Heart Song Read Online Free Page A

lavish room—all for nothing?” I stopped pacing to watch his reaction and wait for an answer. I needed a sign, a flinch of a muscle, a clench of a jaw, even a flicker of light in his eyes that would suggest that he was no better than the Cyrs.
    He nodded. “Perhaps, in some ways, we are both wrong about our initial ideals of each other. Maybe this is my way of breaking the ice, so to speak.” He was cool and calm. The way he stared at me held me captivated.
    That damned enchantment.
    I felt a shift in my gut. He was telling me the truth, but there was more he wasn't saying. That much I was certain.
    “Why do you believe me?” I had to know why he was willing to give me a chance when the rest of the world turned its back on me.
    “I have my reasons.”
    “But, why me? Why not some other girl? I'm sure they would be more able and willing to do anything you wished.”
    I saw a flicker of sadness cross his face. It pulled down at the corners of his lips, and then disappeared as if it were only a figment of my imagination. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall next to the door. “I wish nothing from you. I would never do anything, or force you into anything, you didn't want to do.”
    “Why didn't you just rescue me yourself instead of sending Enid to do your dirty work?”
    He chuckled, dropping his gaze to the floor and rubbed his toe on a spot in front of him in the shape of an arch.  The melodic sound caused me to react, very much the same way it did in the market. Only this time, it wasn't my imagination. “I was the one that rescued you. Enid just helped to make sure you stayed in the carriage.”
    “But you were going to give me to the guards! Why the change of mind?” I threw my hands in the air with a grunt and stomped towards the balcony, in need of fresh air, but stopped right before I stepped through the doors. I felt as though something, his eyes maybe, were gently holding me. Urging me to stay and continue talking. Fear, once again, filled me. Only it wasn't for my safety, it was for something else entirely.
    “Please understand that if I didn't do what was expected of me we would have a mob after us... Still may.”
    I turned and walked towards the foot of the bed, keeping my eyes on him. Something about the way he said 'still may' had warnings inside me firing off. “What is going on Marren? Why in the world would there be a mob after us?”
    He approached me, coming closer than I expected, which forced me to take a step backwards. My heart started to pound. “You will understand soon enough. Please just try to get to know me. Don't be so quick to judge me.” His voice pleaded as much as his eyes did.  He took another step closer.
    “What makes you think I'm judging you?” I took another step back.
    “Are you saying that immediately assuming that I'm conceited and I'm trying to put my charms on you isn't judging?” He stepped closer as his words started to hypnotize me.
    “Are you saying you aren't?” I stepped back again.
    “ Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying .” He stepped closer again.
    The room started to spin. My head felt light and filled with a strange buzzing sound. Before I could faint, I said, “I need some air,” then turned quickly, walking onto the balcony. The coolness of the stone helped to reground and refocus me. I took in a slow and steady breath.
    Marren sighed, as if to surrender or give up whatever it was he was trying. “If you would like, I can place a guard at your door to protect you?”
    “Why would I need protection?” I spoke my words into the wind.
    “You're blind,” he said, then let out an uneasy chuckle. It still made my heart flip. He was close behind me. But not so close that I couldn't walk away from him again. I gripped the stone railing as tightly as I could to push away the spell I was falling under. The last bit of sunlight disappeared behind more clouds. I closed my eyes.
    “How exactly am I blind?” I tried