Betrayal Read Online Free Page A

fault or even that he couldn’t stop it before she was hurt.  It was wrong of me to do so.  But I found it easier to blame someone rather than accept the truth.  She was gallant and brave and in the wrong place at the wrong time. 
    When I finally dressed and headed straight back to the meeting room where all others had resumed from the late night powwow, I heard Bane retelling events in his caveman voice and summing up what my head told me to assume was the unavoidable truth.  Upon entering, I let my eyes count the number of guards in the room privileged enough to hear the sordid details and at the same time tally the living.  All were here as far as I could tell.  I stopped when Pike glared at my absence in listening skills only because one had to actually look at the people as you counted them.  I didn’t want Pike riling Ian up with some stupid comment.  He’d obviously healed up well.
    “We had no idea the Nyms would attack the boundaries.  Their agreement said they would stay peaceful,” Bane continued watching me enter.
    So it was the  Nyms who initiated it.  I walked all the way into the doorway and watched the room still as I approached.  A weepy queen was what they expected, but not what they would get.  I wanted answers, not more crying. I cried myself out in Ian’s arms all night.  I hadn’t even comforted Sarah with more than a hug and holding her in the garden before I exited to help Ian, Pike, and Bane clean up much to their disagreements.  And where was Lorah’s body?
    “What do we know?” I asked summoning patience from the walls around me.
    Everyone stayed silent in wait.  They tried not to turn their heads in Ian’s direction, but it was obvious to the trained eye I’d developed around this court that all eyes still turned to Ian.  In his perfect and wonderful defense, he didn’t flinch an eye.
    “Grace,” Ian didn’t cottle me in front of the others.  I admired his trust in me.  Should he?  No!  Does he?  Yes!  “Lorah will be laid upon a pyre at sundown.  The court will take care of the details and we will attend.  For now, we need to discuss the attack from the Nyms, who encouraged it, and what action to take.”
    He told me what I wanted to hear and where the discussion needed to lead.  I took all of this in stride and noted to myself that though Ian was making it aware to the others that I had a say, I knew very well that he and Bane were the decision makers when it came to defensive positions and I’d do well to let them take that charge.  However, this had to have involved Kin and I wanted an answer about the other injured victim first before retaliation talks. Danella had been forthcoming with the whereabouts of my guard.
    “Will Rion be okay?”
    Ian looked at Pike first before me doing a guy look I couldn’t interpret.  “He was sent away.”
    Rage, fear, and hurt hit me at once.  It clawed at my heart thinking that Rion might think I betrayed him.    “What?  No!  I want him back.  Now!  He doesn’t deserve that.  He is anything but loyal to me.”
    I begged with my eyes.  Rion didn't fail if he was defending her.
    Pike’s steady gaze turned to Ian first then said, “He can’t.”
    “No, he will return.”  Ian never took his eyes off Pike.  Their silent exchange was without words inside and out.  I checked both hoping to read them this time and I couldn’t read a single thought.  They were too good at the blocking. 
    Pike moved a step toward Ian and Ian did the same.  What the heck?   Were they going to fight?  Pike’s fist was balled just below the table where I could see in some attempt to stifle his rage or to prepare for it, I didn’t know.  I got what I wanted, so I changed the subject before the two went bat crazy on me. 
    “What do we know of Kin behind this attack?”  I asked them all inching over absentmindedly to hold the table from another fainting spell.
    Pike’s face twisted up as I watched him not