Broken Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Kara Jaynes
turned, frowning disapprovingly at me. “We haven’t all day. Come!”
I quickly caught up with her, making sure the hood of the dark brown cloak covered me. I hadn’t the slightest idea why Grace would bring something so warm to Sen Altare, but it would help hide my identity. Grace had covered my face in powders and rouge. She hadn’t been sure what to do with my hair, so she had pulled it back from my face, tying it in a silk scarf to hide most of it. It wasn’t a foolproof disguise, but if I kept my eyes down and didn’t talk, it should work.
A couple of servants stood at the end of the hall, eyeing us curiously. One spoke as we neared them. “State your name and your business.”
On reaching them, Aaric cleared his throat nervously. “I am Aaric Wright, son of Baldwin Wright, from the northern city of Ruis.” He motioned to Grace and I. “I bring the illustrious King Matias two gifts, gifts I believe he will find—” Aaric’s voice sounded a little strangled, “—to his liking.”
One of the servants nodded, opened the door, and told us to follow him. I exchanged glances with Grace. The servant didn’t act surprised.
“Do you think he’s ever turned away ‘gifts,’ before?” I whispered.
Grace glanced at me, amused. “Turn down a beauty like me? Not likely.”
I brought my thoughts inward, blocking Grace’s chatter, and thought of Bran. His part in this was to distract the guards and open the gates for the mob that Sirius was going to stir up. He didn’t tell me how he planned to do it, and I was worried about him. The three of us had been allowed through the gates after stating our intentions, but I hadn’t seen a sign of Bran anywhere on the castle grounds.
We followed the servant through the maze of winding corridors and halls until I felt thoroughly lost and unsure of my direction. I wanted to walk next to Aaric, but Grace had made it very clear that in order for the ruse to work, he needed to act distant and unattached. She also said we were supposed to act shy and modest. I stifled my laughter, putting a hand to my mouth as I watched Grace march along confidently. I suspected she’d forgotten to take her own advice.
Aaric stopped walking so suddenly Grace and I almost ran into him.
I realized the servant had stopped, standing in front of a wooden door inlaid with silver. He conversed with another servant standing outside the door, and after disappearing in the room for a moment, came out and addressed us. “His Majesty will see you now.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as a wave of apprehension washed over me. I tugged on my hood, making sure Matias wouldn’t be able to see my face. Grace fussed with a curl that had come loose before turning to me. “Stop twitching, girl.” She smiled. “You actually look quite lovely—for a rover.”
“Let’s go,” Aaric interrupted, and I turned to face him. His jaw was clenched, his gray eyes determined. He had given his sword up to the servant on request. Fortunately, our plan didn’t require steel. It did, however, require Grace and I getting very close to the king. I was glad that Grace had come. She was a much better actress than I. If Grace’s Fire Dust worked, this really wouldn’t be too difficult. Matias would be temporarily blind and in too much pain to fight back. I eyed the Oppressor. I wasn’t sure where she hid the pouch of powder and knowing Grace, I probably didn’t want to.
I took a deep breath and standing behind Aaric, walked through the doorway.
8
Adaryn
“ Y our Majesty.”
Aaric played his part beautifully. He dropped to one knee, bowing his head slightly, giving his name and reason for coming.
Matias was lounging on a plush sofa reading a book with two women I didn’t recognize seated next to him. One held a drink for him while the other rubbed his back. I tried not to grind my teeth. We didn’t know each other very well, true, but he should have told me he had multiple women. Curse the
I quickly caught up with her, making sure the hood of the dark brown cloak covered me. I hadn’t the slightest idea why Grace would bring something so warm to Sen Altare, but it would help hide my identity. Grace had covered my face in powders and rouge. She hadn’t been sure what to do with my hair, so she had pulled it back from my face, tying it in a silk scarf to hide most of it. It wasn’t a foolproof disguise, but if I kept my eyes down and didn’t talk, it should work.
A couple of servants stood at the end of the hall, eyeing us curiously. One spoke as we neared them. “State your name and your business.”
On reaching them, Aaric cleared his throat nervously. “I am Aaric Wright, son of Baldwin Wright, from the northern city of Ruis.” He motioned to Grace and I. “I bring the illustrious King Matias two gifts, gifts I believe he will find—” Aaric’s voice sounded a little strangled, “—to his liking.”
One of the servants nodded, opened the door, and told us to follow him. I exchanged glances with Grace. The servant didn’t act surprised.
“Do you think he’s ever turned away ‘gifts,’ before?” I whispered.
Grace glanced at me, amused. “Turn down a beauty like me? Not likely.”
I brought my thoughts inward, blocking Grace’s chatter, and thought of Bran. His part in this was to distract the guards and open the gates for the mob that Sirius was going to stir up. He didn’t tell me how he planned to do it, and I was worried about him. The three of us had been allowed through the gates after stating our intentions, but I hadn’t seen a sign of Bran anywhere on the castle grounds.
We followed the servant through the maze of winding corridors and halls until I felt thoroughly lost and unsure of my direction. I wanted to walk next to Aaric, but Grace had made it very clear that in order for the ruse to work, he needed to act distant and unattached. She also said we were supposed to act shy and modest. I stifled my laughter, putting a hand to my mouth as I watched Grace march along confidently. I suspected she’d forgotten to take her own advice.
Aaric stopped walking so suddenly Grace and I almost ran into him.
I realized the servant had stopped, standing in front of a wooden door inlaid with silver. He conversed with another servant standing outside the door, and after disappearing in the room for a moment, came out and addressed us. “His Majesty will see you now.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as a wave of apprehension washed over me. I tugged on my hood, making sure Matias wouldn’t be able to see my face. Grace fussed with a curl that had come loose before turning to me. “Stop twitching, girl.” She smiled. “You actually look quite lovely—for a rover.”
“Let’s go,” Aaric interrupted, and I turned to face him. His jaw was clenched, his gray eyes determined. He had given his sword up to the servant on request. Fortunately, our plan didn’t require steel. It did, however, require Grace and I getting very close to the king. I was glad that Grace had come. She was a much better actress than I. If Grace’s Fire Dust worked, this really wouldn’t be too difficult. Matias would be temporarily blind and in too much pain to fight back. I eyed the Oppressor. I wasn’t sure where she hid the pouch of powder and knowing Grace, I probably didn’t want to.
I took a deep breath and standing behind Aaric, walked through the doorway.
8
Adaryn
“ Y our Majesty.”
Aaric played his part beautifully. He dropped to one knee, bowing his head slightly, giving his name and reason for coming.
Matias was lounging on a plush sofa reading a book with two women I didn’t recognize seated next to him. One held a drink for him while the other rubbed his back. I tried not to grind my teeth. We didn’t know each other very well, true, but he should have told me he had multiple women. Curse the
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