Crystal Fire by Kathleen Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

the ashy haze. As Marissa gazed upon their familiar light, an anguished thought lanced through her.
    Somewhere out there, on some Imperium planet, Candra waits for me. Waits, and wonders where I am.
    Her eyes lowered as the pain of that realization swelled in her breast. Candra, sweet sister, why won't you answer? she cried silently. Why now, when you need me most, do you shut yourself off from me? And do you truly understand the extent of our danger?
    "You're strangely pensive," Brace intruded softly. "Do you care to talk about it?"
    Marissa blinked in surprise. His audacity never ceased to amaze her. With an emphatic shake of her head, she forced herself back to the matter at hand. "No," she gritted out. "II am just tired, that's all. Let's get on with your bath. Then we can both get some sleep."
    A lazy grin spread across his face. "Have at it, then. I but await your pleasure."
    Marissa grimaced. "You overvalue yourself, to think I find pleasure in this."
    She stooped to rummage through the bag, extracting several rags and a small container of cleansing sand. Grabbing the pot of simmering water, Marissa returned to Brace's side.
    He eyed the articles she carried. "You're a thorough little thief, aren't you?"
    "A matter of survival," she muttered. "My nose couldn't take much more of your filth."
    Marissa opened the container of cleansing sand and moistened a rag in the water. "Now, be quiet and let's get on with it."
    Brace's mouth twisted in a smile, but he remained silent. Marissa moved first to his face, gently soaking the blood-clotted brow until it was clean and the wound exposed. She frowned. The jagged cut wasn't deep, but would leave a scar.
    "That bad, eh?"
    Marissa shook her head. "No, not really. I only wish I had a needle and thread to sew your eyebrow closed. It would heal better that way."
    "A most pleasurable consideration, to be sure."
    She ignored his obvious lack of enthusiasm and returned to her task. His face was soon cleansed, but the washing did little to improve his overall appearance. If nothing else, the bruises now stood out more prominently, dark purple and glaring. Gently Marissa blotted his face dry.
    Next she turned to his chest and torso, then his arms and back. The feel of his flesh, so warm and alive beneath her fingers, roused totally unexpected but quite stimulating sensations. Marissa clamped down on the foolish reactions and forged on. Brace tried to help as best he could but he hurt too badly for any prolonged effort.
    Marissa ended up giving most of the bath. She wondered at her efforts to spare him pain, thinking she pampered him overmuch, then rationalized them as just another attempt to conserve his strength.
    Finally she moved to his legs, halting her efforts halfway up his thighs. She handed him the rag.
    ''Here, it's time you finish this."
    He arched a quizzical brow. "Why? You were doing so well."
    She exhaled an exasperated breath. "Curse you, Brace Ardane! I am not going to wash your male parts!" She grabbed his hand and shoved the rag into it, then turned away. "Now do it and get it over with!"
    Brace chuckled and finished his bath. Then he tossed the rag over by the pot.
    "All done. You can turn around now." The amusement in his voice was not lost on Marissa. She rounded on him.
    "Why do you persist in taunting me every step of the way? I saved your life, curse you! If nothing else, I deserve some consideration for that."
    He grinned at her, swollen features and all. "Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are when you're angry?"
    She gaped at him with slackened jaw, an expression of incredulity on her face. Then renewed anger surged through her.
    "Why, you big, blustering"
    "Loathsome male?" Brace supplied innocently.
    "Yes," Marissa hissed. "That's exactly right."
    She grabbed his breeches and shoved them into the pot of water.
    "What are you doing? Taking out your anger on my clothes?"
    She shot him a quick look. "There's no sense going to all the trouble of a bath if you