The Shadows of Night Read Online Free

cannot expect me to live in this chamber for the rest of my life!”
    “No.   This is a medical chamber.   I will gladly escort you to a more comfortable room.   I will even allow you to walk the keep, provided that I am with you at all times.   But first you must agree to harm no one here.”
    She snorted.   “You spread out a feast before me and then tell me I may not eat?   That is like penning an Antler in a meadow and telling him he may not graze.”
    “You will give me your word you will not hurt any of my people,” he said between his teeth.   “Only then will I permit you to leave this chamber.”
    She hesitated, thinking about the offer.   It was evident that she wasn’t going to get out of this chamber.   Maybe if she was able to study the keep, she could find some way of escaping.    Perhaps she could even convince him to remove the collar if she behaved.
    At any rate, despite his obvious belief that she was a barbaric animal—a belief she admitted she’d done nothing to change with her threats—she wasn’t in the habit of killing innocent people.   Animals, yes; the Claw Kindred ate meat almost exclusively.   But she’d never eaten a Fang or Antler.  
    People were not animals, even if they took animal form. Her mother had taught her that from a young age, and had struggled to convince the other Claw prides of that belief, with reasonable success. A few prides still attacked the Antler when they ranged too far abroad, but they were decidedly in the minority among the Claw.
    “Very well,” she answered.   “You have my word.”
    The corners of his mouth turned up in a genuine smile.   The expression altered the planes of his face somehow, making what had been handsome utterly beautiful.   She stared at him, thunderstruck.
    “Thank you,” he said.   “Then I will show you to your chamber.   But first, I brought you some clothing.”
    He extended a bundle of cloth, and for the first time she realized she was naked in the presence of the enemy.   Naked…and standing inches away from a man.   Her people usually went nude to facilitate shifting, except in the coldest depth of winter, so this was not an unusual situation, yet her body’s response was totally unfamiliar.   Heat burned between her thighs, and a startling rush of flame filled her veins, flushing her skin.   Whether the flush was embarrassment or arousal she was uncertain.
    She took the cloth from him with an impatient swipe of her hand, then hesitated, studying the unfamiliar clothing.
    “These are the breeches,” he said with elaborate nonconcern, pulling out a dark green garment made of fine, silky cloth.   She noticed that he was very carefully making eye contact, refusing to look below her chin.   “And…the undergarment.”   He handed her a small scrap of fabric.   “And the tunic.”   The tunic was the pale green of spring leaves.   He turned his back, allowing her privacy.
      Inexplicably irritated by his show of indifference to her body, she was seized by an imp of mischief.   “Thank you,” she answered, then pulled on the undergarment.
    “I fear this may be too tight,” she said.
    He didn’t turn.   “When you are installed in your chamber, I will see that the attendant brings you a selection.”
    “But how will I know if it fits properly?   This type of clothing is unfamiliar to me.”   She smiled as she saw his back stiffen, and added, “I would be grateful for your assistance.”
    He turned his head and regarded her over his shoulder.   She stood, legs braced wide and shoulders back, clad in nothing more than a scrap of fabric, and awaited his reaction.
    His eyes burned with a dark flame, and she saw the muscles of his throat move as he swallowed convulsively.   He looked at her for a few seconds longer than necessary, then suddenly jerked his head away and stared at the wall.
    “It appears to fit you adequately,” he said.   She noticed that his voice was harsh, with a