Chandra Ryan Ravenborne [Samhain] (pdf)

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She s quite striking.
And a political powerhouse. She has more suitors than one can keep straight.
Suitors? At nineteen I d expect her to be married already.
He shook his head ruefully. As would half the court. Alexandra, however, couldn t care less about
expectations. That child s the cause for half my white hairs.
Can t Devin
Devin s too busy enjoying his bachelor lifestyle to fight her.
She was sure he was. Well, he had better make a decision before she makes it for him.
Wouldn t that be fun?
She could have sworn she saw the flicker of a smile flash across his face, but he didn t say anything
else until they came to a large set of double doors.
You ready?
Sara took a deep breath before nodding. Wherever her life was taking her, the next step was through
this door.
I ll leave you to it then.
She froze, her mind trying to make sense of the words he had just said. He wasn t coming with her?
I m not to be guarded? After all the lectures about my safety?
We re in King s Keep. None would dare threaten you here. Not with all the attention it would draw.
Besides, I think I ll know if you re in danger regardless of where I am. This bond might just be good for
something other than self-torture yet.
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Chandra Ryan
She nodded and then stepped forward to give him a kiss goodbye. It was just the barest brush of his
mouth on hers, but it held a promise that made her tingle. Grabbing onto that promise, she stepped back and
watched him leave.
She had been alone before. She had started over before. She could do this.
Squaring her shoulders, she turned the doorknob and pushed open the heavy door.
Captain Bellick wasn t as tall as she imagined him to be. Nor was he as lean. He actually reminded
her of a grandfather who had resigned himself to a life well spent and was ready to spend his summers in
the sun and his winters sleeping indoors. But when he looked up, his eyes sparkled with intelligence and his
mind echoed with constant strategy.
Lady Guard Raven, I m so glad you ve finally made it.
Captain Bellick, it s an honor to meet you. Her initial instinct was to curtsey, but she corrected it
quickly with a stiff salute. Sir.
It takes some time to get used to military life. Have no fears, I don t expect you to catch on right
away.
Thank you, sir.
Take today to get settled in. You ll need to see the tailor and the weapons master. He handed her
two slips of reimbursement as he spoke. I expect you to have a properly fitting uniform and have your
weapons ordered before you report to me first thing tomorrow morning. The king has a traitor he would
like you to interrogate and I don t want any other business interrupting that.
He said the words so nonchalantly that it took a minute for them to make sense. Everything else can
wait. If he has a traitor
It s my understanding that the conspirator is unresponsive at the present and that you ve had a pretty
rough time getting here. Get your business settled and report first thing in the morning so you can take the
oath and get to work.
Yes, sir.
If you go out this door. He pointed to a smaller door to his right. Maria will help you find your
quarters and get settled in.
Thank you, sir. She saluted again before retreating. She was grateful for the respite after such a
taxing trip, but it seemed somehow anticlimactic.
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Chapter Fifteen
She went to the tailor and the weapons master first. Only after her chores were done did she set off to
find her new room. Her quarters weren t much more than they d been at Keep Drake, but she was happy to
have a bed of her own. And even better, there was a bath, soft towels and a clean dressing gown waiting for
her. She was definitely getting used to having baths waiting for her whenever she opened a door.
Her dusty uniform was discarded into pile on the floor and she was chin deep in bubbles before she
could even take her next breath.
Mint?
She had gotten used to the scent of sandalwood clinging to everything around her, but she rather liked
the soothing scent the staff had chosen for her. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the smooth
surface and sighed.
Her door being thrown open, however, was enough to make her nearly jump out of the tub. But as
Kavin entered the room and shut the door behind him, she found herself relaxing again. Didn t feel the
need to knock?
Didn t think it was necessary. Besides, I would have kicked myself if you had gotten dressed to
answer a door I was perfectly capable of opening myself.
Here for the view then? She quirked an eyebrow and smiled at him daringly.
He chuckled at her words. I m here because I heard Bellick gave you the rest of the day to get
settled. He sat down on the edge of her bed.
Ah, so you ve come to help me unpack?
He smiled as he stared at her fingers skimming through the bubbly water. If that s what you want.
Standing, she allowed the water and soap to run off her body. And if it s not?
He picked up a towel and handed it to her. I m here to serve, my lady. What is it you desire?
What did she desire? A life where the king was blissfully unaware of her abilities would be nice. Or,
at the very least, one that didn t involve assassins. She shook her head to dismiss the thoughts. Those were
both beyond her control. She should be focusing on things that were within her reach.
Her gaze caught Kavin s and a week s worth of pent up desire slammed into her like a wall of
summer heat. He was so damned handsome, just looking at him made her weak in the knees.
No, it was more than his good looks.
Chandra Ryan
He was strong and decisive, but still listened when she voiced opinions. True, he had never given in to
her just for appeasement s sake, but she wouldn t want that anyway. Most importantly, though, when he
looked at her, he saw her. Not her blood lines like Ashlyn, not the political advantage her last name would
bring him like Devin, just her. Nobody, not even her parents, had ever seen just her.
Have you decided? he asked. Or are you still debating?
She skimmed the towel over her wet skin, keeping its touch as soft as a caress. And when she came to
her breasts, she held Kavin s gaze as the material made her nipples pebble. The answering rush of heat
through their bond told her he enjoyed watching almost as much as she loved being on display for him.
Oh, you know what I desire, she said, wrapping the towel snugly around her body.
But hearing it from you would be so much sweeter. He hadn t moved, not a muscle. And something
told her he wouldn t. Not until she told him what he wanted to hear.
She sat down next to him on the bed. I want you, Kavindra Hunter. She had never used his full
name before, but it felt natural as it flowed off her tongue. Just you.
She wasn t sure who initiated the kiss but when the heat of both his desire and hers flowed through
her veins it didn t really matter. The only thing that was important was that she needed him and he needed
her.
Pulling away from him, she walked on her knees to the head of the bed and allowed the towel to fall
to the mattress, leaving her naked in front of him. Looks like we get to pick up where we left off at Keep
Livingston.
Without the whiskey.
Thank the gods. I don t think I ll ever be tempted by spirits again.
He stood with a chuckle and pulled his tunic over his head. And, after letting it fall to the floor, he
joined her once more on the bed.
She studied him carefully for a moment before running a fingertip lightly down the scar that ran
dangerously close to his heart. It really is amazing that you ve managed to live as long as you have.
You re one to talk. His fingers reached out to graze the scar under her ribs.
Hazard of speaking my mind, I m afraid. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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