Read Online Rage and Redemption (Rebel Angels) by Cyndi Friberg - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cyndi Friberg
Ads: Link
images shifted and rolled, confusing and disturbing her. Gideon’s face loomed, his eyes bright with desire. His body tangled with hers, pressing and sliding, his hands stroking, moving—always moving… That much couldn’t be real. Regardless of how tempting she found him, Gideon had never shared her bed.
The last thing she clearly remembered was sensing that something was wrong. She had slipped from the infirmary to investigate.
Thinking back on it now, even that seemed odd. Why had she gone wandering around in the dark? Why did she leave the safety of the infirmary? And how had she known just where to go?
Naomi threw back the covers and began to dress. She wanted to believe the rest had been some bizarre dream, but unlike the other images, she knew what followed had been real. She’d heard their angry voices. Golden light had flown from Brother Gabriel’s eyes and Gideon had flung him about without actually touching him.
She paused, shaking as possibilities inundated her mind.
Forces are at work here that you don’t understand.
Brother Gabriel had tried to warn her. She’d had no idea he meant the words literally. Were they sorcerers? Practitioners of the Dark Arts? Did the Holy Order of St. John realize they harbored…harbored what? What were they?
She paused and drew a long, calming breath into her lungs. She was loath to bring danger to Zarrah’s door, but Naomi had nowhere else to go. She had no intention of remaining at the Krak to see what they intended now that she knew they were not human.
She could no longer trust Brother Gabriel. Pain lanced through her at the thought. He was the only family she’d ever known, her trusted friend and mentor. Until last night.
The bell tolled announcing Prime and Naomi muttered a curse. It was later than she realized. Hurrying to the dormitory, she gathered her possessions into a bundle and thought of her sketches, charcoals and pens. Did she dare risk a trip to the scriptorium?
Someone cleared their throat in an obvious attempt to gain attention. Naomi looked up and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Brother Seth stood in the open doorway. Fear prickled across her skin. She refused to panic. True, he was Brother Aaron’s assistant, but he could be looking for someone else.
“What can I do for you, Brother Seth?” Naomi asked, careful to keep her tone casual and calm.
“Brother Aaron wishes to speak with you.”
Her hope sputtered out. “Did he mention what it was regarding?”
“He didn’t say.”
“I’ll be there directly,” she responded, needing him to leave.
If Brother Aaron was one of these creatures, it was more imperative than ever that she escape. And if he didn’t realize there was something unusual about Brother Gabriel, then she had no hope of convincing him of what she had seen. Who would believe such a wild tale if Brother Gabriel chose to deny it?
“He requested that I escort you,” Brother Seth informed her.
Tension banded her abdomen. What should she do? She couldn’t run with her injured ankle. Would they try to stop her if she simply ignored Brother Seth and left the Krak?
“Shall we go?” he asked.
This might not have anything to do with the night before. Entertaining the possibility was futile. Naomi could think of no other reason for the summons.
With a reluctant nod, she fell into step behind Brother Seth. When they reached the southwest tower, he knocked briefly then opened the massive door.
Before she could change her mind and find a place to hide, Naomi stepped past him and into the castellan’s chamber. The ceiling was dramatically vaulted, drawing Naomi’s eyes upward. The subtle scent of costly beeswax candles drifted in the air even though the shutters framing the windows had been thrown open to welcome the sunlight.
“Thank you for coming, Naomi.”
Dragging her gaze away from her surroundings, Naomi settled her attention on the man seated behind a heavy oak table. Writing instruments, a large
The last thing she clearly remembered was sensing that something was wrong. She had slipped from the infirmary to investigate.
Thinking back on it now, even that seemed odd. Why had she gone wandering around in the dark? Why did she leave the safety of the infirmary? And how had she known just where to go?
Naomi threw back the covers and began to dress. She wanted to believe the rest had been some bizarre dream, but unlike the other images, she knew what followed had been real. She’d heard their angry voices. Golden light had flown from Brother Gabriel’s eyes and Gideon had flung him about without actually touching him.
She paused, shaking as possibilities inundated her mind.
Forces are at work here that you don’t understand.
Brother Gabriel had tried to warn her. She’d had no idea he meant the words literally. Were they sorcerers? Practitioners of the Dark Arts? Did the Holy Order of St. John realize they harbored…harbored what? What were they?
She paused and drew a long, calming breath into her lungs. She was loath to bring danger to Zarrah’s door, but Naomi had nowhere else to go. She had no intention of remaining at the Krak to see what they intended now that she knew they were not human.
She could no longer trust Brother Gabriel. Pain lanced through her at the thought. He was the only family she’d ever known, her trusted friend and mentor. Until last night.
The bell tolled announcing Prime and Naomi muttered a curse. It was later than she realized. Hurrying to the dormitory, she gathered her possessions into a bundle and thought of her sketches, charcoals and pens. Did she dare risk a trip to the scriptorium?
Someone cleared their throat in an obvious attempt to gain attention. Naomi looked up and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Brother Seth stood in the open doorway. Fear prickled across her skin. She refused to panic. True, he was Brother Aaron’s assistant, but he could be looking for someone else.
“What can I do for you, Brother Seth?” Naomi asked, careful to keep her tone casual and calm.
“Brother Aaron wishes to speak with you.”
Her hope sputtered out. “Did he mention what it was regarding?”
“He didn’t say.”
“I’ll be there directly,” she responded, needing him to leave.
If Brother Aaron was one of these creatures, it was more imperative than ever that she escape. And if he didn’t realize there was something unusual about Brother Gabriel, then she had no hope of convincing him of what she had seen. Who would believe such a wild tale if Brother Gabriel chose to deny it?
“He requested that I escort you,” Brother Seth informed her.
Tension banded her abdomen. What should she do? She couldn’t run with her injured ankle. Would they try to stop her if she simply ignored Brother Seth and left the Krak?
“Shall we go?” he asked.
This might not have anything to do with the night before. Entertaining the possibility was futile. Naomi could think of no other reason for the summons.
With a reluctant nod, she fell into step behind Brother Seth. When they reached the southwest tower, he knocked briefly then opened the massive door.
Before she could change her mind and find a place to hide, Naomi stepped past him and into the castellan’s chamber. The ceiling was dramatically vaulted, drawing Naomi’s eyes upward. The subtle scent of costly beeswax candles drifted in the air even though the shutters framing the windows had been thrown open to welcome the sunlight.
“Thank you for coming, Naomi.”
Dragging her gaze away from her surroundings, Naomi settled her attention on the man seated behind a heavy oak table. Writing instruments, a large
Similar Books
