Read Online Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop - Free Book Online

personally responsible for Cassidy’s well-being and Grayhaven hadn’t wanted her to come to Eyota in the first place. But Gray’s anger and distress was a hot, pulsing, living thing. Until they knew what was wrong with Cassidy, Gray was an unsheathed weapon, and no one knew the sharpness of that blade or how deeply it could cut.
    He waited until Gray knelt beside him. Neither of them could resist coming out to this spot several times a day.
    “They grew even more overnight,” Ranon said, keeping his voice quiet. “We’ll actually get a decent crop from this garden.”
    “She can’t do it again,” Gray snarled. “This almost killed her.”
    “I know that.” And he did. He also knew the Queens had looked upon this garden in shock initially, then almost understood how this had happened. Almost.
    “Company,” Gray said, not turning his attention away from the plants.
    Ranon looked over his shoulder and sighed. Reyhana and Janos. The young Queen had been out to look at this garden as much as he and Gray, and Janos had assigned himself as Reyhana’s escort whenever she left the boardinghouse.
    Then he stiffened and tapped Gray’s arm before rising to his feet. “More company.”
    Gray sprang to his feet. Ranon grabbed one arm to keep Gray from rushing toward Lady Karla—especially because Aaron stepped out of the house and leaned against the wall, clearly not interfering and just as clearly standing watch over the Gray-Jeweled Queen who walked with a measured step that had nothing to do with dignity and everything to do with needing the support of a cane.
    Whatever was wrong with her body, there was nothing wrong with her mind—or her power.
    Grizelle had been like this, Ranon thought. Lia had been like this.
    He’d grown up on stories of Grizelle and, especially, Lia. Had grown up fantasizing about what it would be like to be in the presence of a Gray-Jeweled Queen. He’d always thought of Grizelle and Lia as protectors of Dena Nehele—and they had been—but it hadn’t occurred to him that the power that protected the land also made those women very dangerous witches. Not until Karla had stepped out of the Coach that had brought her to Eyota.
    “Prince Gray,” Karla said when she reached them. “Prince Ranon.” She tipped her head in a silent greeting to Reyhana and Janos.
    Janos hesitated, still not certain of how to respond to a Queen who wasn’t from the Shalador reserves.
    Reyhana, on the other hand, took the greeting as an invitation to join the adults.
    “Cassidy is awake,” Karla said, looking at Gray. “She’ll be fine. She needs to stay quiet for the rest of today.”
    “Can I see her?” Gray asked. “I won’t yell at her yet. I just want to see her.”
    Karla’s lips curved in a wicked smile. “Darling, her body has been working hard to regain its balance and, quite frankly, the girl smells a bit ripe. Until she has a chance to bathe and clean her teeth, you’re the last person she’s going to want to see.”
    “But . . .” Gray paused. Looked thoughtful. “Oh. Because I’m courting her? But I don’t care if she smells.”
    Karla stared at Gray until he muttered, “Well, I don’t care.” But the stare ended that part of the discussion.
    “I think Cassidy would appreciate some assistance from her mother and the court’s Healer,” Karla said.
    “And I think everyone with a penis should stay away from that hallway and those rooms for the next couple of hours. Is that clear enough?”
    Seeing Lucivar come around the corner, Ranon said, “That’s clear. Can you tell us what happened to Lady Cassidy?”
    “Do you want it in simple terms?” Karla asked.
    He nodded.
    “She was an idiot.”
    Gray snarled and took a step toward Karla.
    Aaron sprang away from the house but stopped and looked at Lucivar, who held up a hand to signal Aaron to stay back while he headed for their happy little group—slowly.
    “She ignored her training and her common sense and almost damaged