Read Online The Morning Star by Robin Bridges - Free Book Online Page A

surrounded by a cluster of birch trees in the Field of Mars. It was getting late in the fall, and the trees were almost completely bare. I hoped the Betskoi House guards would still be able to see me.
    “I am not your necromancer,” I said with a tired sigh. “Please, say what you have to say so I can return to my family.”
    He took my hand in a swift but elegant move before I could step back. He held my palm up, the same palm he’d drank fromseveral months ago at Smolni. Alarmed, I tried to pull my hand away.
    “Shhh,” he said, caressing my hand lazily.
    I was both revolted and excited at the same time.
    “I am not going to take your blood here, Katerina. But I must drink soon. I am growing too weak to fight the lich tsar’s pull any longer.”
    “What are you saying?”
    His face grew serious, his eyes haunted. “Konstantin has found me, love. The bond I share with you I also share with him. He was released the night of my ascension. Now he wants to use me to get to you. I am trying to hold him back as long as I can, but I am growing weak. I must have blood. And it must be yours, my love.”
    “No.” I pulled my hand again, and this time he let go. “How can he use you to get to me?”
    Danilo’s smile was malicious as his black eyes suddenly flashed green. His voice changed. “NECROMANCER, I WILL TAKE THIS BODY AND YOU WILL REPLACE MY BRIDE.”
    I was too terrified to move. My worst fears had been realized. The lich tsar had returned. He was standing in front of me. In Danilo’s body. “You don’t want me, Konstantin Pavlovich.”
    “I MUST HAVE A NECROMANCER. AND I WILL HAVE YOU, MY LOVE.”
    Was it Danilo or the lich tsar speaking? I was not Konstantin’s love. “The bogatyr will stop you,” I said with as much bravery as I could muster.
    “Are you so very certain?” Danilo’s eyes flashed again, and he appeared to be back in control. “Are you so sure the tsar and his son are willing to go through such enormous sacrifices again toprotect you? The tsar would be safer if you were dead, Katerina. Summoning the bogatyr again could kill him.”
    I knew he was right. But I could not believe that the tsar would kill me to keep everyone safe from Konstantin. “Stay away from me, Danilo,” I said, backing away from him. There were plenty of people walking around in the park, and the front gates of Betskoi House were in sight. Yet I did not want to cause a scene if I could help it. “If the imperial guard finds you, they will arrest you again.”
    Danilo’s black eyes gleamed. “There is no prison that can hold me, Katerina. And there is nowhere you can hide that you will be safe. Run back to your family, if it makes you feel better. Just remember the lich tsar can come after them as well.”
    I could stay and listen no longer. My heart pounding, I turned and ran back to Betskoi House.
    I made it to the front steps before I dared to look behind me. Danilo was seated once again on the bench, his hood back over his face. But I knew he was watching me. I hurried inside past the guards at the portico and slammed the front door shut, locking every bolt.
    “Is something wrong, Duchess?” the footman asked.
    “Do not, for any reason, allow any of the Montenegrin siblings to enter our house. Do you understand?” I was trembling and my voice was shaky.
    He nodded, and the brief look of surprise was carefully concealed. “Of course, Duchess.”
    I hoped to slip up to my room unnoticed, but Maman caught me on the staircase.
    “Katiya, where have you been? You look like you’ve been romping in the yard with the dogs!”
    I halfheartedly smoothed my hair and sighed. “Just getting some fresh air. But it gave me a headache and now I should go to bed early.”
    “But we are having dinner at the Vladimir Palace tonight.”
    I sighed. “Please, Maman, we should stay home.”
    “Not attend Miechen’s dinner party?” She looked at me as if I’d grown another head. “Katerina, if you are feeling poorly,