Read Online Untouchable by Linda Winstead Jones - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Linda Winstead Jones
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admitted. “But not today. I will ride with you if it will make the journey easier for you . . . and for everyone else, of course.”
Alix bowed to Sanura in appreciation, and then he allowed his eyes to roam over her body. Her outfit was still gold and scanty, but the shimmer was of a different and darker shade. “You changed your traveling outfit.”
Her smile disappeared. “The top was stained.”
“Traveling is often the end of a suit of clothes. You will ruin two instead of one if you are worried about something so insignificant as a stain.”
She did not care for his observation, and he wondered if she blushed beneath the blue. It was impossible to tell. “Surely the emperor will replace any clothing that is damaged in my journey to him. Is your brother a miserly man? Will he expect me to adorn myself in a common fabric which is not the best?”
At the mention of his brother, Alix’s jaw clenched. There were moments when he forgot that Sanura was Jahn’s, a gift, an offering from the henpecked King of Tryfyn. “You will find the emperor to be most generous, especially where his women are concerned.”
Sanura nodded. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Women always liked Jahn. Sanura would be no different. It was a waste of time to wonder what might’ve been if he were emperor, if he had been born a few minutes before his brother.
One thing was certain. When Sanura saw what Jahn was at the pit of his soul, there would be no surprises, no battles, no shadows. No confusion. Jahn was exactly as he presented himself to the world: irreverent, fun-loving, and inherently good.
She was better off that Jahn had been born first.
WHEN the party stopped at midday to rest the horses and grab a bite to eat and a sip of water, Vyrn grinned at Tari and winked broadly. His mind was not entirely on the willing and suggestible maid, but was more focused on those at the head of the column.
Last night Prince Alixandyr had visited Sanura’s tent. Vyrn had seen it with his own eyes. The prince and leader of this expedition slipped past the sleeping guards and into the forbidden tent. He had remained in the woman’s tent quite a while. Long enough, at least. And this morning the blue whore rode at his side, as she had in the early days. The implications were most unsavory—and yet they offered a new and neater opportunity than the one Vyrn had planned.
He had originally thought to make it look as if Princess Edlyn’s suitor from Tryfyn, one Tyren Mils, was the guilty party, but he had not yet been able to come up with a proper and foolproof plan. He still had lots of time to see the deed done, but with each step they took toward Arthes that time decreased.
Vyrn very casually made his way to Tari. He gave her his most charming grin and a small, private wave of his hand. The homely girl smiled as he approached, happy to be chosen on this day. He’d taken pains to give attention to all the female servants, as he had not begun this journey knowing whom he might need. Now he knew. He needed Tari.
“You look lovely today,” he said, staring into her eyes with sincerity and a touch of passion he knew she would see.
Tari blushed and glanced away. “Thank you. I know I don’t...”
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “Don’t do that,” he said sharply. “Don’t pretend you don’t see your own unique beauty.”
Her skin was soft and smooth against his fingers. It was one of her few truly good features, and he could not say he did not enjoy the feel of it against his stronger, rougher hand. Youth was kind to Tari in that way, but the sharpness of her features would make her a truly ugly old woman. Not that he would ever see her in that state.
She blinked and met his stare. Of course she wanted to believe that she was beautiful, she wanted to believe that some man saw beyond the thin face and the slightly crooked nose. “Do you find me beautiful?” she asked, the uncertainty of her question tinged
Alix bowed to Sanura in appreciation, and then he allowed his eyes to roam over her body. Her outfit was still gold and scanty, but the shimmer was of a different and darker shade. “You changed your traveling outfit.”
Her smile disappeared. “The top was stained.”
“Traveling is often the end of a suit of clothes. You will ruin two instead of one if you are worried about something so insignificant as a stain.”
She did not care for his observation, and he wondered if she blushed beneath the blue. It was impossible to tell. “Surely the emperor will replace any clothing that is damaged in my journey to him. Is your brother a miserly man? Will he expect me to adorn myself in a common fabric which is not the best?”
At the mention of his brother, Alix’s jaw clenched. There were moments when he forgot that Sanura was Jahn’s, a gift, an offering from the henpecked King of Tryfyn. “You will find the emperor to be most generous, especially where his women are concerned.”
Sanura nodded. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Women always liked Jahn. Sanura would be no different. It was a waste of time to wonder what might’ve been if he were emperor, if he had been born a few minutes before his brother.
One thing was certain. When Sanura saw what Jahn was at the pit of his soul, there would be no surprises, no battles, no shadows. No confusion. Jahn was exactly as he presented himself to the world: irreverent, fun-loving, and inherently good.
She was better off that Jahn had been born first.
WHEN the party stopped at midday to rest the horses and grab a bite to eat and a sip of water, Vyrn grinned at Tari and winked broadly. His mind was not entirely on the willing and suggestible maid, but was more focused on those at the head of the column.
Last night Prince Alixandyr had visited Sanura’s tent. Vyrn had seen it with his own eyes. The prince and leader of this expedition slipped past the sleeping guards and into the forbidden tent. He had remained in the woman’s tent quite a while. Long enough, at least. And this morning the blue whore rode at his side, as she had in the early days. The implications were most unsavory—and yet they offered a new and neater opportunity than the one Vyrn had planned.
He had originally thought to make it look as if Princess Edlyn’s suitor from Tryfyn, one Tyren Mils, was the guilty party, but he had not yet been able to come up with a proper and foolproof plan. He still had lots of time to see the deed done, but with each step they took toward Arthes that time decreased.
Vyrn very casually made his way to Tari. He gave her his most charming grin and a small, private wave of his hand. The homely girl smiled as he approached, happy to be chosen on this day. He’d taken pains to give attention to all the female servants, as he had not begun this journey knowing whom he might need. Now he knew. He needed Tari.
“You look lovely today,” he said, staring into her eyes with sincerity and a touch of passion he knew she would see.
Tari blushed and glanced away. “Thank you. I know I don’t...”
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “Don’t do that,” he said sharply. “Don’t pretend you don’t see your own unique beauty.”
Her skin was soft and smooth against his fingers. It was one of her few truly good features, and he could not say he did not enjoy the feel of it against his stronger, rougher hand. Youth was kind to Tari in that way, but the sharpness of her features would make her a truly ugly old woman. Not that he would ever see her in that state.
She blinked and met his stare. Of course she wanted to believe that she was beautiful, she wanted to believe that some man saw beyond the thin face and the slightly crooked nose. “Do you find me beautiful?” she asked, the uncertainty of her question tinged
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