Read Online The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes by Melissa Myers - Free Book Online Page B

so much,” Shade agreed, casting his
own smile in Gretchen’s direction. It had nowhere near the same
effect, he noticed. Rather than looking charmed the woman simply
looked at him with pity clearly written on her face. “I begin to
understand your name more,” Shade murmured to Charm as they walked.
“Do you actually have some sort of enchantment you use on
them?”
    Charm regarded him dryly as he pulled open
the first of the double doors and motioned him inside. “Yes it’s
insidious. I call it manners and courtesy.” Charm whispered as
Shade stepped past him.
    “Smart ass,” Shade shot back quietly before
turning his attention to the room’s occupants.
    Lutheron stood glowering beside a table. From
the expression on his face it was clear that he had not expected
anyone to be foolish enough to enter without knocking. Victory sat
at the table and by his expression it was clear he had been praying
for someone to open the door. Across the room from them, leaning
against the wall, stood Vaze, still wearing the strange black armor
and not bothering to look up at the sound of the door. He was
holding a glass globe in his hands and turning it over slowly,
staring at it with an absorbed look in his dark eyes.
    The sound of the door closing drew Lutheron’s
gaze off Vaze and onto Charm. The rogue brushed past him and smiled
at Lutheron whose glare softened to mild displeasure. “Sorry it
took me so long to bring him back,” Charm offered and dropped down
in the seat beside Victory.
    “It would seem things have changed a bit more
than I had expected. I had planned for you to help the Fionaveir in
another way but that apparently can’t happen,” Lutheron began, his
voice close to a growl.
    “Oh, really? How so?” Charm asked, his tone
bright as if everything was perfect in the world.
    “It’s true, here they are,” Vaze spoke up,
his voice sounding monotone and distant. Lutheron’s eyes snapped
that direction and he crossed the room quickly and leaned over the
other man’s shoulder to peer into the dark glass.
    “What the hell?” Shade whispered to Charm who
shrugged and looked to Victory for answer.
    “Jala has gone to the Darklands to retrieve
Finn’s soul,” Victory said softly, his voice filled with misery.
“Lutheron sent me to bring her back to the city. Merrodin isn’t
strong enough to stand on its own, but she was already gone.”
    “Bloody, buggering hell.” Lutheron growled,
his face turning a darker shade of red and one vein standing out on
his forehead. “Is that Troyelle’s boy with her?” He snarled.
    Vaze nodded slowly, apparently unfazed by
Lutheron’s display of temper. “It is, though I don’t know the
Darklands well enough to tell exactly where they are. I believe
they may be near the Forgotten. It’s impressive that they are still
alive thus far.” His voice was slowly regaining its usual
pitch.
    “It’s true then, and not some line of
bullshit as I had hoped.” Lutheron let out a long sigh and paced
back to the table. Plucking a bottle from the center he opened it
and began to pour a drink as he locked his gaze on the three men
across from him. “This knowledge does not leave this room. Is that
understood?” He spoke in a flat voice that brooked no argument, but
Shade could see Victory squirm in his chair.
    “I will have to tell Havoc. She is his
family.” Victory began but fell silent as Lutheron’s dark gaze
locked on him once more.
    “You will not tell that hot-headed fool a
thing.” Lutheron growled slamming the decanter back down on the
table. Silence fell across the room once more as Lutheron raised
the glass to his lips.
    Shade stole a glance at Charm and found the
rogue looking uneasy. That was certainly not a good sign. Of all of
them in the room, only Vaze seemed at ease. Shade flicked his gaze
to the warrior and watched him, hoping to get some sort of sign as
to how to act.
    Vaze had lowered the globe and was watching
Lutheron with a thoughtful