Chasing Bloodlines (Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

adjacent room and said to wake him if Balien got worse. Gabriel held Balien’s wrist, feeling the pulse slowly strengthen.
    Gabriel awoke with his head slumped on the side of the bed, pillowed in his arm, not remembering when he dozed off. His body felt worn and stiff, and as he tried to raise his head, it felt too heavy. It took him a moment to realize Balien’s hand rested atop it.
    “Hello, brother,” Balien said faintly.
    Gabriel took his hand up as he lifted his head. “How do you feel?”
    “Raw. What did you do to me?”
    “Saved your bloody life.”
    “What happened?”
    “Don’t you remember?” Gabriel straightened in his seat and heard his back crack.
    “Shalaban was attacking…I called for retreat, then nothing. Where am I? Where are my men?”
    “You are safe in Castle Jaden. Your men are fine, and I am going to finish this battle for you.”
    “Nonsense.” Balien snapped
    “You should have told me Shalaban came for me. I should have been fighting this battle.”
    “It is not yours to fight. They were on my land.”
    “You’re really, really stubborn. You’re lucky I came when I did. You nearly died.”
    “Not possible.”
    “They dropped a boulder on you.”
    Balien smiled softly in reflection. “Thank you, brother.”
    Gabriel stood, and Balien’s thoughtful expression changed to disgust. “Is that all my blood?”
    “Most of it.”
    “Thanks for not giving up on me.”
    “Not possible. Stay abed for the rest of the day. If you will excuse me, I have a mountain of things to do.”
    “So popular,” Balien sighed as he strode out.
    Gabriel approached a Spirit Mage in the foyer’s desk. “The Prince is awake. Please bring him something to eat and drink, and don’t let him out of bed. He’ll try to charm and argue but don’t let him.”
    “Yes, Head Mage,” the girl grinned.
    He got more than one strange look as he returned to his rooms. He paused in the anteroom to inform Lael of Balien’s condition. The Secondhand had been in more than once to check on the Prince.
    Robyn was in his study when he walked in. “What happened ?” she gasped. “Lael said you were in the infirmary with a soldier.”
    “He lived.” He unlaced his shirt as he shuffled towards the washroom for a blessed bath.
    “Where did you get a wounded soldier?” She folded her arms and gave him the look that said he better explain himself.
    He stopped halfway through pulling his shirt off. “I went to your battle lines to check in on Balien.”
    “ AND ?”
    “He lived.” He pulled the shirt off and dropped it.
    “You were with Balien ?” she gasped, following him. “What happened?”
    He put a boot up on a bench and unbuckled it. “Shalaban has made their war personal. I will be handling it from here.” He threw the boot aside and went for the other. They were caked in rusty blood. His maids were going to kill him.
    “Is that wise?”
    “They came for me.”
    “Wait,” she held up a hand as he began unlaced his trousers. He paused and looked up. “Continue. I forgot what I was going to say.”
    “Say it from the other room,” he said and hooked his thumbs around the hem. When she was out of eyesight, he stripped and waded into his bath.
    “What will you do?”
    “Politely talk; rudely leave.” He said with his eyes relaxingly closed, “I want to know why they brought an entire army to your lands on my account.”
    “It cannot be for peaceful reasons.”
    “Ryker’s behind this.”
    She peeked her head around the door. “You think so?”
    “What else has he been doing with his time?” She walked in and sat on a bench before him. “Oh, please, do come in.”
    “How many men did you kill in the Battle of the Stars?”
    “Three thousand six-hundred eighty.”
    “You remember that number?” Gabriel looked up from the curling white foam and fixed her with a serious gaze. “Can you kill three times that much? Six times that much? More?”
    “I don’t have to kill them to get my