Blood Ties (Noble of Blood Series Book 2) by A L Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

desk he walked over to the table where he left his glass. After topping it off, he sat back down. He took a small sip and continued his story.
    “It all worked quite well until my son's choosing. I did not know he had come to fall for a human woman, and when he asked to be the next to take a Chosen I was happy to comply. He had been a bit wild and never had taken interest in the contracts or sitting in on the Council. I had hoped he was coming around to learning the way of ruling over our kind. But alas, he and his Chosen fell under the same curse as my Samana and I had.”
    Hudreia spoke up. “I take it that she did not survive then?”
    “No. It's been almost twenty years since I have seen my son, twenty years since his chosen died bringing forth their daughter. He tried everything he could think of to save her, even after I warned him that nothing would help. The only thing that could have been done would be to alter the spells in my chamber to change her back to human. I had refused to do that, because in doing so we would no longer be able to grow as a race. No longer be secure in a way to protect the lands from the Enemy.”
    “You were right in your thinking. The Enemy has indeed returned despite our efforts at keeping them at bay,” Yosan said. “It was very clever, and wise, of you to continue our kind. We will need every last bit of help when they finally break free of their earthly holdings and march on us.”
    Hudreia laid her hand on Yosan's knee, silencing him. “I quite agree with Yosan. I do wonder then... since only our blood could open the crypt where our chambers were buried, did your son visit there in his quest to save his lady?”
    “Yes, that is one reason we came to you now. We were there on our way through and the triggers had been set off, but there was no sign of forced entry,” Yosan added.
    “Of course, I did not think of that then. He came back defeated and miserable. He must have found that there was no way he could move those chambers. Only the creators could move them and neither of you were around. Whilst he was away his Chosen went into labor. He came back just as she gave birth and died. He never stayed long enough after to tell me of what his journey had revealed to him. I do know that he had used the blood secret of our kind. He was crazed when he came upon his dying lady. He took the baby and left that very night, his lady's personal guard with him. I know he is still alive. I would feel it if he were not.”
    “Both he and the child must be fairly powerful, then, if they were born directly of your bloodline,” Hudreia said.
    “Ah well, that brings me to my main reason for meeting with you in a sealed room. My son was quite powerful, more strong and quick than magical. I do believe had I taken the time to teach him, he could have been fairly adept with magick. But his daughter, now there would be far more potential in that one.” He flipped open the book and turned it towards Yosan. “You see, Kurmeina had just recently traced my son's Chosen's lineage back and found a connection to you, Yosan. More directly, though, to your son.”
    The raised brows on Yosan's face were the only indicator of his surprise. He laid a finger on his son's name on the page. “Alton. It has been many a long year since I have seen or spoken that name.”
    “I would not speak ill of your kin, but it seems that he had a knack for magic as well. But with no teacher he abused his powers for small gains. He won over the daughter of a wealthy merchant and after he ensorcelled her to his will and despoiled her, the father gathered some men and hunted him down. After her father captured and killed Anton he found out that his daughter was pregnant. He turned her out of his house and she gave birth in a small convent. The ladies of the church kept the child, but cast her out for having the taint of someone who would succumb to evil magicks. The book shows the rest of the lineage down to the name of my