Dark Magic Read Online Free Page A

danger.”
    “How?”
    “The king brought him a virgin sacrifice.”
    “Against her will.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I read about it in an old book.”
    They stared at each other.
    “It’s a myth,” she said. “A story of magic. And my father has forbidden magic in the kingdom.”
    “Why?”
    “He says it’s evil.”
    “Is it?”
    “I don’t know. But I know that anyone who is caught working a spell is put to death.”
    “Pity.”
    She swallowed, daring to say what had been in her mind since she’d first seen him. “The only way you could have come here is by magic.”
    He shrugged. “You didn’t turn me away.”
    “I should have.” She looked toward the door.
    “Don’t bother calling for the guards.”
    He was right.
    “Did you come here to toy with me?”
    “No,” he answered, but his voice told her otherwise. She had felt warm and safe with him. Suddenly her anger rose.
    “You should leave.”
    “If you wish.”
    He climbed out of bed and pulled up his leggings. Then he pulled on his boots.
    She wanted to ask him to stay, and at the same time, she wanted him to go.
    He gave her a long look, waiting for her to say something more. When she stayed silent, he vanished. By magic. Yet he was real. He must be. The liquid that had spurted from him had left a stain on her covers.
    She cleaned the stain with a rag and water from the washbasin.
    Then she went to the window again, looking down at the sea of miserable humanity.
    While she’d been enjoying herself up in her room, her father’s people had been suffering.
    She was still standing by the window when a knock sounded at the door.
    “Come in.”
    Brinna was back, with a sick expression on her face.

Chapter Five
    “What is it?” Devon asked.
    Brinna shuffled her feet. “Nobody pays attention to an old servant.”
    “Yes. We know that. What did you hear?”
    She dragged in a breath and let it out. “I knew there was talk of a plan. I kept listening, and I heard your brother discussing it with some of the fighting men.”
    Her brother, Grantland. Long ago they had been close, but circumstances had torn them apart.
    Their mother had died giving birth to a third child when Grantland was only four years old. The baby had died, too.
    Devon had been eight, and she had ached for her loss and her brother’s. Their father was punishing and gruff, a hard taskmaster. Their mother had been the direct opposite, the loving touchstone that sustained them.
    When she had died, Devon had reached out to Grantland, trying to fill the aching gap in their lives. He’d accepted her love, for a few years—until their father had come down hard on him.
    He was being groomed for kingship, yet nothing he did was right. And sometimes he took out his anger and frustration on Devon.
    “I came to warn you,” Brinna continued.
    “Are the barbarians about to break in?”
    “I don’t think so. But Grantland was telling Cameron that your father wants to trade you to the Lubantan leader.”
    Devon stared at her, wondering if she’d heard right. “No! Why would he do that?”
    “To get concessions from the Lubantans.”
    She couldn’t hold back a little moan as she thought of the unkempt mob outside the castle. And their leader. She had seen him in the camp, looking as disgusting as the rest of them.
    For years her father had turned away kings and princes who had asked for her hand. Now he was going to turn her over to a barbarian in hopes of saving his kingdom?
    “No,” she wheezed, then raised her head. “Why are you telling me?”
    “I thought you should be prepared.”
    She could barely breathe, but she dragged in enough air to say, “I have to escape.”
    “Where would you go?”
    She kept her voice even as she uttered the lie that leaped into her mind. “To Tundor. My father was negotiating with King Parmell’s man for my hand in marriage to Prince Layton—before he broke off the talks. I know Layton wanted me. If I can get to Tundor, I can ask King