Taliesin Ascendant (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson Read Free Book Online

trembled.
    “Once we announce your presence, it will be easy to arrange servants for you. Until that time, should you need anything, my name is Sebastian Monroe, second in line of authority on the Merlin council and representative of the eastern States region. I will be happy to assist you.”
    He paused, waiting for a response.
    Her head managed a nod, though the motion felt alien.
    “Katherine should be in shortly with food and clothing,” he continued. “Until then, if there’s nothing else…?”
    Jerkily, she shook her head.
    With a fractional bow, he stepped back and closed the door behind him as he left.
    Slowly, she turned, her gaze straying to the bed. The nightstands. The cabinet.
    She jumped as a knock sounded on the door. Heart pounding, she blinked in numbed confusion at the noise.
    The knock came again, and the right response returned to her.
    “C-come in,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
    The door swung open, admitting the woman from the council. Balancing a stack of clothes in her arms, she nudged the door closed with her foot. Over the rims of the gold glasses perched on her nose, she regarded Ashe.
    “Katherine de Vila, my lady,” she said by way of introduction, cool precision in her tone. “Fourth in line of authority on the Merlin council, representative of the western Canadian region, and lead healer to your people.” Her gaze dropped briefly to the clothes. “These are for you.”
    Crossing to the bed, she placed the stack on the edge of the mattress and then turned back expectantly. Ashe hesitated, and then walked over and glanced down at the clothes.
    Jeans. T-shirts. Everything she could need, down to socks and underwear. She looked at Katherine. “Thank you.”
    The woman nodded, and then her eyes scanned Ashe’s face. “If you would permit me, I would heal that cut for you.”
    Ashe tensed and Katherine’s eyebrow lifted at the reaction.
    “Unless you prefer I not?”
    “It’s okay…”
    “I will not hurt you.”
    Ashe hesitated. “Alright,” she said uncertainly.
    Katherine’s lips tightened, but she raised a hand, her slim fingers coming to rest lightly on Ashe’s forehead. Barely breathing, Ashe struggled not to flinch away.
    Powerful but brief, a surge of magic licked across her skin, its focus so narrow it felt like a laser. In spite of herself, Ashe recoiled, but the magic was already gone.
    Katherine stepped away, her hand brushing an imaginary piece of her auburn hair toward her tightly styled bun. Watching her warily, Ashe reached up, touching the place where the gash had been.
    Smooth skin met her fingertips, without any trace of bruising or scar.
    “Do you have any other injuries to be addressed?” Katherine asked.
    Ashe shook her head.
    “Then I will return once you’ve had the opportunity to change.”
    The woman left the room.
    Ashe’s gaze dropped back to the clothing, and after a heartbeat, she hesitantly unzipped her jacket and pulled it off. The holster straps and gun followed, and then her jeans and shirt. From the pile, she drew out the closest matches to her old clothing she could find.
    It felt better that way.
    Smoothing the shirt down, she glanced to the holster and weapon, trying to determine how to wear them now that the jacket would probably be taken away.
    A knock came on the door. “Come in,” Ashe said.
    Katherine walked back inside, her clinical gaze taking in Ashe and her new clothes before catching at the sight of the gun. Her eyes flicked to Ashe, and a new expression touched her cool face, almost considering in tone.
    “You will not need that here, your majesty,” she said carefully.
    Ashe didn’t answer, and after a moment, Katherine bowed her head.
    “As you wish.”
    Carrying a tray of food, a man approached the door, hesitating as he saw Katherine. His gaze on the ground, he waited until the woman made a small noise of approval before coming in. Without looking up, he edged around Ashe, placed the tray on the