In Other Worlds by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online Page A

I ever intentionally offend are my bevy of brothers. And speaking of, where’s Big Bad Angry One? Dad said he was actually up and walking around without his cane. That I have to see.”
    Before Livia could answer, a loud crash sounded in the bedroom. She ran back to Adron with Zarina one step behind her.
    As soon as they entered the room, she saw him leaning with one hand braced against the nightstand. She gasped at the sight of blood covering him, the bed, and the floor. And every time he coughed, more blood came up.
    â€œOh, God.” Zarina pulled her link from her pocket.
    Terrified, Livia went to her husband.
    He opened his mouth to speak but only coughed up more blood. His entire body shaking, he fell back against the bed, where he writhed in agony.
    When she tried to touch him, he pushed her away.
    Zarina joined her at the bed. “An MT unit is on its way.”
    Livia locked gazes with Adron. She saw the torment and the shame in his eyes. He was embarrassed. But for her life, she couldn’t imagine why.
    Then it dawned on her. He, a proud League assassin, was naked and helpless in front of his baby sister. If everything else wasn’t bad enough . . .
    He had that indignity to suffer.
    She glanced to Zarina. “Can you give us a minute alone?”
    Zarina hesitated before she nodded. “I’ll go call our parents and let them know.” She left the room and shut the door.
    Adron scowled at her. “What are you doing?”
    â€œI’m cleaning you up.”
    She saw the anger and relief in his eyes before he stopped fighting her. She figured the anger was for himself because he needed help cleaning up, and the relief for the fact that he wouldn’t be transported naked.
    Something that was confirmed by the weak, bashful “Thank you” he whispered to her once she had him dressed.
    She’d just handed him another clean towel to keep the blood off his clothes when the MTs arrived. Zarina joined her as she moved into a corner to give them room to work.
    They inserted a tube down Adron’s throat and gave him another injection while they started an IV. He just lay there, and his calm acceptance of their actions told her he was well used to things like this.
    Dear Lord, what had happened to him?
    And what had caused this episode? Could it be because of what they’d done? Could having sex kill him?
    The thought horrified her.
    As the air gurney passed her, Adron gave her a tired, sheepish look, then turned away.
    Zarina draped her arm around Livia’s shoulders. “C’mon. I’ll give you a ride to the hospital.”
    Livia followed her to a transport and got inside first. “What happened to him to cause all those scars?”
    Zarina winced as if the memory were too painful to even contemplate. “Eight years ago, Adron was the League assassin who was assigned to terminate Kyr Omaindon.”
    Livia knew the name well. Kyr’s bloodthirsty cruelty was the stuff of nightmares. He’d blazed a two-year trail of rape and slaughter through the Brimen sector.
    Zarina raked a graceful hand through her hair. “When Adron entered Kyr’s home to execute him, Kyr grabbed one of his servants and locked himself inside his study. The woman was pregnant, and Adron blamed himself for letting her get taken.”
    Livia remembered that famous standoff. There had been days of media coverage. It had ended when one of the League assassins had allowed his hands to be cuffed behind his back and then traded for the pregnant woman.
    Now she knew the name and face of that assassin.
    Worse, she knew his gentle touch.
    Tears gathered in her eyes as she tried to imagine the courage it’d taken for Adron to be bound, helpless, and given over to a monster in order to save a stranger he’d never even met.
    Zarina drove through the crowded sectors that blurred past outside. “Kyr decided to make an example out of Adron. He wanted to ensure that the