Beyond the Crimson (The Crimson Cycle) Read Online Free

might have been a princess , but she was a kind-hearted one. I knew money came easy to her, but I didn’t need her to take care of me. I definitely didn’t want to come off like a freeloader. She already paid the larger portion of rent, justifying it by taking the master bedroom. I needed to take care of myself that was just how it was going to be.
    “No seriously, I’ll be fine. Thank you though.” I took another bite of spaghetti not wanting to talk about it anymore.
    “I really think your father should be helping you out on money,” she said saucily. “It is the least he can do.” She crossed her arms. “You’re his daughter, who cares what that wife of his thinks.”
    I frowned; her words bothered me. I was over eightee n; he wasn’t responsible for me. In fact, he hadn’t been responsible for me for nearly seven years now, and that had been my choice. I couldn’t stand it when he got remarried. I felt it to be a betrayal to my mother—who had died in a car accident not even a year earlier—but I also wanted him to be happy, so I asked to move to California with my grandfather; it seemed like the best solution. It wasn’t his fault. I was the one who left him in Colorado. “No, I’m fine,” I muttered, staring into the container of spaghetti that now didn’t seem so appealing.
    She raised an eyebrow before deciding to drop it. Then her face lit up. “Oh , guess what!”
    I smiled thankful for the distraction and also amused at how easily my friend could change moods.
    “Steeeeeven called me,” she squealed.
    I laughed. Steven was in our history class too. He was a year older and on the football team— tall, blonde, and handsome, very much like a Ken-doll. Stacey had spent most of the semester trying to get his attention.
    “What’d he say? You have to tell me everything.” I wasn’t really into gossip , but I played the part because I knew it’d get her talking so I wouldn’t have to, and then I’d be free to think about the medieval knight. 

Chapter Two: Brendelon
     
    She ran her hand over the lovely frame that surrounded the painting, admiring her work. She liked him much better this way, and it had been so easy; she could thank his arrogance for that.
    It was simply a penalty for his defiance, to put fear into that dark heart. Soon, his comrades would save him; they would reveal what she needed, and he would be forced to cooperate. She chuckled lightly and traced her dainty white fingers over the inscription.
    “A face so beautiful, it belongs in a painting,” she cooed, “and there you will stay until I have what is mine!”
     
    My alarm buzzed annoyingly, jolting me out of sleep. I couldn’t quite remember my dream , but I was haunted by menacing eyes and crooked smiles. I groaned slapping my hand down on the off button.
    “Three more days,” I muttered. Then it would be summer break , and I would be able to pick up extra shifts to hopefully rebuild my ever so dwindling savings account. I threw the fluffy white comforter off me and rolled out of bed, stretching out my back, suddenly renewed with excitement.
    After classes, I would get to see Brendelon again. I was so giddy it was embarrassing. I practically danced my way into the bathroom and turned on the hot shower.
    Big blue eyes stared back at me as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, waiting for the water to heat up. I toyed with my long blonde hair that always seemed to have slight waves in it, thankful I lived in California and could get away with the “beach waves” look. I ran my hands down from my hair onto my sun-kissed cheeks, trying to imitate the knight’s charming smile, but it was useless; I would never be able to copy that mesmerizing grin. I had never seen one like it, and it left me awestruck. I tried to imagine his personality. He was definitely brave; his eyes were free of fear but they were slightly wicked too. Perhaps he was funny with some sort of twisted sense of humor, after all who really