Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes Read Free Book Online Page A

brother?”
    â€œOut exploring the area around the villa King Gaius is preparing for us.” Amara sighed and glanced at the flowers. “Ashur loves exploring the countryside. Alone, no less. He refuses the company of guards.”
    â€œThat sounds dangerous,” Cleo said.
    â€œIt does, doesn’t it? That’s my brother. An adventure seeker at any cost. Cleo, we barely had the chance to speak last night before you disappeared. Were you unwell?”
    â€œYes,” Cleo lied, happy to agree with this ready-made excuse. “My stomach couldn’t handle another bite of food.”
    Amara raised her brow. “Are you with child?”
    Cleo opened her mouth to immediately deny any possibility of this. Since, thankfully, it was absolutely
not
possible she was pregnant. She and Magnus had not . . .
    Well, they
had not
. Nor would they ever. She shivered with disgust at the memory of standing so close to him on the balcony the previous night.
    Loathing, as Lucia had said earlier, was a pale word to represent her feelings toward the prince. Every time she thought she might see something more in him, something pained and vulnerable that pulled at her, she had to stop and remind herself of the unspeakable things he’d done and why she would hate him forever.
    â€œIf I am with child,” Cleo said as she brushed a hand over the folds of the pale blue gown that hid her flat belly, “it would be a very welcome surprise.”
    Amara’s gaze grew sharper, as if she was assessing every inch of Cleo with much more scrutiny than she had last night.
    â€œIt’s so wonderful that you’re visiting,” Cleo said, changing the subject. “My father extended an invitation to your family years ago.”
    â€œAuranos is very beautiful, but Father always believed that such beauty held no true value. I, however, completely disagree.”
    Cleo exchanged a glance with Lucia, who seemed mildly alarmed by Amara’s candor. Cleo kept her mouth shut, the corners of her lips turned up into what she hoped was a pleasant expression.
    â€œYou must find life here so different from Limeros, Lucia,” Amara said, reaching out to touch a rose, carefully avoiding its thorns.
    â€œIt couldn’t be more different,” Lucia agreed.
    â€œAll that ice and snow, all those jagged cliffs. It’s much more pleasant here, isn’t it? If I spent more than a half-day in frozen Limeros I might throw myself into the sea so I could drown and be free from such unthinkable conditions.” She laughed, then realized that both Cleo and Lucia were gaping at her in shock. “Apologies. Kraeshians are known to speak their minds without hesitation. Don’t hate me for being blunt.”
    â€œOf course not.” Lucia offered a smile. “No apologies necessary. Such bluntness is . . . refreshing. Isn’t it, Cleo?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Cleo agreed. “So refreshing.”
    Amara considered Cleo closely. “I have to say, I’m surprised to see how well you’ve adjusted to your new life. I half-expected you to be confined to your chambers, allowed out only for meals. That the Damoras seem to trust you, their former enemy’s daughter, fascinates me.”
    Amara might use the word
blunt
. Others would say
rude
.
    Cleo struggled to find an appropriate reply. “My father was defeated because he wouldn’t bow down and surrender to King Gaius. Such conflicts are common over the world, in many kingdoms. I can only be grateful that King Gaius didn’t punish me for my father’s choices, and that he’s given me a home here with his family.”
    The words tasted rancid in her mouth.
    â€œAnd you’ve accepted it? Accepted your new family?”
    Family.
The word made her soul cringe. “As best as I can.”
    â€œCleo is a welcome addition. She’s like a sister to me now,” Lucia said.
    While Cleo’s throat