Copper Veins Read Online Free

followed as well. To say I was dumbfounded would have been an understatement—my father, who I remembered as a kind and thoughtful man, had hardly even acknowledged that we’d all been beside ourselves with worry. I mean, it wasn’t like he didn’t know that we’d been without him for sixteen years. It wasn’t like he didn’t know that we’d searched for him across two realms, desperate to find him.
    I glanced at Micah, but he merely shook his head, nonplussed. Like us, he couldn’t understand why Dad would just slip away in the dark of night without even leaving us a note. Micah relocked the cabinet and assured the last few silverkin that they could return to their duties, then faced me and grinned. For a moment I couldn’t understand what he was so happy about, until I realized that Micah and I were alone in the sitting room.
    â€œHey,” I began, intending to mention our unfinished business from the night before. He already had that on his mind, though, and he grabbed me by my waist.We landed on the couch, little more than a heap of limbs and lips.
    â€œWould you like me to carry you to bed?” he asked after we’d kissed for a while. “I understand that it’s a Mundane tradition.”
    â€œI think I would like that,” I murmured. Micah hoisted me into his arms, but we were off-balance and he nearly toppled over. We laughed as he steadied himself against the wall, and I ended up facing him, my legs wrapped around his waist.
    â€œHow are you going to make it up the stairs?” I asked.
    â€œI’ll manage,” he murmured. He took a few steps, but something tugged us to a stop. I looked over my shoulder and learned that the source of the tug was Shep. I slid down Micah’s body while Shep informed us that the Golden Queen Oriana had just sent a request that Micah and I attend her at the Golden Court immediately.
    â€œRight now?” I sighed. “We can’t wait until later?”
    â€œThat would not be wise, my Sara,” Micah said, his brow furrowed. “Oriana rarely sends requests of such an urgent nature. It is best if we leave now.” After a quick change of clothes and a few longing glances toward our bed, we left the manor and stepped onto the metal pathway. I had no idea what Oriana wanted to talk about, but I hoped it would be quick.

4
    A few heartbeats later, Micah and I stood before the glowing radiance of the Golden Court. Unlike our prior visits, the court was less than welcoming. Oh, the walls and floors were still the same rich, warm metal, and the roof had once again been retracted to let in the sunlight. The servants were as attentive as they’d ever been, smiling and genuflecting and inquiring if we would care for any refreshment, and we were quickly escorted to Oriana’s receiving hall. Still, there was a coldness to the air, a chill that had little to do with the temperature.
    When Micah and I entered the receiving hall, we found the source of the chill—Oriana herself. The Gold Queen wasn’t seated upon her throne, but on the topmost step of her dais. She was shrouded inwhat looked like a monk’s robe, with only her head and golden fingertips left uncovered. The robe was the color of old parchment, and though it was only a single garment, it gave the entire hall the appearance of being overcast.
    Micah opened his mouth to greet the queen, but she whispered, “You killed my advisor. His body was found choked by silver yesterday morning.”
    I blinked, I didn’t remember killing—oh.
Him
.
    Oriana was correct—Micah
had
killed Old Stoney. What she apparently did not know was that the rock had had us followed from the Goblin Market and had gone out of his way to try to kill us first. Lucky for us, Micah was faster and stronger than the stone Elemental had been.
    â€œMy lady,” Micah began, “it was an act of defense.”
    â€œDefense?” Oriana asked,