In Darkness Lost by Ariel Paiement Read Free Book Online

them to guard the royal family. They would say nothing that would injure their Queen’s reputation.
    “Alright.”
    I followed her into the chamber, silent. My cloak fluttered black and wraith-like against the silvery white sheen of the moon on her walls.
    A warm glow filled my whole body. Dairdra and I were together, and the night was sweet. The weather was fair, and our view of the moon was un-obscured.
    I sat down on a wicker chair across from the rose-colored sofa that sat on her white-pillared balcony. She walked out onto the balcony, moonlight shimmering on her black hair and glowing in her pale silver highlights.
    She smiled at me, and shook her head. “Why don’t you sit next to me on the sofa, Crypt? It’s chilly out.”
    I gave her a searching glance. “It isn’t cold out.” Just the fact that I was here made me feel fuzzy and warm. I wasn’t paying much attention to the weather, and I tended to warm myself with magic from the inside when I was cold.
    She raised an eyebrow. “It’s the middle of winter, so, yes, it is.”
    I considered the statement for a moment. Actually, it was cold. As she had said, it was the middle of winter, and winters in Argent were harsh, so her statement was valid. I shivered a bit, pulling my cloak tighter around my body.
    “Why not put on a cloak or a sweater?”
    She gave me a narrow-eyed look.
    I got the feeling that she just wanted me to be next to her. Maybe it comforted her.
    I got up from the chair and walked over to the sofa. Sitting down and giving her a glance, I raised my eyebrow at her. “Well, I’m sitting on the sofa, which is what you wanted. So come sit next to me.”
    She gave me her radiant smile.
    I smiled back. Her smile always did that to me. It filled me with excitement and pure bliss. I could never understand what the warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach meant, but I’d been feeling it since I was fifteen and she first smiled at me.
    She walked over to me. Her gait was smooth and rolling as though she was gliding instead of walking. The sway of her slender arms as she walked always enamored me, drawing my gaze to her. Her walk was direct; it wasn’t simpering or delicate like the other girls’ gait were.
    She reached the sofa. Turning, she sat down, tucking her feet up underneath her, and smoothing her dress out so that its skirts flowed gently over the sofa’s rim, creating a waterfall of deep blue velvet and creamy white lace.
    She leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder. I almost flinched away; part of me was shocked that she would do such a thing. I had never had any particular reason to believe that she viewed me as anything other than a good friend, but friends didn’t usually curl up on a sofa like we were.
    Another part of me, however, whispered that this was good, normal even, for the two of us. I wasn't sure that part of me was being particularly helpful at the moment. “Your Highness, perhaps we shouldn’t…”
    She cut me off, a slender finger pressed to my mouth. “Don’t, Crypt.”
    “But…”
    She rolled her eyes at me, “Just stop talking! You’ll ruin the moment.”
    Moment? What is she talking about? I did what she said despite my foreboding. I felt awkward sitting with her like this, but after a few moments, I wrapped my arms around her. It was more comfortable than sitting with them in my lap, and she was shivering anyway.
    I had to admit to myself that I liked holding her. She was like a fairy creature, enrapturing those around her with her graceful charm. I realized for the first time that I had been suppressing the truth about my feelings for two years. I’d been enthralled by Dairdra since I first saw her when she was thirteen. Gradually, my admiration had turned into something far deeper. I loved her.
    Nonsense! You can’t let yourself love her. Maybe before, but not now. After the truth comes out about your betrayal, she’ll hate you. Loving her now is only going to hurt you later! I hated myself for