Read Online The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy by K.M. Ashling - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: K.M. Ashling
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she was safe with him tonight. Crowds of people surrounded them and Khi was expecting a full report. She would relax and worry about repercussions and interpretations in the morning.
After what seemed to be the shortest wait in the park, although she knew the line was the longest, Alessa climbed into the seat next to Camden. The metal was warm and the contraption swung even as they sat at the bottom of the giant wheel. Alessa caught her breath in surprise as the wheel ascended quickly, and grabbed for the sole bar across their laps that locked them in place.
“ Hey, i t’ s okay. Look out over the carnival .” Camden said as he unhooked one of her hands from its death grip on the bar in front of them and held it tightly in both of his own.
Alessa finally obliged and gasped in awe. Someone had obviously planned out where they would place the giant wheel. All the lights of the Carnival were laid out in front of her along with the lights of the city. She could swear, if she looked hard enough, she could see the whole Empire. All too soon, they were on the descent, and the lights were no longer visible.
“ Is that all ?” She asked, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“ No, of course i t’ s not. We will go around almost a dozen times, and if you want to we will ride it again and again .” He blazed a brilliant smile at her. She gave him her best smile back.
True to his word, the ride continued for minutes going around and around. Each time, the spin and view simultaneously took her breath away. Then, suddenly, the ride slowed and halted with Alessa and Camden at the very front of the ascension.
“ Oh, no! Is it broken ?” Aless a’ s voice was thick with disappointment.
“ No, no, they are letting people on and off .” Camden said with a laugh .“ In a moment, we will stop at the top and will get to look around for real while they let the people off directly opposite us . ”
“ Oh, okay !” Alessa said with exuberance. She knew that she sounded like an overexcited child and she did not care. This was the most amazing time she had ever had, and she would likely never experience it again. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
“ Are you cold ?” Camden asked, this time he seemed genuinely concerned ,“ The Carnival can get chilly at the top of the wheel .” And he pulled her close to him with an arm around her shoulders.
Alessa was certainly not cold, but she was n’ t going to say that now. She glanced up at him ,“I’ m fine now .” She threw him a sweet smile as she congratulated herself on her flirtation skill.
They stared at each other for a moment. Alessa felt that all the air had been sucked out of the area and they had been left in a vacuum. She could scarcely breathe. Camden brought his other hand to her face, barely skimming her cheek with the tips of his fingers. His face came closer to hers as she caught what little breath her lungs would take in. She closed her eyes as his lips found hers in the softest press she had ever known. It was over almost before it began, but where he had touched her lips with his a blaze burned on her skin. Instead of pulling away, he dropped his hand to her neck and pressed his forehead against hers as if to maintain the connection between their bodies longer. Quicker than she would have liked, he pulled away. She started to protest, but he began to speak.
“ Look, w e’ re stopped at the top .” He pointed out over the air and turned his face from hers. He did, however, reach for her hand and begin to draw small circles on the back of it again.
Alessa looked out over the Carnival in awe. She had never seen such a sight. All of the people milling about, the lights, the sounds, it was all so beautiful and fleeting. Alessa knew that she would not live to see another Carnival come through, whether she was allowed to go to it or not. She felt a single tear slide down her cheek before she could try to stop it. She wiped at her face and
After what seemed to be the shortest wait in the park, although she knew the line was the longest, Alessa climbed into the seat next to Camden. The metal was warm and the contraption swung even as they sat at the bottom of the giant wheel. Alessa caught her breath in surprise as the wheel ascended quickly, and grabbed for the sole bar across their laps that locked them in place.
“ Hey, i t’ s okay. Look out over the carnival .” Camden said as he unhooked one of her hands from its death grip on the bar in front of them and held it tightly in both of his own.
Alessa finally obliged and gasped in awe. Someone had obviously planned out where they would place the giant wheel. All the lights of the Carnival were laid out in front of her along with the lights of the city. She could swear, if she looked hard enough, she could see the whole Empire. All too soon, they were on the descent, and the lights were no longer visible.
“ Is that all ?” She asked, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“ No, of course i t’ s not. We will go around almost a dozen times, and if you want to we will ride it again and again .” He blazed a brilliant smile at her. She gave him her best smile back.
True to his word, the ride continued for minutes going around and around. Each time, the spin and view simultaneously took her breath away. Then, suddenly, the ride slowed and halted with Alessa and Camden at the very front of the ascension.
“ Oh, no! Is it broken ?” Aless a’ s voice was thick with disappointment.
“ No, no, they are letting people on and off .” Camden said with a laugh .“ In a moment, we will stop at the top and will get to look around for real while they let the people off directly opposite us . ”
“ Oh, okay !” Alessa said with exuberance. She knew that she sounded like an overexcited child and she did not care. This was the most amazing time she had ever had, and she would likely never experience it again. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
“ Are you cold ?” Camden asked, this time he seemed genuinely concerned ,“ The Carnival can get chilly at the top of the wheel .” And he pulled her close to him with an arm around her shoulders.
Alessa was certainly not cold, but she was n’ t going to say that now. She glanced up at him ,“I’ m fine now .” She threw him a sweet smile as she congratulated herself on her flirtation skill.
They stared at each other for a moment. Alessa felt that all the air had been sucked out of the area and they had been left in a vacuum. She could scarcely breathe. Camden brought his other hand to her face, barely skimming her cheek with the tips of his fingers. His face came closer to hers as she caught what little breath her lungs would take in. She closed her eyes as his lips found hers in the softest press she had ever known. It was over almost before it began, but where he had touched her lips with his a blaze burned on her skin. Instead of pulling away, he dropped his hand to her neck and pressed his forehead against hers as if to maintain the connection between their bodies longer. Quicker than she would have liked, he pulled away. She started to protest, but he began to speak.
“ Look, w e’ re stopped at the top .” He pointed out over the air and turned his face from hers. He did, however, reach for her hand and begin to draw small circles on the back of it again.
Alessa looked out over the Carnival in awe. She had never seen such a sight. All of the people milling about, the lights, the sounds, it was all so beautiful and fleeting. Alessa knew that she would not live to see another Carnival come through, whether she was allowed to go to it or not. She felt a single tear slide down her cheek before she could try to stop it. She wiped at her face and
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