A Magic King by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

Before he could sit up or stop her, she bent down, dropping a kiss on his forehead.
    "I'm sorry," she whispered against his skin. "It must have been very hard."
    "Don't be sorry," he grumbled, pushing her away as he struggled to stand. "Help me get to Bosuny."
    She sighed. "You are a moody creature today."
    "I am an anxious creature who should be in Bosuny by now."
    She folded her arms across her chest, watching him with the exact same expression his old tutor used to have. "One last question. What are you going to do in Bosuny?"
    He felt himself grow cold, his insides freezing into the old patterns of anger and suspicion. He would not be stopped or deterred from his course.
    "That is none of your concern," was all he said.

 
     
     
    Chapter 3

     
    "She's following us." Jane worked hard to keep the nervousness out of her voice.
    "Who's following us?"
    "The panther."
    Daken turned around, his scowl sour enough to curdle water. Jane pointed behind them, knowing the gesture was unnecessary. He could hardly fail to see the large black cat walking silently behind them. She wanted to say the animal was stalking them, except the cat's stride was slow, almost lazy, as she moved in their wake.
    "What should we do?" Jane kept her voice low.
    "Do? We walk to Bosuny. If she wants to come along," he shrugged. "Let her."
    "But aren't there people there?"
    He stared at her like she'd just sprouted green antennae.
    "I mean, won't those people get a little upset when we walk in with a black panther on our heels?"
    He glanced back at the cat, then bent down to grab his gear. "She's a smart cat. I'm sure she can take care of herself."
    "That's so reassuring. Especially since I, too, am following you."
    Daken spun to face her, his expression dark and forbidding in the murky light. "I didn't ask for your company or hers. If you want to follow me, fine. If she wants to follow me, fine too. But don't expect me to delay my task just because you don't know an inhabited stream from a dead one."
    "Well, excuuuse me. And here I thought I'd just spent the day taking care of you. Far be it for me to expect a little gratitude."
    He advanced on her, his fists tight against his sides. "You wouldn't have had to take care of me if you hadn't walked into the stream without asking permission!" He threw up his fists and stalked away. "By the Father! Why did I get saddled with a lackwit?"
    Jane bit her lip, annoyed and hurt, but still very aware he was right. She was a fool, and in more ways than one. Throughout their time together, he had made it abundantly clear she was a burden to him. A fool he did not suffer gladly. But still, her romantic heart wanted to believe they were starting to get along. That maybe he could like her a little.
    Clearly, she was wrong. Jane squared her shoulders. Fine. If that's the way he wanted it. This wasn't the first time she'd bottled up her pride, swallowed her self-esteem, and generally humiliated herself in order to accomplish a larger goal. First it had been with a boyfriend, but she quickly realized the futility of that. Then it had been on the job with pencil-pusher Dr. Beavesly. Getting him to approve the latest protective hardware had been like begging for crumbs from a rich man's table, but eventually she had won.
    And assuming she ever made it back to Boston to find out, she would bet her next paycheck that her special hardware was the only thing keeping the computer running after that tremendous explosion.
    Jane stopped in her tracks. When had she remembered the explosion? She saw it clearly in her mind, replayed in sharp detail like a new video. She heard the boom, then saw herself poised in front of a rip in space that sucked her in.
    She had been transported through space. She'd thought about it, toyed with the idea, but she hadn't really believed it. Not until now.
    She pressed her hand against her mouth, holding in a scream. Was she really in a completely different world? Panic clutched at her throat. Her scream