, and weighed on her
shoulders, reminding her that what she was doing was no light
thing. In contrast, the pale blue sheath under it was nearly
weightless, making her feel as if she were about to strut around in
public in her pajamas. At least the robe had gold closures, though
they were chunky and designed to show the sheath beneath.
    They had moved her to a room much closer to
Dagon’s. Down the hall, in fact. The reason given was that it would
allow the boys easier access to their new “mother”. She didn’t know
if she bought that, but she did like the privacy.
    The room was done in warm tones of pink, with
the occasional burst of shocking cherry and white in the huge urns
and intricately painted flower pots. A musical instrument of the
harp persuasion occupied one corner of the room. Idly, she wondered
if she were expected to learn it. Good luck there.
    Her new bed was immense and spread with a
white velvet coverlet embroidered with a crest. Dagon’s, she
suspected. It made her feel odd, as if he’d placed his stamp upon
her.
    A riptide of emotions swirled in her heart as
she thought about the coming ceremony. The boys were a pack of wolf
cubs. Too old for their age, yet mischievous enough to give the
faint of heart fits. Already she could see that they were going to
grow into fine warriors, and they worshiped