Dark Warriors: A Dark Lands Anthology (Darklands) by Autumn Dawn Read Free Book Online

You are free to choose any of ours.” Her jaded expression seemed at odds with the woman she’d seemed to be.
    Vana frowned. “I would love my children no matter what gender they were.”
    “Say that after fifteen male babes and three miscarriages, all daughters,” Ellyn said dryly, “and I might believe you. At least I still look in on my children from time to time. Some women cannot even bear the sight of them and send them into the care of whoever will take them. A number of the boys below are such children.”
    Anger made Vana’s jaw lock. She wanted to demand which children, but didn’t. What could she do, go down there and adopt them all?
    “Come,” Ellyn said firmly. “You have an implant to get.”
    Resentment made Vana’s steps slow, but she didn’t try to bolt. It would have been a futile move, considering that any one of her four armored guards was twice her size. The gun on the hip of the left guard caught her eye.
    He noticed her glance and sent her a stern look, almost daring her to try it.
    Once again Vana found herself with the medic. “Can this be reversed?” she asked grimly as he reloaded his tool.
    “It won’t be.”
    “But it can be. What if someone found a way to make your women conceive and girls started popping up everywhere?”
    “It won’t happen. I know everything there is to know about female fertility. If there was a way to make that happen, I would have found it.”
    “If you knew everything there was to know, they’d all be having girl babies,” Vana said sweetly.
    His eyes narrowed and he pressed the tool to her skin, delivering a slight sting along with the pellet.
    But Vana had an idea now, and she was loath to let it go. “I’d like to see your research on the matter.”
    He looked at her as if she were mad. “You don’t read our language.”
    “So? You must have translators somewhere. You guys managed to get along in our world. Besides, I’m sure the ladies here would like a chance to read some of your books if you provide translators. I’m sure Dagon would approve. After all, think how it would help us to learn about your culture.” Sarcasm laced her voice.
    The medic glanced at Ellyn. “You’ll have to ask Tzar Dagon about it.”
    “Tzar?” The word didn’t seem to translate well.
    “It is like a king, but he is checked by a high council. Their offices are hereditary, but the Tzar is elected in a battle of arms, wit and character.”
    “How is it an election, then?”
    “He must be elected by his peers before he can compete in the trials.”
    “Humph. King Dagon, is it?” That was the first she’d heard the title. Figured. He had the arrogance to be a king. But arrogance or not, she had some things to say to him.
    To her surprise, she had no trouble getting an audience with him. She had expected to be treated like a prisoner, so it was a surprise to see women coming and going with their escorts, touring various parts of the Bride House. She planned to take the tour and look for a likely escape route, but first she had business to take care of.
    The guards let her into Dagon’s office, leaving the heavy door open a discreet crack. She glanced at it in surprise. It had been a long time since she’d been around people so conscientious about proprieties.
    One glance at Dagon and she understood. The man was still dressed in only black pants and red sash. The hard expanse of his bare chest and the power in his arms were magnetic. It was all she could do to drag her eyes away and look him in the eye. Even so, she felt her face burning and prayed she wasn’t blushing.
    “You look warm,” he drawled, eyeing the bright sunset orange, yellow and reds of her sarong. Her top was a more sedate rust color, a long-sleeved, cropped shirt with a V-neck that clung to her curves and showed a generous length of smooth abdomen. His eyes lingered there, causing her color to heighten, before he gestured her to a low table spread with refreshments and pile of