Destiny Forgiven (Shadows of Destiny) Read Online Free Page B

spoon. “Keep going.”
    After swallowing, she went on. “I didn’t know what to do with a crying boy so I handed you the bullfrog I was holding.” At that, she chuckled. “I don’t even know how I managed to carry it. It was as big as my head.”
    A hint of a smile flickered on his face then disappeared. He gave her another small bite of bread. “And what did I do when you handed me the frog?” His tone suggested he was humoring her.
    The rest of the memory was blurry but she’d never forget this part. “I said you could have him if you stopped crying. You grinned up at me and said, ‘It’s the best present I ever got!’ At the time, I thought your life must be pretty sad if your best gift was a frog.” She laughed, looked at Maddox, and sighed. It was him but someone else at the same time. The little boy who adored frog hunting and swimming and laughing was in there somewhere, right?
    “I hate frogs,” he murmured.
    His harsh tone snapped her from the memory. “You didn’t used to. In fact, you named that frog Mud.”
    “Mud?” His scowl returned. “What a terrible name.”
    She rolled her eyes. “It was a frog and you were six.” Her stomach rumbled. “Can I have more?”
    He stared down at her, arms crossed and, for a moment, she thought Inkman had returned, cruel and angry. “Yes.” With an evil glint in his eye, he picked up the bowl. “It’s gotten cold. I’ll warm it for you.” A ball of green light burst into his palm, making her flinch. He held her gaze as he moved his hand close to her face.
    Scorching heat radiated from the bright light. She leaned back as far as she could. He moved closer, letting the blue flame lick toward her skin. Prickles of pain spread across her nose and cheeks. She remembered watching him learn to control his power when he was young, and being so amazed at how quickly he’d mastered it.
    But now his cruel smirk told her that her Maddox was nowhere near the surface. Not yet.
    “Please,” she whispered. “Please, stop.” Would begging please him or annoy him? A harsh burn made her squeak in pain. “You’re hurting me!”
    The light disappeared. She exhaled a breath of relief. Chest heaving, she stared at the floor. She pushed back the tears that threatened to show her fear, her weakness. He’d used his magic – a Bolt – to hurt her. And he was capable of worse.
    A chunk of chicken sat on the spoon held out in front of her. It took a moment to pull herself together. Maddox waited. Slowly, watching him carefully, she opened her mouth and let him feed her another bite.
    “How long were we friends?” he asked.
    “Our entire childhood. Until you turned twenty and…” Sadness crept in. “And you went away.”
    The table creaked as he shifted his weight. “Went away where?”
    She pursed her lips and kept her head down. It was too hard to say. She felt like she was choking on tar. He waited. Silence dragged on.
    “Went away where?” he said more firmly.
    When she still refused to answer, he tilted her head up with his fingers. She looked straight into his eyes. “Until you came here and lost your soul.”
     

FELICITY: Leave there, Maddi. Join the rebellion. We’ll protect you.
    MADDOX: Nothing can save me. Especially not an idealistic girl and her ragtag group of weaponless soldiers. Move on now, Felicity. Before you get hurt.
    Email exchange, August 2003
 
     
    Her skin felt good against his fingers – soft, feminine. The dimple in the middle of her chin beckoned his lips. Hesitantly, he moved his hand from her chin toward her cheek.
    Despite her soft skin, her words stung. She thought him soulless? So did everyone else, including himself. But for some reason, it bothered him that she did.
    “You used to do this all the time,” she whispered. Her eyes closed as she leaned into his palm. “You’d put your thumb there and stroke my cheek. Then you’d lean in to kiss me and I’d duck.” Her soft chuckle gave him a rush unlike he’d ever