Read Online Starfire by Kate Douglas - Free Book Online Page A

the ones who’d fought demonkind so bravely. No one knew what became of them, but I knew. I wasn’t supposed to hear, but I knew when he had their swords destroyed. When he sent them below to work the mines. For all I know, they’re still down there, like a dirty secret. Those brave, brave women.” Her voice broke, and she bowed her head.
    Ginny caught Alton’s gaze and almost wept. Gaia had known. She’d known the truth all these years and had never said a word.
    “Why didn’t you say anything, Mother? Why didn’t you speak out? What he did was terrible. It was wrong.”
    She stared at the floor. “Because I loved him. I still love him. I keep hoping the man I married is in there, that he’s not lost to me, but it’s been so long. So very, very long.”
    Gaia pulled her fingers free of Alton’s grasp and clasped her hands together. She straightened her spine and was once again the wife of Chancellor Artigos of the Council of Nine. “Where is he? What have you done with him? What do you intend to do next?”
    “We’ve taken him to a safe house where he’ll be cared for. We believe he was possessed by a demon many years ago, one that has influenced his choices throughout his years as leader of the Council of Nine. One of our group will try to remove the demon from his heart and mind. With any luck and a lot of skill, we hope to get him back, healthy and able once again to rule Lemuria, but we need your help.”
    She stared suspiciously at her son. Ginny could only imagine how it pained Alton to have his mother’s anger and distrust focused on him. “My help? How? What can I possibly do?”
    “You can officially introduce me to the people. They know you as his wife, know you’ve stood by him all these years. They trust you. Tell them I will be temporarily holding his position—the position I’ve been groomed for all my life—until he is cured of an unknown illness. Tell them he’s with healers now. We don’t want people to know we suspect demon possession. That would cause too much fear. An illness would be easier for the citizens of Lemuria to accept.”
    “You’ll bring him home when he’s well? When his soul is restored?”
    Alton glanced at Ginny. She shrugged. They didn’t know what was going to happen. There were no guarantees, but Alton looked at his mother and said, “We will do everything we can to bring him home. You have my promise.”
    She smiled, and it was as if the sun were actually shining here in the depths of Lemuria. “Whatever you want, my son. I will do what I can. Just bring your father home to me.”
    Ginny gazed at Alton and opened her thoughts. I’ll stay with your mother. Go and do what you need to do, but be careful. I love you, and I’m going to be really angry if you don’t come back to me in one piece.
    Gotcha. “Mother, Ginny will stay with you. I’m going to meet with the council and let them know what’s going on. Then I’ll check on Father before I return.” He leaned over and kissed Ginny, patted his mother’s hand, and then he was gone.
    Ginny sat there beside Gaia and wondered just how much they could count on a woman who’d allowed so many brave women warriors to die as slaves.

Chapter Five
     

    Dawson closed the door behind him and walked out toward the main room where Selyn waited. The quarters—originally the site of his veterinary clinic—where he intended to house Artigos, were ready. Now all Dawson and Selyn could do was wait until Eddy and Dax delivered Alton’s father into their hands for safekeeping.
    The fact he was entangled in the kidnapping of a world leader—one not of his own world, at that—wasn’t lost on Dawson. Neither was the presence of the young woman waiting impatiently in the next room.
    He made a quick left into his home office and grabbed the phone. It took only a matter of minutes to make arrangements for his assistant, who had covered for him today, to take over the clinic for the rest of the week. Esteban