Blood Lies (Dark Brothers of the Light #9) by Janrae Frank Read Free Book Online Page A

wait for you there."
    "Red Wolf it is. Don't let me forget."
Alons' awareness went black, and he fell into the pool.
    "No way in nine hells am I gonna let you
forget." Dyna overturned the tray reaching him. She pulled him out,
rose with him in her arms as if he weighed less than a feather and
vanished back to Angrim with him.
     

CHAPTER THREE
OF HOPES AND BOYS
     
     
    Veranoctem 7, 1077 AQ
     
     
    Isranon and Anksha occupied the same cozy
suite they had on their last visit a year ago. Back then, Isranon
had been her blood-slave – although they had concealed it for most
of their visit, leading Edvarde and his household to think of her
as his familiar. Love and Isranon's rogue magic had turned the
tables on their relationship, altering the arcane link between
them. His power had crossed the boundaries of species and Anksha,
last of her kind, now carried his child. Isranon filled a large,
wing-backed chair and she curled on his lap, purring. Dressed in
simple clothes, Isranon looked more like a blacksmith than a mage.
The illness had not yet stolen enough of the muscle from his stocky
frame for unfamiliar eyes to detect it fully. Those who knew him
well could see the difference, recognize the loss and be concerned
about it. Over the past couple of years, the muscle had begun to
melt away, sapping the physical strength Isranon had once taken
such joy in with it.
    Nevin sat at the round table near the
hearth. Gordain stood behind Nevin, playing with his long black
hair and stealing touches. Nevin captured Gordain's hands, only to
have his lover wiggle free and start up again. Finally, Nevin made
a curt, disapproving noise – like one wolf warning another – and
Gordain stopped. The younger wolf settled into a chair. The legs
made a scraping noise as he nudged it closer and closer to the back
of Nevin's seat, stopping when his knees were nearly against it to
prop his elbow on the table and top it with his chin.
    "I thought about it. I'm not some young dog
with more bite than sense." Nevin slid the book and letters across
the table to Isranon. "With snow in the passes, we would never
reach them before spring thaw, and by then it will all be
over."
    "Do you now regret coming with me, my
brother?" Isranon eyed his spiritbrother – once his childhood
mentor – while stroking Anksha's hair, causing her to purr
louder.
    "I had moments of it last night. But then I
thought, what could I have done? What difference would one mon
make?"
    Gordain leaned forward and wrapped his arms
around Nevin. "And then he thought of me."
    "That and Todd Sinclair. When a legend
returns to save his people, surely they can be saved."
    "I know nothing of your legends – coming
from Sealandia," said Gordain. "However, there is a Sinclair in our
legends. Aristotle."
    "Todd claims descent from Aristotle." Nevin
lifted an eyebrow at that. "There are Sinclairs in Sealandia?"
    "Warrior kings. They rule the southern
jungles."
    Nevin's expression went briefly thoughtful.
He was always learning new things from Gordain. "Someday I want to
explore Sealandia."
    "We can do that."
    "What about my son?" Isranon grew concerned.
His lover, Merissa Redhand, had borne him a son, Darmyk, in his
absence from Red Wolf. Isranon still held tightly to his dream of
someday meeting the boy, who had to be about three years old
now.
    "There is very little about him in either
the letters or the journal." Nevin's voice took on the lecturing
tones of a lawgiver as he continued. "You produced an odd child.
Sa'necari-born. He's a wilderkin predator like Nans and godmarked
by Willodarus. Evidently, you've changed the opinions of the gods
themselves in regards to the sa'necari-born."
    Isranon tried to smile, then gave it up and
reached across to touch Nevin's shoulder. "When we have stopped
Galee, we will go to Red Wolf. I swear it."
    The door opened and Stygean poked his head
in. "Can I talk to you about something?"
    "It's not a good time," Isranon said,
straightening and taking his