Torn by Amanda Hocking Read Free Book Online Page A

Christian Anderson.
    Loki knocked once and with a dramatic flair, opened the doors without waiting for a response. I followed behind him.
    “Loki!” Sara shouted. “You are to wait to be let into my chambers!”
    Her room was much the same as the rest of the house. A large four-poster bed sat in the center, with crimson sheets unmade on top of it.
    A dressing table sat on one side of the room, and she was in front of it on a small stool. Her hair was pulled up in the same firm ponytail I had seen her with before, but she’d changed out of her clothes. A long black satin robe hung around her.
    When she turned to look at us, the fabric moved as if it was liquid. Her brown eyes widened with shock at the sight of me, but she hurried to compose herself.
    A hobgoblin stood next to her, the same kind as Ludlow. He had attempted to dress, wearing a small butler’s uniform, but he had the same horrible skin and haggard appearance. Long necklaces, layered in diamonds and pearls, hung from his hands. At first, I didn’t understand why, but I realized he was holding them for her, like a living jewelry box.
    A yapping ball of fur jumped off the bed when we came into the room. It stopped just short of us, and I saw it was only a Pomeranian. The majority of its rage seemed directed at me, and when Loki told it to be quiet, it fell silent. Eyeing me warily, the dog walked towards Sara.
    “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Sara forced a smile at me, and her eyes turned icy when she looked at Loki. “I would’ve been dressed if I had known you were coming.”
    “The Princess was getting restless.” Loki lounged on a velvet couch sitting near the end of the bed. “After the day she’s had, I thought she deserved a break.”
    “I understand that, but I’m a tad unprepared at the moment.” Sara continued glaring at him and gestured to her robe.
    “Well, then you shouldn’t have sent me to retrieve her so soon,” Loki said, returning her stare evenly.
    “You know that we had to do-” Sara cut herself off and shook her head. “Never mind. What’s done is done, and you’re absolutely right.” She smiled at me, her expression leaning towards something warm. Or at least something far warmer than my mother Elora ever managed.
    “What’s going on?” I asked.
    Even after all they’d done, I still had no idea what the Vittra really wanted with me. I knew only that they refused to stop coming after me.
    “Yes, we should talk.” She tapped her fingers on the table for a minute while she thought. “Can you give us a minute so we can talk?”
    “Fine,” Loki sighed and got to his feet. “Come on, Froud .” The little dog ran happily to him, and Loki scooped him up. “The grown-ups need to talk.”
    The hobgoblin set the jewelry carefully on the table, and then headed towards the door. He walked slowly, his gait wobbly thanks to his stature, but Loki meandered so that the troll made it out of the room before him.
    “Loki?” Sara said when he reached the doors, but she didn’t look at him. “Make sure my husband is ready for us.”
    “As you wish.” Loki made a small bow , still carrying the dog. When he walked out, he shut the doors behind him, leaving Sara and me alone.
    “How are you feeling?” Sara offered me a smile.
    “Better. Thank you.” I wasn’t certain that I should be thanking her. She had healed me, but she had something to do with me getting hurt in the first place.
    “You’ll want to get changed.” Sara nodded to my clothes as she stood up. “I might have something in your size.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t really care about my clothes. I want to know what’s going on. Why did you kidnap me?” I felt exasperated, and I know it came out in my words, but she didn’t seem to notice.
    “I’m sure I have something,” Sara continued, as if I hadn’t said anything. She walked over to a large closet in the corner and opened the door. “It might be a little big on you, but I’m sure