Urden, God of Desire by Anastasia Rabiyah Read Free Book Online Page A

hide his face. “You should change your name,” he whispered, warning her again. “With all your father is into now, if someone were to discover you, you’d be a fine bargaining piece.”
    She stood straighter. “That’s all I ever was, wasn’t it?”
    He reached out and touched her hand with three fingers, leaning closer to her ear. “Not to me. I wanted you for selfish reasons and would have done anything to have you. Your father though…” He cleared his throat. “He would have traded you for a treaty. I’m only saying you should be more careful. If Enrue is still the same man and you are discovered, he’ll trade you away for less now.”
    “I know how little he valued me.” A shadow spilled across the hall. Whoever had entered the office lolled along, no doubt reading the posted advertisements.
    Leuj bowed his head. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks. Value yourself and your safety. I’d better get back to Lensi now.” He stepped forth, embracing her unexpectedly. His hold was gentle, but firm. He smelled the same as she remembered, alluring and spicy. She stood stiff as a statue, confused by his attentions.
    Leuj, the former Oemir of Irnia, turned and went on his way, his gait a thump-step rhythm. Sima stared at him until he exited. She backed into her office, sat down and covered her face with her hands for a moment. She hadn’t expected to see him again. He ought to have stayed behind. It was dangerous for him to be in Alga.
    “Excuse me, miss?”
    She glanced up at a young woman wearing Habiri robes. Her face was uncovered, her dark hair braided and hanging across her shoulder. She had watchful, gold eyes hinting at unusual lineage. “Yes, can I help you?”
    “When is the next shuttle arriving?” The woman leaned against the side of Sima’s desk and regarded her.
    “Let me check.” Sima turned away, still stifled by Leuj’s visit. She rifled through the plastic files and found the shuttle schedule. “There’s one in an hour. It stops by the ramada.” She tapped the verbiage to confirm her information and turned back to face the woman. “Why aren’t you hiding as Sister Lensi asked?”
    The dark-haired woman smirked. “I have my orders.” She bent forward, invading Sima’s space. “My, but you do have the most beautiful hazel eyes.”
    The compliment felt wrong. She cleared her throat and balked, her chair rolling back a ways. “Um, thanks. Yours are nice too, like a cat’s.” It was a morning of odd encounters, indeed.
    “Yeah. Got my mom’s eyes.” She held out a hand in friendship. “I’m Melia. And you are?”
    Sima stood and shook the woman’s hand, finding her grip painfully firm. She cleared her throat and shivered for an instant. “My name is Si—I mean, Mrs. Ukten.”
    Melia released her hand and glanced around the office with a calculating gaze. “Wish I could live in a place like this. She stepped away and paused beside a painting on the north wall. “I went for a walk this morning and damned if this isn’t a slice of pastoral heaven. You don’t find spots like these anymore in the Empire. All metal and lights. It gets old.”
    “Yeah,” Sima frowned. This woman could not possibly be from the Unangi Mountains. “So, um, how long have you been with Sister Lensi?”
    “Not long.” She turned her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. “I used to paint when I was a girl. My father encouraged it, but my parents divorced and I ended up with my mom. She didn’t like my hobby much. I miss it. Haven’t tried in a long time.”
    The woman’s cool voice was off-putting, but she immediately understood Melia’s words. “I know what you mean. My father never let me garden after my mother passed. He said it was beneath me to get my hands dirty.” She edged closer to the Habiri refugee. “You know, I have a huge garden now. I grow squash and peas, whatever I want.”
    Melia tapped the plastic sheeting over the framed image, her lips turning down. “Do