Read Online Sword's Blessing by Kaitlin R. Branch - Free Book Online

give up.” She paused. “Besides, now that the question of a full-blooded angel child is out of the way, couldn’t you pursue something? It might help.” She held up her hands as Giselle swung around and gave her a half-horrified look. “Just saying.”
    Giselle stood, cold and now numb with fury. Pursue something with this Manas who just happened to look like Armand? It wasn’t the same. If anything it was betrayal! She tried to keep her voice even, but her words were heated. “I’ll think about it.” She stalked out.
    * * * *
    They drove in silence. Armand watched out the window with a satisfied smile, and Giselle contented herself with watching him. When he turned and caught her, he only smiled wider. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
    “What?” she asked. Eli’s head bobbed along to the radio. Samantha napped.
    “The countryside here. Look at the vines covering everything. So much green.”
    She glanced out, trailing dark greenery of the pine trees and brighter color of the vines. “It’s better than many places we’ve been.”
    “Is it?” He tilted his head. Giselle clenched her hand slowly, feeling each muscle contract, each nail in her palm so she did not have to think of her mistake. Of course, he didn’t remember. He took her hand and squeezed gently. “I suppose I never noticed.”
    “You don’t remember.”
    “No.” Armand’s thumb gently slid over her fingers. “I know you’re right. In my bones.”
    She glanced at their hands and then forced her gaze away, back out the window. “You don’t even know my name.”
    “I don’t think a name is that important. It can change with very little effort.”
    “It’s still important.” She kept her face turned out at the passing trees. How could he say her name wasn’t important!? How dare he?
    “Even if I remember your soul?” he asked softly. “I know they are to be trusted,” he nodded to Samantha and Eli, “but you…you are special.”
    Giselle swallowed. “Not now,” she whispered, finally glancing up at Eli, who was still nodding as if he had no notion of their conversation. She might have counted him a great friend for the forbearance. “I can’t do this now.”
    “All right.” Armand kept her hand. She did not shake it off. “I’ll wait for you.”
    * * * *
    “Eli, lets pull off before we get to the city highways. No telling what traffic’ll be like, might as well get food and gas before then.”
    “And directions, as I’ve heard it, it’s easy to get lost down by the stadium.”
    “This is why you drive, and not me,” Samantha turned to Giselle and Armand. “I don’t think we’re crossing the river so it might be okay, but neither of us has been here.”
    “Neither have we,” Giselle said. “As I hear it Bourbon Street is…distasteful.”
    “Mother says it’s the best mix of ancient gluttony and modern sensibilities,” Samantha beamed. “I can’t wait.”
    Eli snorted as he pulled off into a gas station complex on their side of the divided highway. “Your mother has the strangest sense of humor. We’ll go to the oracle first. She might be able to find us a better room. Do you know where her shop is?”
    “Something like half-way down the street,” She glanced back again, gaze trailing over where Giselle and Armand were still holding hands. Giselle swallowed. Would she say anything? Thankfully she didn’t, glancing back at their faces. “How about we take half an hour to do whatever and then meet back at the car?”
    Armand smiled peaceably. “Sounds great.” he said, and glanced at Giselle. “I feel like a walk anyway.”
    Giselle caught her breath as his gaze stayed on her, but she could not meet his eyes, and let them trail back to their intertwined fingers. Why would he tease her like this? He knew–he must know–how it hurt her he remembered nothing. Looking at him was like staring at a black hole. She knew something beautiful and wonderful had been there before, but now it was just a