Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) Read Online Free Page A

to us, you’d best bring food to keep from starving. Keep your strength up.”
    Wesken frowned as he dropped a gridom stone secured on a piece of twine into her hand. “Stay until morning. I will have a team ready to accompany you. It’s only a few more hours.” It was as close as Wesken would ever get to begging, and it made her heart squeeze hard.
    Shaking her head, she did the last thing he would expect. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “You know I can’t do that, but thank you for offering.”
    Blinking back the moisture, she looked at her friends once more before turning and walking away.

Chapter 3
    The Ekasibe growled. “Call her to you now, phoenix.”
    Eyes swollen shut, Evan tried to turn his head from the putrid stench of the creature’s breath. After all his people had been through in the past three decades, there was no way he would lead his sister into the hands of the beasts who wanted her dead.
    Thoughts blurred in his mind as he fought against the haze. Even the phoenix deep within was quiet. It was never silent. If it wasn’t for the crushing pain engulfing his entire body, he might think he was dead. He had lost track of time with each bout of unconsciousness they inflicted upon him. Time had no meaning. He couldn’t even tell if it was day or night anymore. “I’ll die first.” His answer would be met with more blows, more pain, but it didn’t matter.
    A swift, hard punch to his stomach had him moaning as consciousness threatened to disappear again and agony engulfed him.
    “You will die, but not before she does. Call her to you now.”
    Something hot and sharp cut through the skin along his left triceps. He refused to scream. The bastards would enjoy it too much. By all that was sacred, he wanted to, but he would not give them that pleasure.
    Suspended by the wrists, with most of his weight resting on nothing more than the tips of his toes was hell. They’d put him in one of their makeshift shacks; at least that’s where he’d been the last time they’d knocked him unconscious and battered his face. The building was bigger than he had initially thought, and sturdier. He wouldn’t have thought it could hold his weight, but even as he struggled to free himself, nothing budged.
    “No.” Another sharp blow to the solar plexus and the breath rushed out of his lungs.
    “Call her.” The wicked voice rasped by his right ear.
    “Fuck you.” Following the Erritrol’s rancid breath, Evan turned his head and spat before shifting his weight back onto his toes. It took more energy than he had to waste, but it was worth it when the beast roared.
    “You’re going to wish you were dead after we’re done with you.” A low growl rumbled in the air. “Show this imbecile what happens when I don’t get what I want.”
    Part of him—a huge part—already wished he was dead. A swift blow to his legs had Evan dangling heavily on his already bleeding wrists.
    “Can I kill him?”
    The hoarse voice sounded from behind him, making the muscles in his back tense. How did they keep from detection? He never knew where the bastards were.
    “No, not yet. He will break. Just make sure he is docile for transport.”
    Tiny hairs at the back of Evan’s neck stood on end. The anticipation of what was to come had all of his muscles tight and twitching. The phoenix struggled for freedom, furious at its inability to protect Evan from harm. How the hell was he going to get himself out of this mess?
    He didn’t have time to ponder. A hard blow landed on his back just above his right kidney, sending pain ricocheting through him before another blow struck to the left. He grunted as the beast came around raining blow upon blow to his chest and abdomen, stealing his breath. Nausea rolled over him in a great wave, and black dots swirled before his eyes. With one final shot to his jaw all went black.
    Brienne didn’t dare take her gridom stone from her neck. It would be faster and easier to travel