Read Online To Whatever End (Echoes of Imara Book 1) by Claire Frank - Free Book Online Page A

“You’d have better luck talking him into wearing one of Cecily’s corsets.”
    They all laughed, even Daro. He had to admit, the image of himself cinched up in a corset was more than a little bit funny.
    Alastair smiled. “Truly, Daro, I’m not trying to cause trouble. But you were both made for bigger things. You always say you don’t belong, but you never saw yourself. How many people looked to you during those times of uncertainty, when things turned sour and we all feared for our lives? When we were out in the wilds, or on the streets of this very city, you led. We should have died many times over, but somehow you always found a way to pull through. It’s a shame to see that all go to waste.”
    “He has a point, you know,” said Callum. Daro looked at him in confusion. It wasn’t often that Callum and Alastair agreed. Callum looked back and forth between the other two men again. “What? I’m just saying that it seems crazy for a man like you to be living out in the middle of nowhere making tables and chairs, or whatever it is you do.” He leaned in and rested his elbow on the table. “I know this fellow who could really use a man like you. Completely legitimate, I assure you, and it would pay extremely well.” He trailed off, raising his eyebrows at Daro.
    “You know a fellow?” Daro said. “Thank you, Callum, but no, I’m not sure I want to know who this ‘fellow’ might be.”
    “Oh no, it’s nothing like that,” Callum said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Completely legal.” Alastair snorted. Callum smirked at him. “I’m fairly certain my offer would be a bit more enticing than that of our good king.”
    “You’re both idiots,” Daro said and shook his head. “What others believe isn’t important to me. You can think I ran away or I’m hiding or whatever you want. I just want to live in peace and love my wife, simple as that.”
    The door opened as Alastair opened his mouth to reply. Cecily appeared in the doorway and Daro stood. Her long hair was windblown and her blouse hung loose around her body, her unbound corset clutched in her hand. She met Daro’s eyes from across the room and he knew something was wrong. He pushed the chair away from the table and walked to her, no further thought for his friends. She took a few steps toward him and threw herself into his arms.
    He drew his arms around her protectively and kissed the top of her head. “Cecily, what happened?”
    “I’m okay. I don’t want to talk about it here.” He brushed the hair back from her face. She gave him a small smile and reached down to take off her shoes. “These shoes are terrible.”
    He rubbed her back gently and walked her toward the stairs as anger rose up like bile in his throat. He should have gone with her. He didn’t know what they had said to put her in this state, but he was furious with himself for not having been there to protect her. As he mounted the stairs, he looked toward the friends he’d left at the table and had a passing thought for them and those still due to arrive. They could bloody well wait. Her face was so pale and her eyes red.
    He hadn’t seen her look like that in a long time.

7. COMPANIONS

    Daro shut the door with a soft click, followed Cecily to the bed, and sat on the edge next to her. “What happened?” he asked, his voice soft.
    She took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t let her get to me like this. I don’t know how she does it, but she always knows exactly what to say to get under my skin. She always did.” She paused and Daro stroked her back, waiting for her to continue. “Everything was going fine, just the usual from my mother. My sister is getting married. I gave my mother the chest and she accepted it with a decent amount of grace. Then as I was leaving, she asked about having a family. She said it was ‘for the best’ that we don’t have any children.” She choked out the last few words, put her hand to her mouth, and breathed deeply to stop