Read Online Icebound (Legends of the Shifters Book 2) by J.B. North - Free Book Online Page B

dreaded going inside to meet Roland’s family.
    “This
is it?” I asked, stopping my horse beside Sir Lochlan's.
    He
nodded. “Seems a little small for a family of seven doesn't it?”
    I
didn't reply as I dismounted the mare. Sir Lochlan followed suit. He led the
way up the stairs while I cowered behind. Before he could even knock, the door
was flung open. Golden light outlined a silhouette of a thin woman. “Loch? Is
that really you?”
    “Yes,
Mother.” He stood in front of her awkwardly, his head lowered.
    She
choked out a cry and wrapped him in a hug. “Oh, Lochlan, you have no idea how
much I've missed you.”
    She
pulled back and seemed to see me for the first time. She squinted her eyes. “Is
this the fiancée you wrote about? I thought you said she had black hair.”
    Sir
Lochlan shook his head. “No. Celia is back at the castle.”
    It
impressed me to hear about Celia. I didn’t think Sir Lochlan had much of a soft
side, but apparently, he did.
    “This
is Ivy,” Sir Lochlan said. “She went to the Crescent Isle Conservatory.”
    “Oh?”
his mom asked. “You must know Roland then.” Worry lines etched into her
forehead when I looked away quickly without a reply.
    Sir
Lochlan looked past her, into the house. “Is Father or any of the others home?”
    “Your
father is out at sea,” she replied. “Brent is upstairs, he’s here for the
weekend, and Kayta is here with her son while her
husband is building their house in Silvonville . Jake
is at the castle, of course, and Roland...” she trailed off as her eyes flicked
to me. She wrung her hands nervously.
    Sir
Lochlan swallowed tightly and let out a strangled breath. “Roland is why we're
here, Mama.”
    “What's
happened?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
    Sir
Lochlan placed a hand on her shoulder and led her back into the house. I
followed hesitantly. At the sight of Lochlan, a woman—who I assumed was Kayta —stood up, holding a sleeping newborn in her arms.
    Her
mouth formed into a small smile until she registered the grim facial
expressions on both her mother and brother. “What’s wrong?” she asked. She
looked at me, her eyes narrowed in distrust.
    I
heard more footsteps sound above us. They became louder as they descended the
stairs. A man that looked exactly like an older version of Roland appeared at
the bottom. He studied each face very carefully until he came to mine.
    “What
is it?” he asked, his fierce eyes boring into my own.
    I
opened my mouth, but closed it again before I said something I'd regret. Why
had he asked me? Why not his brother? I looked at Sir Lochlan for help.
    “I
asked the girl,” Brent snapped before Sir Lochlan could say anything.
    Sir
Lochlan pressed his mouth into a firm line, his eyes narrowing at his brother
before he turned back to me. Every eye in the room was on me, save the newborn’s .
    I
took in a deep, steadying breath. “Roland and I were sent on a quest to the
Isle of Ginsey. When we got there, the natives shot us with darts dipped in a
sleeping draft.” I cleared my throat, not wanting to get choked up with
emotion. “Roland had an allergic reaction...he didn't make it.”
    My words
were met by shocked silence. There was one more thing I needed to say. “He
wanted me to tell you that he went to live in a place without fear or worry or
anguish. He even got a glimpse of it before he died.” Tears pricked my eyes.
    Lochlan’s
mother’s face was as white as a sheet as she held his arm in a death grip. He
led her to a chair and set her down gently.
    Kayta's baby began to wail, but Kayta just stared straight ahead, her eyes glassed over with unshed tears.
    Brent
eyes were narrowed accusingly, and he took a threatening step toward me. Sir
Lochlan pried his mother's fingers off his arm to step in front of his brother.
“Brent, it's not her fault.”
    Brent
looked at Lochlan, his lip curled in anger. Before I had time to think about my
actions, I bolted out the door, slamming