Lynn Viehl - [Darkyn 08 - Lords of the Darkyn 01] by Nightborn (mobi) Read Free Book Online Page A

The priest holding the weapon shifted it to aim at her head, but as his dark eyes met hers he lowered the barrel. He spoke in Italian, but not to her.
    Two other men converged on her. One dragged away the old butler’s body while the other kicked her from behind, knocking her flat with such force she barely had time to protect her face. The same man grabbed her shoulder and wrenched her over onto her back.
    The priest drifted closer, the skirt of his black cassock swirling with each step. The sun painted an oily gleam over his thin black brows and trim mustache, and his smile displayed his small, pearly teeth where two diamond-studded gold crowns winked at her. He handed off the rifle to the man who had kicked her, and then removed a red silk handkerchief from his pocket, using it to wipe his hands before folding and replacing it.
    “Hello, Quatorze.”
    Simone tried to sit up, but he planted his boot between her breasts and bore down on it to keep her in place. She did not recognize the priest’s young, handsome face, which seemed flawless. Only when he spoke had she noticed a degree of unnatural immobility that suggested he had not been born with such perfect features.
    The voice, however, she knew as well as her own. “Pájaro.”
    “You remember me.” He seemed delighted by this, his mouth curling up in a Cupid’s bow as he produced a dark blade and bent down to cut open the front of her robe. “I had not thought he would permit it. He made you put all the others out of your mind, didn’t he? After he cut their throats.”
    “I’ve never forgotten you.” She saw the murderous glee in his eyes, and in it recognized her last chance to escape. “I am glad to know you are still alive.”
    “Still the little liar.” He made a chiding sound as he bent down and used the blade to slice through her harness, stripping it from her and throwing it into the bushes. He did the same with the two pistols he removed from her pockets. “I considered taking you with me when I left, but my chances of successfully faking two deaths seemed rather improbable.” He tugged on a torn piece of her robe. “He finally gave you to the convent, I see. Has locking you up in the nunnery kept you from becoming a five-euro whore, like your mother? Where is he?”
    “Helada.”
    Simone looked at the man who came out of the château.
    “Did you find it?” Pájaro asked.
    The mercenary nodded. “In the back.”
    “Recall the men.” Pájaro looked down as Simone seized his combat boot, clutching it. “You have something else to offer me, Quatorze?”
    “I will go with you and your men, and do whatever they want. Whatever you want, mon frère .” The beseeching words tasted like acid in her mouth. “If you and your men will leave with me now, my body and my life are yours.”
    He looked down at her with visible pleasure. “What happened to the girl who never lost a battle?”
    “That is not my life anymore.”
    “You sound like your mother.” Pájaro reached down and hauled her to her feet, jerking her close. His hot breath touched her face as he whispered, “I found her in Paris, you know. Yes, there she was, still peddling her diseased cunt under bridges and behind rubbish bins. I bought her with a swig of cheap wine and the promise of a needle. She pleaded for her life in the first five minutes. It took another hour before she begged me to end it.” He put his mouth next to her ear. “I was generous. I gave her another two weeks to live.”
    She swallowed hard to keep from vomiting on him. “I will last longer than she did.”
    “Anything is possible.” He clamped his hand around her throat, applying just enough pressure to make her vision dim. “Now, where is he ?”
    She had to gasp out her reply. “Everywhere.”
    “ Maudite garce. I don’t need you to tell me. When he discovers I have the scroll, he will run to me.” He shoved her at the waiting man. “You and the others can amuse yourselves with this one for a