INBORN (The Sagas of Di'Ghon) by J. Lawrence Read Free Book Online Page A

man in the chamber. It sounded like one of the nine hells had disgorged its contents into the room.
    Lisella Ontar spun and signaled to Irkhir with a nod.
    Two soldiers immediately wriggled through openings in the walls of chain. One held a long pole in place for the other to climb up on. Armor and all, the nimble man was up the pole and through the hole in the ceiling in a flash. He p oked his head back over the edge and waved a looking glass from the opening.             
    “Last chance for your kiss, Caller.” Irkhir bellowed over the deafening roar of the men. He bent over and said something in Elycia’s ear before he shoved her towards him.
    Thaniel caught her before she stumbled to the hard stone. His eyes immediately slid away as she nearly flinched when he touched her, as if she preferred to fall to the floor instead of endure his grasp.
    Thaniel glared at Irkhir and gently let go of her arm, motioning for her to go back.
    “I have to do this.” Elycia squeaked. Her eyes flitted back to a smiling Keriim before she looked him in the eyes.
    “What are you doing? No.” He heard himself say.
    “Yes, I do.” She said as she turned and grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to face her. She was trembling, heart hammering, and nearly ghostly white. Yet, still she leaned into him. When she closed her eyes a single tear ran down her cheek.
    Thaniel stared at her. She was, even like this, beautiful. Lifted by the icy wind as it raced across the window to the heavens, a strand of her hair brushed his cheek. The long blonde curls seemed to capture every bit of the starlight that streamed down from the circular opening overhead.
    He had thought of little more than this moment, this kiss, for about the last six months. It had kept him awake more nights than he could count.
    She was so close that the warmth of her face seemed to wash over him, cleansing the taint that he knew must stain his soul for even thinking of kissing her like this, when instead of her wanting to, she had to.
    Thaniel tried to shrug off her grip. Her eyes popped open in alarm, and relief.              
    “Not like this.” He whispered. “Never like this.”
    “Irkhir told me that if you don’t kiss me, he will give me to him. Please.” There wasn’t any need to tell him who him was.
    His heart felt like it would rip out of his chest on the spot. But what choice did he have? He didn’t doubt they would follow through with their threat. He couldn’t let them give her to Keriim. Thaniel glared at Irkhir, Lisella Ontar, and finally at the smiling Keriim. He hated them all. He hated them for taking her from him. This kiss would be their first, and last. After this there would be nothing he could do to win her back.             
    Thaniel swallowed, not able to hold back his own tears as he closed his eyes and leaned in. When her lips touched his Thaniel wanted to scream. Scream because, in spite of everything her soft touch sent a shiver of energy radiating from his lips out to every inch of his body. Scream because this would be the last time. Scream because right then the tower, the chamber fil led with battle cries, all of it, just melted away. Nothing existed but the two of them. Even time itself ceased its relentless press forward.
    Pangs of guilt stabbed into his heart as he knew this was all a sham for her. Nothing more than a way to dodge the obvious rape Keriim had waiting for her. But then, as he was sure she could stand it no more, as he was sure she would rip away from him and take his beating heart with her, her grip on his shoulders tightened. Ever so slightly, even if it was for an instant, she leaned in closer, her mouth open a little more. Before he knew what he was doing his arms encircled her, holding her tightly. He kissed her with his lips. His arms. If it was possible he kissed her with his soul. He wanted her to know that no matter what she thought of him now, he would love her for all