Blood Moons by Alianne Donnelly Read Free Book Online Page A

different world, one that was too picturesque to be real, even if it seemed thousands of years removed. It was a castle. The sun was setting, and a silhouette of a woman sat high up on the battlements with her back to him.
    She looked relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in her spine as she gazed out over the castle walls at something in the distance. Tristan couldn't see what she saw from his vantage point, but he could hear the echo of drums.
    Wolves howled in the distance, and so did she. Her voice was eerie, like some strange song; a haunting, sorrowful melody that seemed natural in this world.
    The vision changed slightly, becoming foggier and more like a dream. A pyre burst into flame, sending thick smoke curling up toward the starry sky. The woman rose on the battlements and walked past him. There was pride in her step, dignity in the way she held her head up high, and despair in her shining gaze as it settled briefly on him.
    54

    Blood Moons
    by Alianne Donnelly
    Tristan's eyes snapped open. His heart was racing and his fingers were once more curled tightly, crushing his blanket.
    Below him, Dara stirred in her bed, a soft feminine shift of her head on the pillow. She made a sighing sound and his vision clouded over again.
    She was dancing around the pyre, so close that when she extended her hand, it brushed the flames. Her hair was wild; her skirts lifted and floated around her. Her movements were fluid, graceful. She danced as though with joy, but there was that sadness on her face when it was illuminated by the flames, a look that told him she was dancing to convince herself that she was happy. And from the tears glittering their way down her cheeks, he surmised that she was failing.
    Tristan shook his head, banishing Dara's dream from his mind. He must have relaxed his guards, otherwise he never would have seen any of it. That would make it the second time in twenty-four hours that his control slipped. It was a sign. No matter how strong he thought he was, this place was driving him out of his mind. He never would have allowed outer stimuli to affect his mind this way if he was completely sane. Satisfied with that conclusion, he relaxed and stretched out on his bunk.
    Before he could settle in comfortably, a silent alarm went off in his mind. Danger! He scanned his surroundings, looking for possible threats, but everyone was asleep.
    Everyone except Blanc.
    Tristan swore. The bastard was headed this way, just as he'd said he would. If Tristan didn't think of something fast, Dara would have a nasty awakening, in more ways than one.
    55

    Blood Moons
    by Alianne Donnelly
    Think. Think. Think!
    Blanc was coming closer. He was quiet about it, too, even in his mind, whispering his thoughts. The guard didn't want the others to know he was about to make use of one of the prettier inmates—he didn't like sharing any more than Tristan did.
    A few more seconds and Tristan would be able to see the guard approaching. Not enough time for a plan. Not nearly enough time to search Blanc's mind and find the one thing that would make him forget about Dara for the moment and turn to something else. Tristan could wake a couple of prisoners and incite a fight, but not quickly enough. He could fight the guard and risk a full-out intervention, getting his ass royally kicked in the process, but that would make things even worse for Dara. The less attention drawn to her, the better.
    Tristan didn't bother analyzing why he was so protective of her, or why he even cared. Maybe it was her dream affecting him like this, but he was now absolutely certain that Dara didn't belong here and he wanted to protect her. He had to do it, to prove to himself that he wasn't one of them yet. Dara was a woman facing impossible odds and any man worthy of that title would try to help her. More than that, she was a telepath and he didn't want to give up a potential—he gritted his teeth at the term—friend.
    Tap, tap, tap. He could hear Blanc's boots no