The Shadows of Night Read Online Free Page A

clearly sexual undertone, and the heat in her veins intensified.
    “Thank you,” she said, and pulled on the pants.   “And what of these breeches?   I believe they may be a trifle long.”
    “Roll up the legs,” he responded, his voice a low rumble.
    “I would very much appreciate your opinion—“
    “ Roll up the legs ,” he repeated.
    Realizing from his unyielding tone that he wasn’t going to look at her again, she pulled on the tunic.   The fabric was soft against her skin, a surprisingly sensual sensation to a woman who was accustomed to wearing skins or nothing at all.   “I am ready,” she said.
    He turned his head cautiously, as if afraid she might still be unclothed, then turned and regarded her appraisingly.   His expression was unmoved, but unmistakable lust still shimmered in his dark gaze.
    “The clothes suit you,” he said.   “The green emphasizes the color of your eyes.”
    She had never been complimented on her appearance, and she was tempted to thank him, but she would be skinned of her pelt before she thanked the man for forcing her to wear these clothes as a prisoner.   She lifted an eyebrow instead and spoke with the haughtiness that befitted the daughter of a Pride Leader of the Claw Kindred.  
    “May we leave this chamber now?   I find the smell revolting.”
    “Of course,” he said.   “Perhaps you would like to break your fast?”
    Her mouth watered, and she abruptly became aware of her stomach rumbling.
    “Yes,” she answered.   “Food would be welcome.”
     
    *****
     
    “What is this?”
    Hart regarded the Claw’s shocked face with amusement.   He had heard her people ate plain, coarse fare, cooked over fires, so he had ordered the kitchen drones to produce the most exotic, sumptuous fare available.   Judging from her reaction, she was suitably impressed.
    “My people call this a’pala ,” he said, pointing to the substance arranged artistically on a silver platter.   “It is a cooked grain, sweetened with honey and maripa flowers.   And these are wild carrots, a vegetable the Ancestors brought from Earth.”
    She blinked at the food.   A drone floated by and poured more water into her goblet.   Thus far, her water glass was the only thing she’d touched.
    “What is that ?” she demanded, recoiling from the silvery machine.
    “It is a drone.   They do much menial labor for us.   They gather food, prepare it, care for our buildings, and make our clothing.”
    “It sounds as if you have little to do with your time besides graze,” she remarked acidly.
    Hart felt a stab of irritation, all the stronger because the thought was one he’d had himself more than once.   In human form, the Antler did little with their time besides eat, talk, and share mugs of ale in the evening.   More than once he’d wondered if this meaningless existence was really what men had been made for.  
    He pushed back his annoyance with an effort.   Naturally the barbarian was intimidated by their way of life, and felt it necessary to bare her claws as a result.   “Try the food,” he urged, picking up his own spoon and scooping up the sliced carrots.   “It’s delicious.”
    She dropped her gaze and stared blankly at the plate again, then looked up.
    “But there is no meat!”
    Ugh .   His stomach roiled at her words.   The mere thought of consuming meat was enough to send revulsion over him in a nauseating wave.   As if the Antler would ever kill.   “We do not eat meat,” he answered stiffly.
    “Surely you do not expect me to subsist on this—this grass .”
    The arrogant tone of her voice grated on him.   He dropped his spoon—the only eating implement the Antler used-- onto the glistening surface of the wooden table with a clatter and glared at her.   “Perhaps you would rather subsist on air.   I can assure you that those are your only options.   Because no one in this keep is going to go out into the forest and kill an innocent animal, simply