Read Online The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey - Free Book Online

a lover only to find they’re expected to raise the children his unfaithful spouse left behind! That created an image she had to laugh over, though she doubted her father would have found it funny.
    She wandered back to the manor, thinking of finding a book to read, when a huge shadow passed over her head and the flames in the lanterns flickered with the wind of its passing. At that moment, all thought of finding a book flew out of her head; her father was back, and early—which meant—what?
    She picked up her skirts and ran toward the steps of the manor, as the lanterns went out behind her, extinguished by her own magic.
    When she reached the manor, von Rothbart had made his own transformation. He stood on the steps, his feather cloak cast back over his shoulders, looking out over the lake. She followed his gaze, and saw the flock swimming slowly toward the shore, faint white shapes shimmering in the starlight, with Odette, neck ringed with the glint of gold, in the lead.
    They stepped up onto the shore and paraded toward him, heads bowed gracefully, necks curved in arcs of obedience. Odile stood instinctively to the side; he had summoned them here with his power for a purpose, but she was not one of their number, she was a creature apart.
    When they stood in a rough half circle before him, he raised one hand in an imperious gesture, and they dropped to the grass, covered, for a moment, by a winglike shadow. When they rose again, they rose as human, beautiful women clothed in silks of purest white and darkest black, hair ornamented with wreaths of feathers instead of flowers or veils.
    Von Rothbart surveyed his flock, head raised arrogantly, and Odile retreated a little farther into the shadows as he gave her a sharp glance. She knew that look in his eyes. She was to efface herself for the moment. Listen and watch; this concerns me, but is not aimed at me.
    â€œKaterina,” he said, in a voice cold as frozen iron. “Come here.”
    She could not have disobeyed, though she clearly wanted to. His power dragged her to the front of the group, step by reluctant step.
    â€œThere is a reason why you are here,” he said, words that Odile had expected long before this. “Do you know it yet?”
    Katerina looked up, mouth sulky yet defiant. “I have done nothing, sorcerer,” she snapped. “What is it you desire? A ransom in gold? An exchange with my husband? It is you who have taken me unwilling from my place.”
    â€œAnd what place would that be?” von Rothbart asked in silky tones. “By the side of your husband? Or your lover? ”
    She gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth in an involuntary gesture that betrayed her even as she had betrayed her husband.
    â€œDid you think your sin would never be found out?” he continued, and laughed shortly. “You are not the first woman to betray a man; you are here among your sisters in sin for punishment, Katerina. Your punishment is to live as you have for the past months, never seeing another man except in a shape that will inspire no desire except the desire to slay you!”
    She stepped back involuntarily, and he laughed at her, mockingly.
    She wasn’t entirely without courage, this Katerina. “How—” she faltered, “How long? How long will you hold me ensorcelled?”
    He raised a single eyebrow. “Until you die, woman. And you should be grateful that you are given such an opportunity to repent. I would advise you to take advantage of it, and avoid the eternal damnation of your soul.” His lips formed a chill smile. “And you might pray for others of your sisters in sin who have been given no such blessed opportunities but persist in their delusions and passions until it is too late to repent.”
    Katerina made an abortive gesture, as if to beg him for mercy. “Who are you?” she whimpered. “Why are you doing this?”
    But it was Odette who stepped forward and