Twisted Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

can’t keep anything down!” She angrily wiped at her eyes. “I’ve tried, Aaric. I can’t eat.”
    Aaric stared at her, helpless. He didn’t know what to do.
    All discussion halted when a man stepped out of the woods holding a bow with a nocked arrow. Aaric rose to face him, the hair rising on the back of his neck. “Can I help—” He froze when another armed man stepped out of the trees.
    “Aaric!”
    Adaryn’s urgent voice wheeled him around, and he saw two more men standing only a few yards away from her and Dahlia. He yanked his sword from its sheath, and advanced on the men. “Stay away,” he snarled. “We’re not looking for a fight, but if you leave me no choice, I’ll—”
    “Wait.” Adaryn put a hand out, silencing Aaric, staring intently at the man closest to her. Aaric couldn’t see the man clearly in the deepening gloom, but he looked washed out. His hair was light and his eyes looked colorless, almost like water. He looked vaguely familiar, but Aaric couldn’t say why. The man stared at Adaryn, recognition in his expression.
    Adaryn stood. “Take me to your master.”

 
    10
    Adaryn
     
    T heir leader was who I suspected it was. After walking a mile deeper into the forest, we came to a large clearing where several tents had been pitched and fires lit. A tall man stood by the fire-pit closest to us, his hair raven-black, eyes piercing blue. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw me, and he smiled.
    “We meet again, little sand cat.” He smiled.
    “Matias,” I said stiffly. “Still plundering from innocent travelers, I see.”
    His smile deepened. “A man has to eat, Adaryn.”
    Aaric stepped forward, eyes cold. “How did you escape Sen Altare?”
    Matias laughed, clearly amused. “You mean Adaryn hasn’t told you? That’s rich.”
    “Told me what?” Aaric eyed me, suddenly wary.
    I shifted my feet, uncomfortable with the way the conversation had turned. I couldn’t quite meet Aaric’s gaze. “I helped Matias escape.”
    “ What? ”
    The accusatory look on Aaric’s face made me feel guilty, but it also flared a spark of anger. I jutted my chin up. “Well, why not? You knew Sirius Archer was going to enslave him. I couldn’t sit by and do nothing.”
    Aaric’s jaw clenched and he shook his head.
    “Aaric, I had no choice.” He still didn’t say anything, and I threw my hands up, exasperated. The silent treatment from Aaric was the worst.
    I whirled to face Matias, shaking a finger under his nose. “This is your fault.”
    Matias arched a dark brow wryly, then mercifully switched the conversation by asking, “What brings you to this side of the mountains, Adaryn?”
    “I might ask you the same thing.”
    “Ladies, first.” He waited expectantly, completely ignoring Aaric and Dahlia.
    “All right, then,” I said. “Long story short, we got tired of the prejudice over on that side, and decided to come and see if this side was any better.”
    “And is it?” Matias sat on a log by the fire, and motioned me to sit by him. I did so. Aaric sat on the log opposite us, Dahlia on his lap. Aaric watched Matias closely.
    “I don’t know.” I frowned, staring at the fire. “People are terrified of magic here.” I turned my frown on Matias, who watched me intently. “Matias, who are the Twyli?”
    “I go by Fyrsil now.” He said it almost absently as he considered my question. “If you thought it might be better here, you’re wrong. Dead wrong.” He paused a moment before continuing, choosing his words carefully. “The Twyli are . . . us, Adaryn. That’s the name of the magic users here. They aren’t nomads though. They have a city, called Twyarinoth. It’s several miles east of here.” His mouth twisted distastefully. “They welcome all magic users, regardless of what land you hail from.”
    “Why aren’t you there then?” It sounded all right by me. A city that welcomed magic users sounded too good to be true.
    Fyrsil arched an eyebrow. “Because