Shrouded: Heartstone Book One by Frances Pauli Read Free Book Online Page A

could it make? The Heart’s choice is set.”
    “The difference is, at least Haftan and I are honest. We’re not pretending we don’t want anything to do with the throne.”
    “I don’t want the throne, Mof.” He didn’t. But a wiggle of guilt coursed through him. He did want the Heart. Anyone raised in its shadow would, anyone raised by parents who’d felt the bond every time they looked at one another. Hell, anyone who’d seen the stone glow for Pelinol and Lucha would. He wanted the Heart. He’d hardly be Shrouded if he didn’t.
    “Liar.” Mofitan stepped forward. He leaned between the rails and put a big hand on the front of the bike.
    Dolfan stiffened. He clenched his jaw and considered plowing over the other prince. Mofitan almost deserved it. They’d been at odds as long as he could remember, and as far as he knew he hadn’t done a damn thing to instill this kind of ire in anyone. More than that, he never lied. His wrist shifted and the hum revved enough to make Mof’s eyebrows go up.
    He didn’t hate the man enough to murder him. But Mofitan’s look said he didn’t know that. Dolfan smiled and tilted his head to the side. “Move your ass, Mof.”
    “I’d do as the man says.” Two more shadows joined them. Tondil spoke for them both as usual. “I once saw a man who’d ended up sandwiched between cushions.” He shivered, making the gesture involve his entire body. “Not pretty.”
    “Morning, Tondil, Peryl.” Dolfan kept his eyes on Mofitan.
    “How’s the Gauss today?” Tondil slid up alongside and casually touched Mofitan on the shoulder. He didn’t say a word to the man, but Mof shook once, tossing off whatever suicidal spell held him, and he stepped back out of the bike’s path.
    “Normal,” Dolfan answered. His eyes flicked to the bike’s readout on instinct just to be sure. He’d just read the monitors, had checked them twice, but his training whispered. Never, never trust the Shroud to stay constant.
    “Good.” Tondil smiled and took an exaggerated step back. He slid a glance to Mofitan and waited for him to follow suit. Thankfully, everyone liked Tondil. Mof glowered, but stepped clear enough that Dolfan could release his ride. “Have a good trip then.”
    “Thanks.” He reached down to the clamps and popped the lever before anyone could hinder him again. The bike surged up and out to bobble on top of the pad’s invisible cushion. He checked the display, flipped a switch and changed currents. The hover bike rocketed forward, spewed from the pad as the charges repelled one another. As he shot away, Dolfan caught the faint sound of Peryl’s laugh.

    T he Comet nightclub did decent business during the day. Jarn sniffed at the haze of smoke and glared across the tables to the bar in the center of the establishment. The proprietor served drinks, leaning against the steel counter and scowling at her patrons. He straightened even further and strode across to stand beside one of the stools.
    The drinkers shifted out of his way. A waitress veered sharply, spilling froth from the drinks she carried as she listed and swerved to avoid contact with him. Jarn smiled and folded his fingers into a tent on the counter surface. Let them all get out of the way . He’d done a great deal of work to ensure his reputation, and visual proof that he’d succeeded always pleased him. Some of the rumors he’d paid for, but the juicier ones he’d earned.
    He waited for the woman to notice him. She poured a slim tumbler of something pink with smoke roiling over the lip, slid it toward a hunched trader and then turned to replace the nozzle before she looked his way. On purpose. She must have seen me enter. Jarn’s long fingers drummed out his irritation on her bar.
    When she drifted in his direction, his lips twitched. He’d have had her flogged for it under other circumstances.
    “What can I get you?” She blinked at him until her smoker’s wrinkles tangled.
    “Proof that you’ve done