Read Online Shared Between Them by Korey Mae Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

calloused hand press against her cheek. The skin of the hand touching her felt so rough; like a crust of bread. She opened her eyes and saw Draevan above her, his brow wrinkled as he gazed down at her. “Dying after the ceremony is a cheap way to get out of your duties,” he told her. As always, his voice and eyes were stern and made her stomach flutter with nerves, but his touch was careful and loving, like she was a small pet.
    “Told you she'd be fine,” Taric said, leaning over her and glancing at her face. He put a hand under her and hoisted her back up until he replaced his hold with about five pillows to prop her up. Real pillows—feather ones. “Even the color's back in her cheeks.” He grabbed a mug from a nearby tray and put it into her hands. “Drink this,” he ordered her.
    His order was so firm, she didn't even sniff the contents first; she just brought it to her lips and drank. Luckily, she discovered it was only lukewarm water. When she was done, Taric took it and filled it again, and then again. Upon the forth cup, she shook her head and pushed it away. “I'm going to start sloshing,” she grumbled.
    He frowned, but maintained his patience. “Ready for food, then? When was the last time you ate?”
    She found it difficult to keep her eyes held up from the bedspread. She raised her shoulders until they hitched near her ears. What had happened before she'd lost consciousness had finally hit her. These were the same men she'd tried to rob, who'd stripped and spanked her before apparently killing the giant of Blue Forest. They were the ones who had shoved their fingers up her virgin entrance and kissed her deeply, saying that she cried prettily.
    And they were now her husbands.
    “Don't keep us in suspense,” Taric said patiently.
    “I don't know. Wednesday, maybe.” It was Sunday, now. When she told them, Draevan swore and then stood up to pace the room. For reasons unknown to her, she felt pleased by his furious response.
    Taric left to go get something and then returned. “Draevan, relax,” Taric told him, since there seemed to be a cloud of anger fuming out of him. He came and sat down on the bed next to her hip, peeling the skin from a strange, orange piece of fruit.
    She blinked at it. It was an orange —she'd never had one of those before. Hell, they were nearly impossible to get this far north; they must have cost a fortune.
    “You, little girl, have been the cause of a lot of strife,” he told her, but he didn't sound unhappy. “We've been searching for you the last month complete. Luckily, we gave up and came back just before you were able to depart from this place entirely.”
    “Are you looking for an apology?” Because they weren't going to get one. “Or are you looking for my thanks ?” They weren't going to get that, either! They only saved her life to pursue their own dark purposes.
    There was a warning behind Taric's dark green eyes, but he merely handed her a juicy slice of orange. “Eat that.” She did, mostly because out of the corner of her eye she could see Draevan look at her, and she didn't like his expression. It seemed foreboding, as if he was waiting for her to throw a tantrum.
    She was so agitated by her current situation that she nearly forgot to enjoy the delicious juice of the orange slice sliding down her throat. She’d seen them before, but she’d never had the opportunity to steal one and thus hadn’t ever tried one. It was astounding how savory the flavor was; her mouth was almost pained by the overwhelming gratification it felt.
    Taric continued in a patient tone, but his brow was scrunched with frustration. “I don't know where this aggression from you is coming from, Kyra. You stole from us . We didn't come looking for you; we were merely in the position to catch you red-handed. And as for your crimes: we had nothing to do with them, your capture, your trial, or your sentencing. I can promise you that being our wife is better than being hung for