Flame Thrower by Alice Wade Read Free Book Online Page A

they?” His eyes roamed over the scars, each one burned into his mind while he made a silent vow to punish whomever dared do this to her.
    “Older than two months, Sir,” Edda replied, still watching him with confusion and narrowly squinted eyes. “It’s hard to say, because they are newly healed, but I would wager that long.”
    His anger faded to pity when he finally looked at Tillian. She collapsed inwardly and huddled with her arms wrapped around her naked body. “Ah, Tillian,” he said, squatting before her. “I’m so sorry.” He grabbed the discarded cloak lying at her side and wrapped her in it, seeing she was uncomfortable with him there.
    Tillian kept her head lowered but she pulled the cloak around her body. She couldn’t meet his eyes. She burned with humiliation that he’d seen those lashes, something she wanted to avoid. His violent reaction frankly caught her off-guard though. She sat mutely and worked through the conflicting emotions battling within her. On one hand she was comforted he was here. Yet, she couldn’t rationalize the anger with which he suddenly exploded into the room, leaving her feeling terrified. He practically shook with rage, and she could see his trembling hands from her view point. The longer he stood there, though, the more he calmed and the more compassionate Ryan emerged. This change in demeanor was equally as confusing.
    His gentle fingers forced her chin up to meet his eye. “Princess, please look at me. Who gave you those lashes if you’ve only been missing two weeks?” His head tilted to the side and added, “I’m not angry at you, Tillian. Please answer my question, though.” He then cursed under his breath with a shake of his head. “Sweet Tillian, who dared to whip you?”
    His protective reaction and the deep concern in his voice rattled her to her core. She felt that invisible pull towards Ryan but it was that passionate look that made her decide to trust him. What was the worst that could happen? “I’ve been gone a lot longer than two weeks. My Father probably just sent word,” she whispered. She was burned under his smoldering eyes that watched her with a new fury.
    Ryan cursed again but didn’t leave her side. “How long have you been gone?” he asked. That would be so in character for Ifran to lie about this. Irfan was a shady ruler and Ryan could see him telling some fabricated tale to hide something. Wallace’s warning suddenly flared to life and Ryan cast a questioning glance in his Captain’s direction.
Was this a ruse to trap Ryan or is Irfan just a cruel idiot?
At her next words, Ryan looked at her face with wide eyes.
    “Two months, Sir.” With that Tillian suddenly released a sob that shattered the stillness in the cabin. Immediately, she felt herself engulfed in his caring embrace while he pinned her tightly to his chest, rocking her. She finally felt the emotional dam break. Her body crumpled in his arms, surrounded by his warmth and he let her.
    Ryan never felt so helpless in all his years and he vowed that he’d do whatever it took to avenge the pain he heard in her voice and the trembling agony he felt from her body.
    Two months?
He asked himself. The news rocked Ryan to the deepest levels of his comprehension. His wrath ratcheted to a new level with this realization. What she had to endure became apparent and his respect for her grew. She should be maddened from the experience, but she wasn’t. Wounded yes, but she wasn’t shattered. It was a testament of her own inner strength that she remained sane after two months of being used cruelly from the evidence of the lash scars.
    Ryan took a few deep breathes to control the magic that pulsated to the surface and threatened to be released the higher his anger soared. He had to be careful not to lose control or he would burn this cabin down. He was on the cusp of doing just that now, but he focused on calming his racing heart. To lose control would only terrify Tillian, which was the