Icebound (Legends of the Shifters Book 2) by J.B. North Read Free Book Online Page B

watched in fascination as the fresh, blue bruises
that lined my arms and face faded.
    “What
is this?” he asked in a hushed voice.
    “It's
the plant,” I replied weakly.
    “It
healed her,” Sir Lochlan said.
    My
entire body shook with fatigue as I took a step forward. “We should get back to
camp.”
    “This
way,” said the prince, taking me by the arm and turning us to the right. The
few times that I accidentally tripped, he made sure that I didn't fall.
    Sir
Lochlan watched for any other threats, not even bothering to sheath his
bloodied sword. Every now and then he would make us stop to listen, but there
was nothing.
    The
sky lightened as dawn crested over the horizon. When we could finally see the
glow from the dying campfires, enough of my strength had returned that I
managed to walk by myself. The guards were busying themselves around the site,
patrolling, packing up, and cooking breakfast. As we neared, the ones who noticed
us eyed my shredded clothing and Lochlan's sword. “Everything all right?” the
closest guard called.
    “Bandits,”
Sir Lochlan said darkly. “It's settled now.”
    The
flap of a nearby tent opened and Grix peered out, a pillow mark still lined on
his face. “Bandits? Did they hurt anyone?”
    “Do
any of us look hurt?” Sir Lochlan barked as he sulked away.
    I
raised my eyebrows at Lochlan’s tone, and Grix, looking affronted, ducked back
inside without answering.
    The
prince placed his hand on my elbow and led me to my tent. “See if you can get
some rest. We'll be leaving within the hour.”
    I
nodded and slipped inside, dropping onto the mat. Even though I was exhausted,
I could only listen to the activity of the camp. It felt like only a few
minutes had passed before Alyss shook my shoulder.
    The
guards deconstructed my tent quickly. Once it was packed with the other things
on the top of the carriage, the prince climbed inside. Sir Lochlan turned back
to me, his hand held out to help me inside, but was greeted with a gust of wind
in the face as I took off into the sky in phoenix form. I circled over them,
ready to get going.
    Lochlan
raised his hand to the sky and shouted, “Seriously?”
    The
prince poked his head out and looked up. He muttered something, and Sir Lochlan
gave up on me and pulled himself into the carriage, shutting the door behind
him.
    Relieved
that I would be allowed to stay this way, I looked forward. At my height, the
ocean was already visible, a blue line that stretched across the horizon as far
as the eye could see. Below, the trees and grass gave way to rocks and sand. I
closed my eyes as the cold wind rippled through my feathers. My thoughts were
clearer in the sky.
    The
moment of peace couldn’t last long. Before I knew it, Kurt's words about our
father rushed back into my mind. He's the painter . He was the person
that smeared the blood of prisoners over the walls of the torture chamber. His
own son's blood.
    I
hoped that Kurt was wrong, that the painter just looked like our father. Better
to have a dead father who lived an honest life than a living father who
abandoned his children to work for King Ciaran.
    We
traveled for about two hours before I was forced to land. The carriage and
horses had stopped at the docks, just past a small village.
    The
ship was a good size, big enough to hold all of us and our horses. Almost
everyone, including Alyss and Grix, went below decks for rest after the early
start they’d had. I wanted to sleep, wanted to let it take my troubles away for
even the smallest moment, but my mind was still reeling from this morning’s
events. Instead, I sat on a barrel and watched the land fade in the distance.
It was just a small, dark hill on the horizon when a shadow fell over me. I
looked up at Sir Lochlan.
    “Can
I ask you something?” His eyes dared me to say no.
    “Of
course,” I answered.
    “When
you went on the quest for the plant, did anyone...go with you?” He clenched his
jaw as he waited for me to