Betrayal Read Online Free Page B

answer.  Beside me, his tight fist unfurled as he popped the knuckles on both wrists and stared at me with unbidden anger.   I prayed that anger wasn’t toward me and that my best judgment wouldn’t be usurped by his diligent hard-headedness. His injuries were far in the past, but his ability to hold my stare was not.  I could tell he was bursting to say something.
    “Are you going to speak?” I demanded breaking the once again man-controlled discussion.  I chanced a look at Ian seeing easily his jealous heart was in a rage at my giving Pike any attention.  I deserted Pike and moved over to the table behind where Ian stood.  His shoulders relaxed a bit superstitiously, and I heard a breath escape through his teeth. 
    Bane’s gruff voice answered me.  “We know nothing of Kinsler’s involvement in the attack.  We captured one Nym guard, but he died killing himself after he attacked Pike and reached Lorah instead.”
    “Why was Lorah involved?”  The question of the hour.
    “She is untrained and saw only danger.  Her innocent eagerness to defend even us caused a rip in the wall our guards held by the court boundaries.  When she called my name, I turned quickly at the unexpected female voice and allowed the one Nym to enter my boundary.  Lorah was too quick to get to me and he had her.  There was nothing I could do.”
    “There was,” I challenged Pike’s reasoning.  Stupid girl!
    “I—“
    Pike jackrabbited his body to exit.  He didn’t even fight me on the inside.  That told me right then and there that he was broken.  I’d hurt him, but Lorah was dead and nothing would bring her back.
    Ian circled my waist and I inched away from the contact.  “I will talk to Kin.”
    “NO!” he yelled aloud.
    “Ian, he can meet on our terms.  Bane, have a message sent to meet with us in one day’s time at dawn at Pike’s domain where we met before.”
    Bane stood and bowed his bulky body in my direction and then looked to Ian for either confirmation or a next move, I wasn’t sure.
    “As she says.  We will be off before the hour.  You will remain to defend the court and ten of your best.  I will take mine and Grace’s guards as well as ten other.  We will return no matter what in two days time.  Please have the message to Kinsler before this meeting is adjourned.”
    Ian’s brows made the deep V that always sent a signal to me that he’d talk to me later .
    Bane bowed again and moved away but Ian still wasn't looking his way.  The group huddled and drowned out a murmur of noise away from the two of us.  Ian kept his hard etched eyes on the table in front of us, but I knew his pot was stewing with what he really wanted to say to me.  I would never know how he stayed so together when all he wanted to do was come unglued at my rash decisions.
    “Thank you.”
    What?   That was the direct opposite of what I expected.  He studied my reaction and continued, “I am a patient man, Grace.  I don’t agree with the danger you’re putting yourself in, but I know you are only thinking that you arranged this meeting so I could be present with you while we interrogate Kinsler.”
    Wow!  Mr. Mystery was figuring out my womanly ways.  “I want to know if he is involved and this is the only way to find out in an organized manner that I knew you’d agree to.  Kin will comply.”
    “You know this only because of his other ultimate agenda.  But what you are not considering is that he might take the time to change your own agenda for the meeting tomorrow and create a frenzied attack involving you.”
    “He won’t hurt me.  Or rather, it’s not me he will hurt.” I noted the insignificant curiosity of how the few Fey around the room replacing drinks and other things hear so much yet never make waves among our people.  They loyally keep our secrets.  Our people.
    And if Ian thought for one minute that he’d convince me so easily or threaten me into complacency even in front of others, he