Read Online Rise (Roam Series, Book Three) by Kimberly Stedronsky - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Stedronsky
Ads: Link
children of immortals then immortal themselves?
“You are immortal?”
Surprise caught his expression, and he nodded slowly. “Roam, immortal men produce immortal children. Just as the male determines the sex of the child, he also determines the mortality. I assumed you knew.” When I thought of the unborn child in my womb, I sat back in awe. “Am I impolite to ask your age?”
My eyebrows pulled together, and I shrugged. “I really don’t know. Here, seventeen… indefinitely. There, nineteen.”
His mouth closed, and he looked down in disgust. Sitting back in his chair, he carefully set his fork on his plate. “I am sorry. I hate my father.”
His words, barely audible in the loud hall, nearly moved me to tears. I reached for his other hand, under the table. He looked up in surprise.
“I’m sorry for the childhood that you must have had.”
A hardness flashed in his eyes, but his voice softened as he pointed at my plate.
“ Please, eat. Do not let him ruin your smile.”
I smiled to answer him, squeezing his hand once before letting it go.
The evening festivities wore on, and I realized there was, indeed, music. There were no singers, but I recognized several classical pieces that the musicians played. Will explained that his father brought music over from my world, as well as new instruments.
I watched the dancers execute perfect steps, very careful in the traditional lines and turns characteristic of a time long ago.
When Will slid his chair back and offered his hand, I shook my head.
“No… I’m sorry, I don’t know how to dance to this.”
“Well, then, show me how you dance,” he persuaded, clasping my hand. I stood as he pulled me to the floor.
“No,” I repeated, searching the hall for Logan. There were too many people, and the lights were dimmed after dinner casting shadows over faces
“Here,” he raised my hand in his, and tucked his other hand at my side. “A waltz.”
His unfamiliar touch stole the strength from my legs. I backed away, my mind on the razor in the bathroom.
“I’ve never waltzed, either,” I skimmed his hand away from my waist, shaking my head. “I… no, I can’t,” I turned and rushed from the hall, almost to the stairs when he caught up with me. Logan and the other guard were at my side in moments, and I realized they were watching me during the entire dinner.
“I’m sorry, your majesty,” Will stopped short, glancing once at Logan before turning back to me. “I didn’t mean…,”
“I hate it here,” I managed to keep the tears from coming, coldness creeping over my body. “I can’t even try to enjoy myself. Please, just… thank you for the conversation at dinner,” I turned, climbing the stairs with Logan behind me . The other soldier turned toward two men scuffling in the inner court.
At the bedroom, two armed guards bordered the doorway. I sighed, pushing past them. Logan followed me inside, turning to one soldier. “I need to speak to her about her maid.”
“ Ten minutes,” the guard responded, and I realized that Logan did not have nearly as much freedom as I believed he did.
“What maid?” I pulled at the crystal earrings in my ears before turning on a light, the thick posts irritating my skin. “Logan?”
He closed the door softly, locking the bolt. I searched for the lamp, but he caught my hands before I could turn it on.
“Cam, sit down.”
I moved to the edge of the bed, lifting my eyes to his. “What’s wrong?”
“Helena was executed this morning.”
I exhaled quickly, gripping the ebony post. He knelt before me as I gasped for air.
“I’m always the one giving you fucking bad news,” he growled, gathering me into his arms. “ I’m sorry. ”
“ He did this, ” I cried, pressing my face to his shoulder. Even here, he smelled so familiar, and I moved my nose closer to the skin of his neck. “Logan, I hate him, I hate him. ”
“He’s going to suffer for all that he’s done.”
“I can’t
“You are immortal?”
Surprise caught his expression, and he nodded slowly. “Roam, immortal men produce immortal children. Just as the male determines the sex of the child, he also determines the mortality. I assumed you knew.” When I thought of the unborn child in my womb, I sat back in awe. “Am I impolite to ask your age?”
My eyebrows pulled together, and I shrugged. “I really don’t know. Here, seventeen… indefinitely. There, nineteen.”
His mouth closed, and he looked down in disgust. Sitting back in his chair, he carefully set his fork on his plate. “I am sorry. I hate my father.”
His words, barely audible in the loud hall, nearly moved me to tears. I reached for his other hand, under the table. He looked up in surprise.
“I’m sorry for the childhood that you must have had.”
A hardness flashed in his eyes, but his voice softened as he pointed at my plate.
“ Please, eat. Do not let him ruin your smile.”
I smiled to answer him, squeezing his hand once before letting it go.
The evening festivities wore on, and I realized there was, indeed, music. There were no singers, but I recognized several classical pieces that the musicians played. Will explained that his father brought music over from my world, as well as new instruments.
I watched the dancers execute perfect steps, very careful in the traditional lines and turns characteristic of a time long ago.
When Will slid his chair back and offered his hand, I shook my head.
“No… I’m sorry, I don’t know how to dance to this.”
“Well, then, show me how you dance,” he persuaded, clasping my hand. I stood as he pulled me to the floor.
“No,” I repeated, searching the hall for Logan. There were too many people, and the lights were dimmed after dinner casting shadows over faces
“Here,” he raised my hand in his, and tucked his other hand at my side. “A waltz.”
His unfamiliar touch stole the strength from my legs. I backed away, my mind on the razor in the bathroom.
“I’ve never waltzed, either,” I skimmed his hand away from my waist, shaking my head. “I… no, I can’t,” I turned and rushed from the hall, almost to the stairs when he caught up with me. Logan and the other guard were at my side in moments, and I realized they were watching me during the entire dinner.
“I’m sorry, your majesty,” Will stopped short, glancing once at Logan before turning back to me. “I didn’t mean…,”
“I hate it here,” I managed to keep the tears from coming, coldness creeping over my body. “I can’t even try to enjoy myself. Please, just… thank you for the conversation at dinner,” I turned, climbing the stairs with Logan behind me . The other soldier turned toward two men scuffling in the inner court.
At the bedroom, two armed guards bordered the doorway. I sighed, pushing past them. Logan followed me inside, turning to one soldier. “I need to speak to her about her maid.”
“ Ten minutes,” the guard responded, and I realized that Logan did not have nearly as much freedom as I believed he did.
“What maid?” I pulled at the crystal earrings in my ears before turning on a light, the thick posts irritating my skin. “Logan?”
He closed the door softly, locking the bolt. I searched for the lamp, but he caught my hands before I could turn it on.
“Cam, sit down.”
I moved to the edge of the bed, lifting my eyes to his. “What’s wrong?”
“Helena was executed this morning.”
I exhaled quickly, gripping the ebony post. He knelt before me as I gasped for air.
“I’m always the one giving you fucking bad news,” he growled, gathering me into his arms. “ I’m sorry. ”
“ He did this, ” I cried, pressing my face to his shoulder. Even here, he smelled so familiar, and I moved my nose closer to the skin of his neck. “Logan, I hate him, I hate him. ”
“He’s going to suffer for all that he’s done.”
“I can’t
Similar Books
