Between Loves (The Pendant Series Book 2) by Cynthia Austin Read Free Book Online

Taking a moment to think, she finally pieced together what had happened and laid there in utter shock.
    “Did you raise your fist to me, brother?” she asked in amazement. She looked up at her sibling who was standing in the shadows of the oak tree with clenched fists. He looked much larger at that moment, almost as big and strong as Adam had been. The dagger was still in his hand and she could see the rubies glistening off of the sun.
    “You wicked temptress!” he shouted. “This is all your fault! I should kill you now.”
    Samael was huffing and puffing in a mad rage. “These impure fantasies you have in that delusional head of yours are the reason Adam needed a new wife. Had you done your duties and been the devoted spouse father promised, he wouldn’t have needed Eve.”
    His sister hissed back, “I will not take orders from that man whom I do not love! He is not my superior, ’tis the other way around. He should have been taking my orders.”
    “In what world do you live where the men take orders from their wives? That is absurd, sister. You are to obey your husband ’til death do you part. You are not to run away and in turn have him steal my love.”
    Samael tried to make his sister see his reasoning but she was much too stubborn and would not give in to his distorted vision of being happy with that underbred peasant.
    “I did not love Adam,” she justified.
    “Eve does not love him either, she loves me,” Samael shouted as the vein in his neck bulged under his skin resembling that of an enraged volcano.
    His sister pleaded with him, “I love you, Samael! I do. Can you not see that? You are the blood of my blood, we are equal. I am not some dirty little peasant for you to play around with. I am superior to her. It is me you should be with. You should not contaminate your royal blood with the likes of that scoundrel.”
    Another blow followed. This time it was from Samael’s boot. It was much harder than the last but she would not allow her brother to see the pain he was inflicting on her—both physically and emotionally. She sat back up and spit the blood and dirt from her mouth. Wiping her face with the back of her hand, she looked straight into her brother’s face.
    “I love you and will take anything you have to offer, dear brother.”
    Samael stomped over to her like a madman, gripping her beautiful red hair in his hand and pulling hard. His sister groaned in pleasure, closing her eyes and licking her lips.
    He was enraged. “You are nothing more than an evil temptress and I will no longer play into your twisted games. If you come near me again, I shall kill you with this dagger. Do you understand me?”
    Her eyes remained closed, and she refused to give him the satisfaction of an answer.
    “I cannot tell if you heard me, little sister. Perhaps this will make it clear to you.”
    Refusing to open her eyes and continuing to play her foolish game, she did not see when Samael took the dagger and pressed it hard against her left cheek. He quickly ran the blade across her face.
    Before she had time to realize what he was doing it was too late. She brought her hand to her cheek but the blood seeped between her fingers. She jumped to her feet and looked at him in horror.
    “What have you done to me…have you cut my face?” she shrieked.
    Samael looked at her with a smile of victory.
    “Go on, little sister, run back home and look at your image in the mirror. You may not like what you see, but it will stay with you as a reminder. Keep away from me. I love only Eve. You and I will never be together again. Not even as brother and sister. I never want to see your face in my life.”
    “What have you done?” she screamed, causing the jays in the trees above them to shriek as they flew away in unison. “You will pay for this, Samael. Choosing that wretched girl over me, your own blood. You are a traitor, Samael, and a disgrace to this family! No wonder Father hates you so. You are a fool.”
    She