By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) by Amberlyn Holland Read Free Book Online

and unexpected in her position.
    When her smile faltered, Caerwyn realized he'd pushed too far, too fast. His decision to back off was to keep his cover. Not because he wanted to keep the bright, open expression shining at him. Instead, he smoothly changed the conversation before she had to decide how to answer.
    "How is little Tanis this morning?" he asked when he saw the blond curls peeking out of the doorway above them, trying to lure the cat prowling the stairs with a piece of honey bread.
    Lia glanced over her shoulder, the smile lighting up, becoming indulgent and exasperated.
    "She's perfect. As if there was no fuss at all yesterday." A little louder, she added, "Though she's supposed to be eating her breakfast, not feeding it to the pets."
    A childish giggle floated down the stairs then the curls ducked back into the house and out of sight.
    "Thank you, again, for saving her. It was brave of you."
    "I'm just glad I was close enough to get to her. It's nothing that anyone else wouldn't have done."
    She reached out, placing a soft hand on his shoulder and squeezing. "Perhaps, but I'm still grateful."
    He ducked his head, unexpectedly uncomfortable with the deception that brought him to Lia and her home. "And I am grateful for the offer of a job."
    Pulling his determination around him like a mask, Caer reminded himself he had a finite amount of time to find the answers he searched for. And, if Daen was right, Lia had a few tricks of her own.
    Flashing his charmed smile once again, he asked, "Speaking of, how can I be of service today?"
    Keneally had been watching the interplay with narrowed eyes and palpable disapproval. Now he stepped forward, putting himself between Caer and Lia.
    "There's a fence along the south pasture that needs mending."
    He turned and whistled, catching the attention of a young man who couldn't be very far out of adolescence. The boy, who'd been loading supplies into a wheelbarrow, loped over.
    "Danny, Wyn will be helping you with the fence today."
    Keneally gestured him toward the lad with a nod.
    Caer nodded a greeting then turned back to Lia but Keneally moved down a step, half blocking her from view. Nel shifted closer, placing a hand on the Handmaiden's shoulder. "We have a great deal of work to do in the herbarium."
    The words felt heavy with significance and the soft smile dropped from Lia's mouth, her eyes shuttered unexpectedly. Secrets sizzled in the air and Caerwyn's hunting instincts sparked to life.
    "Of course," Lia said through gritted teeth. "It was nice talking to you again, Wyn. I'm sure I'll see you often, while you're working here."
    "I hope so."
    Caer bowed again and, as he rose, his eyes strayed toward the small building he'd taken note of when he'd gazed down on the manor. Keneally once more placed himself between Caer and his object of interest, though. With practiced ease and firm no-nonsense moves, the older man shifted him toward Danny and the wheelbarrow.
    It was apparent Caer wouldn't be getting any closer to Lia or to the answers he sought as long as the estate manager was around. He'd have to find a way around the man.

    *****

    Liadan stood in the vegetable garden, pretending to check the progress of the plants. Her gaze kept wandering over to the east pasture, however. The pasture where Wyn worked with Danny now, shifting and stacking rocks to shore up the fencing.
    He'd been working since dawn and, by the time she'd caught sight of him, his shirt was long gone. She'd been around hard-working men all of her life. The valley was full of farmers and workmen and animal handlers. They were all fit, in their own way, and often shirtless, but never had any captured her attention the way Wyn had.
    The chest was broad and strong, arms flexed and bulged with every move, his stomach lean and rippled with pure muscle that dipped and curved with intriguing lines and hollows.
    He'd been working around the manor for nearly two weeks and not even Keneally could find fault with his