Torn by Kate Hill Read Free Book Online

ill-bred beasts he’d been pitted against.
    “So who is it, Alva?” Honey Wine demanded the evening before the Entertainment. She’d sought a meeting with her sister since receiving her message, but The Mistress been deliberately slow in granting her an audience.
    Alva’s sensual mouth smiled at The Lady who perched beside her on the velvet couch. “Isn’t she beautiful when she’s angry?”
    The Lady shrugged, her narrow eyes raking Honey Wine from her demurely braided black hair to the tips of her worn leather boots. Even in slave’s clothes, Honey Wine sensed The Lady’s jealously of her strong, curvaceous body. Honey Wine might not be as exquisite as Alva, but she knew she was not a woman to be passed over, and all the lip paint and fine clothes couldn’t give The Lady the physical beauty she craved.
    “I suppose you want to know the sort of beast the Knight will be fighting?
    Sorry,” Alva yawned, “but I can’t disclose that information. It would ruin the surprise. Just know there will be no more of his obstinacy. With this new opponent, he will either kill or be killed.”
    “You’re sick, Alva, beyond the help any mere healer can give.”
    Alva stood, her face almost touching Honey Wine’s, her white teeth grinding. “Your problem, sister, is you never learned how to have fun. All that training for war. You’re like a man. A boring man. Now get out of my sight, or I’ll give you to The Lady to practice her craft.”
    At this, The Lady did smile.
    Honey Wine’s fists clenched, and her eyes darted from Alva to The Lady.
    She could kill them both in seconds, but two guards stood by the fireplace, and two more waited outside the heavy oak door.
    She turned and left the women on the couch, their fingers entwined, ignoring her like she was one of the caged yellow birds in the corner of the chamber.
    * * * * *
    Honey Wine was in the midst of a terrifying dream of Torn being slaughtered by twenty beasts armed with hatchets when she was awakened by knocking on her door.
    “Honey Wine!” Bron bellowed.
    Slipping on her robe, Honey Wine flung open the door. “What? Eh! What are you doing?”
    Bron had motioned for two guards to chain Honey Wine and drag her down the hall towards the mating chamber.
    The guards flung her inside and slammed the door shut. Bron leered at her through a slit in the door. “You’re to mate with the Knight, per your sister’s order. If he dies tomorrow at the Entertainment, she at least wants to breed him once.”
    Honey Wine’s heart pounded with combined anger and desire. Anger at the idea of being forced to make love with Torn and desire at the thought of doing so. She’d dreamed of him for so long, had even kissed and touched him, but the thought of feeling him deep inside her made her legs weak and her belly clench with desire. Yet there was no way they would put on a show for Bron who would most likely watch the mating through the slit in the door. Never would either of them engage in such a lewd performance! Yet what choice did they have? If they didn’t make love, she was certain they’d be punished.
    “We know he’s your favorite, Honey Wine.” Bron continued taunting her.
    “You’ll love every minute of being the beast’s slut, I’m sure.”
    Moments later, the door opened, and several guards dragged Torn inside.
    They shackled him to the wall, and he stood, sympathetic eyes fixed on Honey Wine.
    The door slammed, and Bron’s piggish eyes continued staring at them through the slit. He sneered, “I have to watch to make sure you mate.”
    “Damn you to hell!” Honey Wine roared, throwing herself at the door, her fingers jamming through the slit. If Bron hadn’t leapt away, she would have blinded him.
    “You bitch!” he growled. “If you don’t do what you’re supposed to, I’ll put you in the open cell and you can put on a show for the every guard down here!
    Now either lift up that dress or take it off!”
    “I’d rather be tortured by the