Garnets or Bust by Joanna Wylde Read Free Book Online Page A

woman’s indenture. I’m sorry for
    that—I know you wanted to do it yourself.”
    “My pride isn’t worth destroying lives,” she said firmly, pulling away from him.
    “This isn’t how I would have planned things, but I can accept reality. We should make
    the best of it, Daaron. I don’t want to fight with you if I don’t have to.”
    “Then I guess we’re stuck with each other,” he replied. He reached up and tousled
    her newly shortened hair. She sighed, rolling her head into his touch. It felt good,
    comforting. For the first time in her life, she felt safe. Pretty pathetic, considering she’d
    just entered into a conspiracy against the Emperor.
    “I suppose so,” she replied. “At least, let’s give it a try. I never considered marriage
    to you, Daaron. It’s going to take some getting used to. But when I was a little girl,
    getting out of the Warrens and going to university seemed like an impossible dream. I
    made it there. Maybe I can make it here.”
    Daaron gave a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized just how nervous he was until she’d
    said yes. He thought about when he’d cut off her braids, marking her as his in the way
    men of the Warrens had for centuries. His noble peers had always laughed at the lower-
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    Garnets or Bust
    class practice, mocking the masses of Tyre for their barbaric traditions. He hadn’t
    understood until now just how satisfying those traditions could be.
    “Come here,” he said, reaching for her.
    “Why?” she asked, her tone suspicious. “I’m not up for more ‘boinking’ as you so
    eloquently put it. I need a shower first.”
    He laughed and shook his head.
    “Because you’ve done me a great honor and I want to thank you,” he replied,
    willing her to believe and understand him. “I know this isn’t what you planned, but I
    promise you I’ll care for you, Tessa. And your mother. I still have enough contacts on
    Tyre to find her.”
    “Thank you,” she said. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
    Daaron smiled at her, feeling strange, almost light. Happy.
    “I had no idea how much you could mean to me,” he said. “Never dreamed it, but I
    can’t imagine anything better.”
    * * * * *
    Tessa tried not to get too lost as Daaron guided her through the training center. The
    place was a maze, but she’d always been good with directions. Who would have
    imagined a conspiracy of this scope against the Emperor could exist, let alone that she’d
    become part of it? Although the politics really didn’t really matter to her. All that
    counted was her mother’s freedom and their new life. Daaron’s compassion for the
    Danubians, his willingness to risk his own life, had taken her completely off guard.
    Who could have imagined the mighty Lord Von Saur’rel could have a soul?
    It certainly made up for the loss of her garnets.
    After leading her in what seemed like endless circles, Daaron finally brought her
    into a large dining hall. Round tables surrounded by bench seating were bolted into the
    floor. At some silent signal, people filtered in through the doors, more men than
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    women. They eyed her closely, some looking friendly but most seeming suspicious,
    even hostile.
    She supposed she would feel the same way about a potentially threatening stranger
    if she found herself in their shoes. Daaron took her hand, guiding her up and over a
    bench onto one of the tables.
    “This is my wife Tessa,” he said, voice firm and in command—the voice of a man
    whose authority had never been questioned in his entire life, she thought. “You will
    treat her with the same respect you treat me. Do you have any questions?”
    “I do.”
    The woman who spoke was young and lovely, but her face held a brittle tension
    that spoke volumes about the life she’d led. No one could ever mistake her for someone
    who had been granted anything. Tessa knew instinctively that if anyone could
    successfully challenge her presence, this woman would