The Twisting by Laurel Wanrow Read Free Book Online

like eating dinner anyway. A run would gain Wellspring more information and clear his head for another long night of hunting vermin.
     
    * * *
     
    Annmar stared at the ceiling, wishing for Daeryn to return, but at the same time hoping he wouldn’t. Whatever would she say to him? Should she demand an explanation? Or spew oaths?
    She had no idea of how to approach this type of conversation…so why did she want it to happen? Her blurted curse gnawed at her. What was this feeling that had prompted it? Sometimes she and Polly cursed jokingly, but day-to-day Annmar kept such reactions in check.
    Polly. If she were here, her country-reared friend would set her straight. Annmar drew a deep breath. Mary Clare would also, but in the opposite fashion. The fashion of Blighted Basin. She’d be willing to talk about Daeryn’s nakedness in a much different manner than Polly would. No doubt, Mary Clare would know exactly what Daeryn had been doing in her room and why. Or what he’d wanted to be doing. Oh, dash it all. She wasn’t that naive. She knew what Daeryn wanted to be doing.
    Exactly what Mr. Shearing had wanted…
    Oh, for heaven’s sake, Annmar. You can at least think it.
    Sex.
    Her newly healed head churned with confused feelings.
    Mr. Shearing’s suggestions had repulsed her. Daeryn had made no such overtures. Why did she feel positively dumbfounded that he’d been in her room, in her bed? Had anything happened between them?
    She didn’t think so, but how would she know? She bit her lip. She had no experience to tell by. But he’d looked so shocked at her accusation. What had he meant by Not to you? That she wasn’t the sort of girl he wanted to— come on now —have sex with? Indeed, his lifestyle was completely different from hers, but his denial left her disappointed.
    Did she want something to happen?
    Daeryn hadn’t taken advantage of the situation. He’d left at the slightest protest, quite unlike Mr. Shearing, who had pushed his way closer, inappropriately suggesting more. Daeryn had only been sleeping, he said. Or was he holding something back?
    She flung aside the covers, her gaze trailing down her rumpled nightdress, over her curves and dips…
    She didn’t understand. Had he left her alone because he wasn’t exactly human, and she was? Or because she wasn’t experienced? Annmar blew out a sigh. Being a virgin was becoming very frustrating. As Mary Clare had suggested, she could take steps to learn more about boys—men—even if she didn’t take steps to have sex with anyone. In the meantime, she cleaned up in the bathing room, and by the time she’d finished, Mary Clare arrived with a dinner tray.
    “Annmar! You shouldn’t be up on your own.” She took her arm and tried to lead her to bed, but Annmar pivoted to the wing chair instead. “It’s only been four nights since your injury.”
    “ Since Paet tried to kidnap me.”
    Mary Clare patted her arm. “I didn’t think you’d want to talk about it.”
    Annmar squeezed her hand. “Everyone knows, so there’s nothing to hide. Where is he now?”
    “Locked up, and Maxillon can’t get through Miz Gere’s barriers,” Mary Clare said. “You don’t have to worry, you’re safe.”
    “Then how did Daeryn get in my room?”
    Mary Clare grimaced. “Because of his and Rivley’s gildan, a bond they have. I never thought of it until Dae turned up in here.”
    A gildan? She’d get to that later. “You knew and you didn’t kick him out?”
    “I tried. Then Daeryn got real nasty on a point I finally had to agree with.” She wrung her hands.
    That’s right, she’d heard an argument. And those two didn’t get along, though she still didn’t know why. “What point? I thought you were my friend and looking out for me.”
    “I am! I did.” Mary Clare scrunched up her face, and her words came out faster than the auctioneer’s at Derby’s debt house. “Daeryn said that even if Miz Gere has an excellent Knack, we don’t know— really