Marcael: A Terraneu Novel, Book Five by Stormy McKnight Read Free Book Online

blue eyes.
    “What have we here?” He had stopped before her and Brennae couldn’t help
that she was trembling like a leaf. “What is your name?”
    “I am Brennae.” She managed to get out and was proud of herself for being
able to speak clearly.
    “Hello Brennae.” Her uncle moved his finger to trail in her hair. “Put
her down fool.” The man holding her instantly set her on her feet. She
staggered for a second then made herself stand taller. The brutal hold he had
on her upper arm was going to leave a bruise but she had bigger problems to
worry about. Her uncle was stalking around her examining her with his icy
stare. She felt his fingers grab her braid and release the tie. She felt
gooseflesh rise on her skin and not in a good way. Finished with her hair he
moved to stand in front of her again. His hand rose to trail a finger against
her cheek and Brennae couldn’t help remember the way Marcael’s finger held
warmth and comfort when he had done the same. This was like the trail of icy
death against her face. She shivered uncontrollably at the touch.
    When his finger trailed to her chest, she slapped it away before she
could stop herself. Her uncle punched her across the face without hesitation.
Stars danced before her eyes and she hit the floor gasping. She had never, in
the entirety of her life been struck across the face. During any training, they
always wore gear to protect against injury. The pain she felt was immense but
she made herself get off the floor. Taking an unsteady breath, she glared at her
uncle through watery eyes.
    “If you touch me again—” she hissed.
    “You’ll what?” Her uncle snarled. “What will you do?”
    Before she could answer there was yelling outside and the door banged
open to crash against the wall and hang there. Brennae looked over her shoulder
to see who was there and her vision blurred through a swell of tears. It was
Marcael!
    “Marcael, how dare you—” her uncle stared to talk but Marcael just
ignored him. Stalking over to the male who had taken her, he grabbed him and
jerked him back. Without a word of warning or explanation, he snapped the
fellow’s neck and threw him across the room.
    “If you clone that fool I will kill him again.” Marcael’s voice was stone
cold and without emotion. Brennae had never heard such a dead sound. “He cost
me good men on this mission.”
    “I am still King and you will be punished for killing one of my men!” Her
uncle snapped. “He even brought a prisoner for me to play with!”
    “I had your brothers in that clearing!” Marcael shouted back,
“That fool grabbed a female and forced a fight among the men that I could not
win! Our priority was to bring your brothers in so that you can
bring them to justice. Thanks to that fool they were warned and their priority
was to kill us!” Marcael was pacing in front of her, slowly moving her uncle
back with his movements. “Another few moments and I would have had them for you
my King.”   He waved his hands
dramatically at the King and Brennae saw they were covered in blood.
    “We must act then. If my brothers were all in that clearing then their
stronghold must be close!” Her uncle was going to attack Terraneu! How many men
did he have? Would they stand a chance of winning?
    “We do not have to go to them my King. We can use the female to draw them
to us.” Marcael advised and Brennae wanted to scream and ask just what he
thought he was doing!? Instead, she kept silent.
    “Why would they care about a stupid female?” Her uncle sneered at her,
“Now that I think on it...where had they found women?” He went to pull her
around Marcael but he moved faster.
    “No my King wait.” Marcael wrapped an arm around her to hold her against
him. “You do not know what kind of germs she might have. I am guessing that
stupid idiot did not even take her to medical to make sure she is not
contagious.”
    Her uncle took a wary step backward. “Yes, he did say he came right