Read Online The Dark Lady by Dawn Chandler - Free Book Online Page A

she had chosen to remain in the carriage. Richard had not pictured the good doctor as someone who caused nightmares.
    “ He is not my father.” Van’s dark gaze jerked to Richard’s face and he was sure that Van had spoken without thinking. For most subjects that was normal for the rash boy, but for his life outside the castle and his past it was unusual. He was always very guarded about his personal life.
    “ Who is?” Richard asked trying to keep the shock out of his voice.
    Van just shook his head.
    Richard saw the stubborn set in the boy’s jaw and tried another question. “Tell me about the dream.”
    Van just shook his head.
    Richard wrapped an arm around his quivering shoulders. “You know you can trust me, right?”
    “ Yes,” Van said quietly and then added, “With most things.”
    Richard felt a stab of pain at that, but understood nonetheless. There were some things that were private no matter how much you trusted someone. He tightened his grip on the shoulders that had finally stopped shaking. “You can tell me anything you need to.”
    Van reluctantly told him that his father wanted to kill him. When asked why, he hesitated then shook his head, spraying Richard with droplets of frigid water. When Van spoke it was so quietly that Richard had to drop his head down to hear him.
    “ I do not know,” he whispered. “I just know I have to avoid him at all costs.”
     
    ***
     
    Richard was pulled back to the present when the warm grasp of Van’s hand fell away from his wrist.
    Richard drew his own hand away and heaved in a heavy breath. He released it in a deep sigh, ignoring the sharp pain that exploded in his chest as if the breath itself had grabbed onto his heart in an attempt to remain safe inside.
    Richard felt the tears of loss swell behind his eyes and did not trust himself to speak. He looked questioningly at Van, saw only a stubborn determination and unending pride. Knowing his liege was too proud to accept sympathy he bowed low and turned away without a backwards glance.
    Van watched with a heavy heart as Richard walked out of sight. Careful not to look at the shape under the white sheet, she pulled off her helm. Laying it on the end of the bed, she made her way to the motionless girl.
    Van slapped her face gently as she said, “Come on. Look at me.” The girl lay still. “Wake up now.”
    Van just grinned and shook her head. The girl obviously wanted to play this game until Van gave up and left her. That would not happen. Van chuckled.
    “ I am too stubborn for that,” she said softly. Then she slapped her harder. The girl opened her eyes in shock, screamed, and began to swing her fists into Van’s heavy armor.
    “ Let me go,” she shouted. The blonde-haired girl twisted and fought. Her dress began to rise up her milky white thighs. “Get off me.”
    “ Stop. All you are doing is hurting yourself.” Van grabbed her arms and, throwing them above the girl’s head, she encircled both delicate wrists with one hand. The girl continued to kick and scream. As her legs flailed, Van lost her balance and she fell between the now bared thighs.
    Van threw a glove covered hand over the girl’s mouth to stop the incessant screams. She leaned close, her angry breath caressing the girl’s trembling cheek. “Stop. You have two choices. One, you can shut the hell up, sit, and talk to me calmly or—”
    The girl’s sharp cries rose, cutting Van off in mid thought as the girl began to wildly kick her legs. Her high pitched squall slashed persistently at Van’s twisted and frayed nerves. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She did not want to scare this girl, but she knew from vast experience that sometimes violence was the best way to get through to an overwrought female. She opened her eyes and smiled with deadly calm.
    “ Or...Option two,” she said, keeping her voice calm. She pushed herself farther between the girl’s open legs. The pretty blonde froze, her eyes opening wide,