The Secrets of Their Souls by Brooke Sivendra Read Free Book Online Page B

a trace of wine lingering in his mouth. She kissed him back and lost herself in the moment. He groaned as he explored her mouth and her body felt alive. When he pulled back, he was breathing heavy and he rested his forehead on hers. “This was definitely a good idea.”
    She giggled. “Are you condoning inter-office dating now?”
    He placed another sweet kiss on her lips. “I’m changing that statement—I don’t generally condone inter-office dating, but I might be willing to make an exception for you, provided it’s kept private, because I think you can keep your emotions out of it and not let it interfere with your work. I just want to get to know you better, Zahra.”
    “I want that too,” she said.
    He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and, with his hot breath on her neck, he whispered, “This will be fun, I promise.”
    *
    The moon was full and illuminated the night, but I preferred the darkness; it was easier to stay hidden. I looked over my shoulder again but no one was there. If I had left anyone alive at my last stop they were surely too scared to come after me. The bloodshed could have been avoided; their deaths were their own fault. All I had wanted was some water for my parched throat and something to eat, but they had refused to give it to me unless I paid them. I told them I couldn’t pay, I told them I was dangerous, I warned them, but they didn’t listen. Fools. When I drew my knife, they came at me, one by one, but none of them stood a chance: I was born to kill.
    My ears pricked up, it was distant but I could hear it: the sound of a horse’s hoofs on the dirt road. I wrapped my fingers around the hilt of my knife but I kept walking. When the gallop slowed to a trot, I stopped and turned around. The night was bright enough that I could see his face and he smiled at me. I didn’t smile back.
    “Who are you?” he asked.
    “Who are you?” I replied, my hand not leaving my knife.
    He dismounted his horse. “My name is Scythas. I serve Queen Keres.”
    I looked at him warily; he hadn’t been at the village or I would have recognized him. Nor did he have a single wound on him, and I hadn’t left anyone standing. So what did he want with me?
    “I stopped in for a cup of wine, arriving just in time to see your performance. And quite a performance it was. Not wanting my neck to be next, I stood outside until you finished. Who trained you?”
    He remained by his horse, but I wouldn’t be tricked. If he served the queen, this man was dangerous. I answered him with, “I trained myself.”
    He looked surprised. “You’ve had a lot of practice, then. What is your name?”
    “Raven.” I gave it to him because it wasn’t my real name; I had left that behind along with my past.
    “And where are you going now, Raven?” When I didn’t answer, he continued. “You could become a very powerful, very wealthy woman, Raven. Go to the Kingdom and when you reach the Capital, ask for me. If you make it there alive, I promise you a place by my side to serve the queen.”
    “That’s a big promise.”
    “You’ve got to make it there alive first. If you can do that, and based on what I’ve seen tonight, you’re worthy to serve.” He mounted his horse, bowed his head and then rode off into the night.
    I watched him until he disappeared. I was already headed to the Kingdom but now I had a purpose and a goal:
    I would be the best, most menacing servant Queen Keres would ever have.
    They would all fear me.

CHAPTER FIVE - JAYCE
    His mind was like a desolate merry-go-round, his eyes refusing to close even for a second. Jayce lay in bed, his naked chest warm beneath the covers, and once again Zahra Foster preoccupied his every thought. He’d dropped her off at home on the way back to Mason and she hadn’t left his mind since. He was breaking his cardinal rule of no inter-office dating because as they say: you shouldn’t shit where you eat. But, he knew for certain now that she could keep her