To Kiss in the Shadows by Lynn Kurland Read Free Book Online Page B

make certain that our lady’s honor isn’t compromised by having you loitering about her chamber alone with your own sour self.”
    Jason spat out his list at his brother, then rose and gave him a healthy shove toward the door.
    â€œShall I bring you anything else?” Kendrick asked from the doorway. “Something for your sneezes? Or can you spell yourself into good health?”
    â€œHorehound,” Jason said shortly. “It will serve me as well as the lady here. But be swift, for I would waste no more time in seeing to the rest of this poison.”
    â€œAs you will,” Kendrick said, turning to leave.
    â€œAnd a lute,” Jason added.
    â€œLute?” Kendrick echoed. “And where am I to find—”
    â€œThere are musicians aplenty. Filch one of theirs.”
    Kendrick sighed and left without further comment.
    Jason stared after him and spared a fleeting thought for how he really should be following his brother out that door, down the stairs, and out the castle gates. He had a crusade to make, kings to woo, and a noble cause to righteously pursue.
    None of which had anything to do with where he was at present or what poor service he felt compelled to render here.
    Jason sat, bowed his head over Lianna’s hand, and offered up the most humble prayer his black soul could muster. His other life would have to wait while he fought for this life here. He could only hope he had enough skill to save that life.
    With the way she was breathing so unevenly, he wasn’t sure he would manage it.

Five
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    Lianna was sure she had died.
    And by the sound of things, she was certain, though somewhat surprised, that she had actually been admitted straight to Heaven without having to spend any time doing penance in Purgatory.
    Music surrounded her, music that sounded remarkably like that made by a lute. That was puzzling, to be sure, as she’d always been led to believe that choirs of angels would attend the entrance of any soul through those Eternal Gates. But perhaps she was lowly enough—and had barely sufficed as a entrant—to merit naught but a single instrument to welcome her home.
    And then the chord went astray.
    â€œDamn.”
    Lianna struggled to open her eyes. Perhaps she’d sinned more than she thought to merit naught but a lute and a lutenist who dared curse in such a place. Perhaps she was still on the outskirts of the Eternal City, trapped with those who were still seeking to make themselves presentable.
    â€œYou should have practiced more,” said a deep voice.
    Lianna did manage to open her eyes then, though the sight that greeted her was no less baffling than what she’d imagined.
    â€œI did practice. I practiced a great deal. Father vowed the sweet sounds of a lute were the way to win a lady’s heart. I practiced until my bloody fingers were bloody!”
    â€œIn between consorting with witches, warlocks, and other sorcerers of dubious origins, of course.”
    â€œAye, well, that too.”
    Lianna blinked. She would have rubbed her eyes as well, but her hands were too heavy to lift. She looked blearily at the two great birds sitting not far from her, one with fair feathers and one with dark. The dark bird was tall and graceful, with a proud tilt to his head and shining dark eyes. He was also holding the lute and cursing now and again. The fair bird next to him opened his beak and snorted.
    Did winged creatures snort? She puzzled that out for several moments, but could come to no useful decision on it.
    â€œIt isn’t as if you practiced any,” the lute-playing one grumbled.
    â€œAnd as you might imagine, my bed has not suffered from my lack of it. You must have more than pitiful skills on a lute to keep and hold the attention of a woman, brother.”
    â€œI have more skills than that.”
    â€œAs one sees from the flocks of women who fight each other to have you.”
    Flocks of women? He