Knight of Wands (A Steampunk Fantasy Adventure Novel) (Devices of War Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

the brightening light as the pale blue sun, Sang, joined Kala in the sky.
    “I didn’t hear you enter.”
    Her blonde brows rose quickly as she leaned down and picked up a block of cheese, popping it in her mouth.
    I stayed by the window and watched.
    She flicked her long, pale braid over her shoulder and joined me on the balcony. “You should eat.”
    “I wasn’t sure it was safe.”
    Her chin rose with a soft smile, her blue eyes scanning the courtyard. “You frighten me, Synn. Your Mark is very powerful.”
    I took in a deep breath, my gaze joining hers. The curtains fluttered behind us.
    “As is your anger.”
    I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
    She took a step away. “Your food is lightly dosed. Until I can trust you, I would appreciate you maintaining the drug in your system. You will regain some use of your Mark. This is how we keep our newly initiated under control.”
    I followed her into the room. “And why should I allow myself to be drugged?”
    She picked up another piece of cheese and popped it in her mouth. “Because while you do so, I will keep you in my care.”
    “And Nix’s threat?”
    She walked toward the door. “Is just a threat.”
    “You really think so?”
    The queen paused, her chin down, her hands clenched at her sides. “You let me deal with my sister.”
    “And what am I to do?”
    She met my gaze. “You will learn everything you can, become her knight, and lead us out of this mess.”
    Something about the way she said that set my nerves on edge. “What has she done?”
    She shook her head and turned to leave. “I will send Carilyn to you later this morning. She will update you, but in the meantime, I need you to work with Aiyanna.”
    What was she playing at?
    “Synn.” She stopped inside the doorway. “Aiyanna can help you get past what my sister has done to you, but you have to trust her.”
    “I still haven’t figured out why I should trust any of you.”
    She tapped the door frame with her nail. “I guess there’s a lot of that going around.” She nodded. “I will have a new plate brought up without the drug.”
    Was she serious?
    Her blue gaze met mine. “Please don’t make me regret this.”
    I raised my chin. “Don’t make me regret staying.”
    She nodded and disappeared.
    This was going to be a lot harder than I’d ever imagined.

CHAPTER 3

    NIX’S “PEACE”
    When the door opened next, a tall, young woman walked in carrying a silver tray laden with food that she was eating. She talked to herself in low mumbles that made absolutely no sense.
    Her dirty blonde hair was cut short, much like a man’s, but her face was too feminine for anyone to really mistake her for anything but a woman. Also, men never curled nor pinned their hair like that. It looked like a sculpture.
    She wore a uniform unlike any I’d seen. The jacket was blue and white and form fitting, the collar underneath white. It was the skirt that caught my eye. Straight and just below her knees, showing off a great deal of calf and ankles. It was alluring and utilitarian all at the same time.
    She set the tray down and sniffed at the other one. “I’m Carilyn and you’re going to need some strength for all the walking we’ll be doing, so I’d get your keester over here in the right nows of right now and eat.” She took a handful of noodles and fell into a square, blue chair.
    Frowning, I sat down in the chair on the other side of the table and studied her.
    Her gray eyes flitted all over the place. A streak of water peeked over the collar of her jacket and dropped to the table as a gust of wind pushed the other tray away.
    Was she using her Mark to show off or tell me the food was safe?
    “I hate when the queens poison the people they’re all tryin’ to woo. Why they always feel the need to be dosing people up, I have no idea. Dirt-thumping people should have thought before they tried that on you of all people.”
    I raised my eyebrow.
    “Don’t let your head