Twisted Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 5) Read Online Free

and filled it with root vegetables and rabbit. “Careful, darling, it’s hot.” She chatted animatedly to the child as she broke off chunks of the pie, distributing it on plates.
    The remainder of the evening passed peacefully, and it wasn’t long before Dahlia was fast asleep, nestled in Adaryn’s arms. The nomad gently brushed the white-blonde hair away from the child’s face. “I can’t do it, Aaric.”
    “Can’t do what?” Aaric asked, but he already knew what she meant.
    “I can’t give her up. At Bleaksdale. She needs us.”
    “We’re going to have our own child to take care of, love,” Aaric reminded her.
    “So?” Adaryn frowned at him. “Who says we can’t take of both?” She leaned over the slumbering child, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “We can’t just leave her at Bleaksdale and assume she’ll be safe or happy. She needs parents, Aaric.”
    “Let’s wait and see what Bleaksdale holds,” Aaric said, but he didn’t argue. Adaryn was right.

 
    8
    Adaryn
     
    “ I t’s so . . . dark.” We walked through the gates to the city of Bleaksdale.
    The city walls were made of dull gray stone and the streets and houses were grimy. It was smaller than Ruis, and while the streets were busy, they weren’t nearly as crowded as the cities we’d visited. I wore my cloak with the hood up. The people didn’t recognize my nomad dress, and as long as I didn’t summon my enchantment, couldn’t identify me as a magic user.
    Aaric led our horses as we walked, Dahlia perched in one of the saddles. She looked around with bright eyes, but didn’t say anything. We hadn’t told her that Bleaksdale might be her new home.
    “There.” Aaric pointed to a vendor at a cross section of the street. “Let’s get something to eat.”
    The fare was a bowl of stew with turnips and onions and tough bits of beef. Aaric wolfed his portion down in thirty seconds flat; I shared mine with Dahlia, eating at a much more sensible pace. I peered at a young woman standing near the food stall selling brightly colored streamers with shiny beads attached. I poked Aaric in the ribs and gestured toward the woman. “What are those?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. They look like necklaces of some sort.”
    I pulled Dahlia out of her saddle and together we walked over for a closer look.
    “They’re good luck charms,” the young woman explained. She looked to be barely eighteen. “The red and blue braided together is said to ward off evil spirits, the green and yellow are to bring wealth.”
    “What about this one?” I pointed at one that was white, threaded with silver and gold thread. The beads caught the sunlight and gleamed.
    “The white is supposed to keep the wearer safe from harm.”
    “Are they magic?” I asked absently, not realizing my mistake until after I spoke.
    The girl’s eyes widened and she took a step backward. “No,” she said emphatically. “No, I don’t hold with magic. No Denali does.”
    “It doesn’t have to be magic to be lucky. In fact it would be quite the opposite. Magic can be a blasted nuisance, wouldn’t you say, dear?”
    Aaric stepped over to stand next to me, smiling at the young woman, his expression bland. “We’ll take two of the white. One can’t have too much luck in these parts, it seems.”
    The girl smiled hesitantly at him and procured two of the charms after Aaric paid. He knelt down, placed one around Dahlia’s neck, and gave her a tender kiss on the forehead. Standing, he placed the remaining necklace around my throat. He smiled at me reassuringly. “Shall we go?” Taking me by the arm, we walked back to the horses. I stole a look behind me. The young woman was still watching us, and she wasn’t smiling. I bit my lip. “I think she’s suspicious.”
    “I do too.” Aaric put Dahlia back in the saddle and we walked back down the street we’d come.
    “I don’t think mentioning magic is a good idea,” Aaric continued in a low tone. “Not