A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I by Austen Knowles Read Free Book Online Page B

it’s clear your bodies have morphed to suit one another. It’s law that you both stay together now. Neither you nor I are above law. You must resign as chief. That is all there is to it,” Airia exerted, and glared at Cobaaron as if that would make him surrender to her command.
    “No,” Ky interjected. Airia looked taken aback by Ky’s sudden refusal. “That isn’t what happened.” If Cobaaron wasn’t going to divulge his heroics that got him in such a mess, she was. After all he did a good deed saving her life, which shouldn’t go punished, so Ky was going to speak up. “The troll that captured me was killed by Cobaaron, but as it fell on me I hit my head. I smacked into the cave wall and began to bleed. He covered my wound because the pain was too great for me to stop the flow. I would have died if he hadn’t saved me. After that I could see him, but like he said, it was dark and nothing was in detail. Everything was all shadow. He gave me clothes, before he had a chance to see me in the firelight of the cave we stayed in for safety. After that I slept for three days while my eyes recovered.”
    “Did you take advantage of her while she slept?” Airia asked Cobaaron.
    Cobaaron once again looked as if he wanted to tear Airia to pieces. He growled and appeared to be physically pained from restraining himself after years of acting on impulse to fight and defend. With great self-control to deny his instincts, he warned her with a menacing voice. “You would be wise to speak to me with higher opinion. All you council members with low populous cities are all the same. You sit there judging and complaining about how stupid warriors are, but none of you would last one day out there. None of you would last a day without my men. You think I’ve come to Gem City to reinforce your walls out of obligation? I owe allegiance to no one except my men. It would serve you well, to hold your tongue, Airia.”
    “Your men have women and a children in these hills. That is why you came.”
    “That means nothing to me,” Cobaaron scathed. “Women are a distraction and children are of little consequence to me unless they will one day be a stud in my army. I only wish to see them grow, and protect my people for my honor. If you don’t address me with honor, you are not my people.”
    “Children mean more to you than you pretend to admit. And your army means everything to you, and women have a way with your men. Or have you forgotten about your brother and how much his happiness meant to you?” Airia asked.
    For a second time Airia and Cobaaron seemed like they would brawl, and once again the room hushed. “ You can’t evade the law, Cobaaron !”
    Something had to be done. Ky couldn’t let Airia decide her fate for her. There was only one thing to do. “If you sentence me to a life of bondage with this man, whom I don’t know, I’ll surely die from grief.”
    “Let’s calm down. There is no need to get excited, my Lady. This is just a friendly discussion. No council member here will make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
    “Then I will not bond. End of discussion,” Ky vowed.
    “The only thing left to decide is up to you. You may stay here, and all I have I will share with you, or you may travel to a sister city.” Airia smiled.
    Ky was still as she thought. Cobaaron had mentioned that Gem City wasn’t nice at all beyond the glittering walls. As she thought, Airia addressed the council. “But don’t you find it fascinating that a Star would be united with a warrior, and not just any warrior, but a man celebrated as Cobaaron the Unconquerable . Probably the greatest warrior the world has ever seen. No doubt he’s one of the best. And look at him now—he’s stronger. Who knows what else she transformed him into, and will continue to change him the longer they refrain from each other. Maybe it’s a good thing they show no sign of the union making them fall hopelessly in love with each other. They must