Hathor Legacy: Burn by Deborah A Bailey Read Free Book Online

have kept you away from us," she said, her blue eyes shining.
    "Eleni, you're interrupting our conversation," Mikal snapped.
    "You've monopolized her all evening." She tossed her hair back and perched her hands on her hips.
    "We're having a private discussion."
    "Just because you're Elder Dakar's assistant doesn't make you more important than anyone else," Eleni said.
    "I'm warning you; go back to what you were doing."
    Eleni glared at him, then winced as she touched the side of her head. "How dare you!"
    Mikal waved her away. "I suggest you leave now. Unless you want more."
    She turned and rushed back out into the hall.
    "You hurt her! Why did you do that?" She hadn't expected such a violent response from Mikal, of all people. Invading someone's mind to inflict pain was not only disgusting, it was violation of all the rules she'd been taught.
    "I didn't harm her. I simply sent her a message that she would understand."
    "That was wrong." Nadira tried to free herself from his grip, but he held her wrist. "Let go of me."
    "Nadira," he whispered. "Forgive me. I just wanted more time alone with you."
    "Let me go!" Tempted to send him a blast of energy herself, she yanked herself  out of his grasp.
    "I'm sorry. I was just upset by what we discussed about Dakar," Mikal said. "I let my emotions overwhelm me."
    Nadira stood up and backed away from him. His emotions were churning just beneath the surface of his calm expression. Instin ctively she shored up her emotional shields to protect herself. If he could so quickly reach into Eleni's mind, he might try the same thing with her. "I have to go."
    "Do you accept my apology?" When he stood up to face her, his hands were balled into fists. "I lost control of myself."
    "You need to calm down, and go apologize to Eleni."
    "I will. I promise." He smiled and reached for her.
    Nadira folded her arms across her chest. "I'll talk to you later." Without another word, she walked out of the alcove, hoping no one else would stop her before she could get to the door. Jon would probably be back at the apartment by now. It had been a mistake not to tell him she was coming here. It had been a mistake to come here at all.
    As she threaded her way through the crowd, she bumped into someone who didn't move out of her way. It was Dakar, wearing a long black and grey vest over his brown suit. "Nadira. I was loo king for you. Come with me now."
    "I'm going home, Dakar. Please let me pass."
    "Not yet." He clasped his hands in front of him, a smile on his lips. "Come along. The Elders wish to greet you."
    All of the Elders were waiting? Leaving now would be an i nsult, especially since they'd requested to meet her privately. As much as she wanted to get away, staying to find out what they wanted might be best.
    "What do they want with me?" she asked. "Why am I so impo rtant to you now?"
    "You were always important to us, Nadira. Now you will find out why."
     
     

 
    6 Desperate People
    What did they want from her? She wanted to know, yet she dreaded it.
    Dakar led her to a small room off the main hall, standing back to let her enter first. Inside, Nadira came face-to-face with a woman about her age, with long black hair that fell past her shoulders. Her pale cheeks flushed pink as she smiled and reached out to press her cheek against Nadira's.
    "You don't remember me, do you?" she asked, as she pulled away. "I'm Petra. We met years ago when we were presented to the Elders."
    "You're an Elder now?" Nadira strained to picture the face of the young girl as she stared at the woman.
    "Come closer." A man's deep voice called from across the room. He stood up and pushed back his long, multicolored vest. His was similar to the one Dakar was wearing, only instead of a grey suit underneath, he wore a dark blue shirt and pants.
    Frozen to the spot, Nadira watched as he approached, muscular like Jon, he looked to be in his forties. His light brown skin was slightly red across his forehead and nose, like he'd spent a