Proven (Daughters of the Sea #1) by Kristen Day Read Free Book Online Page A

them hidden from me somehow. It was both disturbing and promising all at once. If she was hiding them from me, that meant they were still alive.
    I latched the bedroom door behind me as we traversed a breezeway back toward the main part of the fifth floor. Or it could have been the sixth. It was difficult to tell with the many sections, turrets, and landings of the castle. If I lived here, I'd need a map for sure.
    "Again? Stasia..." Finn's patronizing tone was thick with overprotective intent. "I don't think you should risk it."
    "I can hold her off," I assured him easily; slightly annoyed he didn't think I could face Selene without allowing her to take over my mind. "I know what to expect now. I can handle it."
    "I think you need more rest," he pressed. We padded down a spiraling staircase to end up on the second floor of the castle.
    "I can't rest when I know they're in trouble," I countered as we walked through the baroque, arched entrance to the main dining hall. The intoxicating aroma of eggs, bacon, and biscuits sent my stomach grumbling and my mouth watering. The castle staff had set out an extravagant spread, arranged on silver platters and accompanied by crystal glasses filled with glistening water. Three ostentatious crystal chandeliers were required to light the impressive wooden table that stretched the length of the hall. They hung from a domed ceiling, yawning three stories high and flaunting a mosaic of vibrant oil paintings depicting life on Atlantis.
    "...leave again tonight," Sebastian was detailing emphatically for Carmen, Avery, and Phoebe, who were attacking their breakfasts like a pride of lionesses after the kill.
    "Save some for the rest of us," Finn chuckled, receiving three unamused glances from the girls as they shoveled one of every delectable delight into their mouths. Sebastian briefly met my gaze and smirked at Finn's comment before quickly lowering his eyes in shame. His features were taut with defeat, and it appeared he and Finn had a matching pair of black circles under their eyes. After forty-eight long hours of no sleep, I didn't know how either one of them were able to function at all.
    The glaring fact that I still couldn't feel his essence made me uneasy, but it was obvious which side he was on. That particular mystery ranked fairly low on my growing priority list. An equally disheveled Natasha, who had been pacing the floor, headed my direction and graciously pulled out an empty chair for me.
    "How are you feeling, Stasia?" Phoebe asked tentatively at the same time Natasha spoke as well.
    "Have a seat, Stasia." Natasha settled a placid hand on my lower back and ushered me towards the seat. "You need to take it easy." Irritation flared under my skin and I became insulted at her inference. I suppressed my urge to argue defiantly and ducked out from under her direction.
    "I know I've been...out of it... but treating me like a fragile piece of glass that could break at any moment isn't what I need." I stood taller and met each of their stunned gazes. "I don't need rest. I don't need to take it easy. I don't need to be quarantined just in case Selene tries to take over my mind again."
    "But Stasia-" Carmen started, but I cut her off with a stern look. She bit her lip and sat back obediently.
    "Now that I know what she's done, I can anticipate it.  I can feel when it's happening." I paused and clenched my fists. "And I can fight it."
    "But what if-" Carmen tried again.
    "You're just going to have to trust me," I snapped back, and then I took a deep breath and tried again with more restraint. "I really appreciate everyone taking care of me and protecting me. I needed you and you didn't disappoint. You wouldn't leave my side and you all stepped up in my place." Finn put his arm around my shoulders and grinned down at me proudly as I continued. "She wants me to be weak. She wants me to back down. And that's exactly why I must do the opposite. Even if some of you don't like it." I shot Finn a