Queen of Swords Read Online Free Page A

look and began cleaning their own plates. For a time, there was only the sound of forks scraping against porcelain and the occasional slurp from either Ophelia or Papa.
    This memory was what she’d wrap around herself to ward off homesickness when she was gone. Strength and love radiated from her parents as they gave their silent—and grudging, from Papa—support. Ophelia had never doubted they loved her, but in this moment she could almost see it.
    It would have been the perfect moment if not for the fate hanging over her head, as inescapable as death.
    Someone pounded on the front door, the sound booming through the house like the Reaper’s summons. Ophelia shivered and jumped out of her chair, moving as if in slow motion. The air had a weight to it, fighting her movements. Or maybe it was all in her head.
    She threw open the door to reveal a man, his hand still raised from the beating he’d given the faded wood. Ophelia froze, her gaze traveling over weathered boots, pants stretched over large thighs, a shirt that did nothing to hide the muscles beneath, and the cache of weapons his jacket barely concealed. She stopped counting after three lasers and two blades. This man was trouble in the worst way.
    He was also the same man whose room she left not an hour ago.
    How had she thought him nothing special before? What a fool she was. While he still couldn’t be considered pretty, his icy gray eyes were extraordinary, so light they were nearly colorless. They pinned her in place, seeming to look inside her soul.
    Ophelia had the sudden suspicion she was being judged…and found wanting.

Chapter Three
    She damn near took Boone’s breath away, standing there with her pointed chin raised in defiance. It made him want to cross the distance between them and see if she tasted as good as she had last night. Which was insanity of the highest order, especially considering the conversation he’d just had with Kristian. That sadistic shit wanted his tithes early, had even gone so far as to suggest Jenny be the one to deliver them personally. As if he would ever allow that monster to get his filthy hands on her. Not while Boone still breathed.
    The sound of a feminine throat being cleared—the mother—knocked him back to the present. He finally took in the other two people in the room and mentally cursed. The dainty woman wouldn’t be a problem, but no one in their right mind would mistake the giant for anything other than a threat. He towered over the two women, bulky without the fat so many men his age carted around. Gerard, her father. The man stepped forward, putting himself in front of his family. He was surprisingly light on his feet for someone so large. This must be where Ophelia learned how to move.
    “Who are you?”
    Boone didn’t bother to try for charming—this man would see right through the act. “I’m here for her.” He jerked his chin at Ophelia, amused when her violet eyes narrowed.
    Gerard crossed his arms over his barrel chest, seeming to swell. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
    Boone thought over the information he’d gathered on the man before leaving his ship they’d gathered on the man, analyzing the possible threat. Gerard was a former lieutenant of Sanctify, but he’d apparently gone rogue with one of their captives some twenty-odd years ago. Considering most of those idiots would rather die than betray their great cause, it was surprising. Even more surprising, though, was that he’d married the captive in question.
    His gaze skated over the woman before coming back to the husband. Ophelia might have gotten her coloring from her father, but she got her looks from her mother. Still, there were plenty of beautiful humans to choose from without delving into the alien population, especially the cursed Diviners. Still, whatever Gerard’s reasoning for taking off, Sanctify’s training made him a threat. A massive one. Before Boone was forced to neutralize the man, Ophelia shouldered