The Lethal Flame (Flame Series) by Angie Arms Read Free Book Online Page B

tonight if she didn’t share it with Cyrille?   
    The hands that touched her shoulder yanked her attention from the bed. 
    “Lie down on the bed,” he said motioning toward it and stepping back. 
    “I will fight you to my last breath.”
    He chuckled, a grating sound that would be frightening if she did not recognize the humor that created it.  How was it possible that this man withstood the pain?  She watched him move to the table and discerned a limp.  She wondered if it pained him to speak or if he just did not like to use his damaged voice.  He rummaged through a bag and pulled out bottles and creams coming to the bed with more fresh linens and two bottles.  She slowly sank onto the edge of the bed when he returned to her.  The reality of her situation was difficult to come to terms with.  She had no fight left in her.
    “Wounds must be treated,” he said motioning to the bed again.  Still reluctant she stood and moved to the bed, what choice did she have?  Tentatively she sat down on the edge and held her hands out to him.  The first mixture he poured on her burned, making her nearly jump from the bed.  By the time he was finished her hands were an angry red and she thought surely they would burst into flames at any moment.  The next mixture numbed them giving her relief before he had to touch them to do the wrapping. 
    “What happened to you?” she finally asked to break the silence. 
    He paused in his wrapping and was still for a moment before continuing.  “I was taken prisoner.”
    His one eye looked at her and she knew he watched the color drain from her face.
    “Why would someone do that?”
    He began wrapping her hand again.  “They were trying to get secrets I did not have.”
    “What secrets?”
    Cyrille stopped again but never looked up.  “Secrets that threatened the crown.”  He paused another moment before finishing the last wraps on her first hand, tucking the cloth gently to hold it in place. 
    He had been wrapping a short time on her second hand when she asked, “Why would they think you had the secrets?”
    His hands froze and he looked at her and frowned making his face do some strange contortions from the burns and scars.  “Because our commander had the secrets.”
    For a moment she was confused but she remembered the similarities in size and painted the picture.  “They tortured you because you looked just like him?”
    He glanced at her face, ducked his head and quickly went back to wrapping as he nodded.
    “Damien allowed this?”
    Cyrille chuckled, again.  “No,” he said shaking his head.  “He screamed and damned my soul,” his voice said slowly fading.  He finished up with her second hand.
    He pulled the linen away baring a shoulder and the top swell of one of her breasts.  After the burning ointment was applied he began to dab the other on with the tip of his finger.
    “What did they do to you?”
    He shook his head, “You are a lady.”
    “I think it will make me appreciate the predicament I’m in a little more.”
    Cyrille pulled away and looked down at her.  “Make no mistake about it.  If you remain loyal to John, Damien will kill you.”
    “I am no more loyal to John than I am Richard.  My husband aligned himself with John and his cohorts.  I fought to protect myself and my children because my husband would not.”  A lump formed in her throat.
    “Damien has killed men for less.”
    “Damien is a cold blooded murderer,” she declared with contempt in her voice. 
    A scarred hand grabbed her chin, making her look at him as his fingers dug into her flesh.  “My brother is many things but a murderer he is not.  His orders are to kill all rebels and hold all property and there is no room for mercy.” 
    “By making me property he has shown me mercy by not killing me as a rebel?”
    Cyrille nodded but did not speak.
    “Are my children safe?”
    “As long as you comply with Damien.”  It took him a moment for him to