Vaaden Captives 2: Enid by Jessica Coulter Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

“I’ll bring them tomorrow, if Bastian isn’t going to be here.” He walked to the door and was about to open it when I stopped him.
    “Rheul…”
    He paused and looked at me.
    “Thank you.”
    He gave me a sad smile and nodded before leaving me alone once more.

Chapter Eleven

The next day, Bastian returned. Unfortunately for him, I was sick. Since I was unable to welcome him into my bed, it wasn’t long before he left again. I had hoped he would stay with me, but I’d known that was unlikely.
    Feeling weak and wretched, I wasn’t up for socializing when Rheul arrived with Valen and Sorcha. One look at me, and she shooed the men out of the bedroom and closed the door.
    “What’s wrong, Enid?”
    “Bastian will be getting married soon.”
    “You care for him, don’t you?” she asked softly.
    “Yes.”
    “He told his brother you were sick. Is there anything I can do to help?” I gave her a tortured look. I’d rather die by my own hand than be executed, or passed on to the harem. Just one problem -- there wasn’t a way for me to do it. “Help me end it if he gets married.”
    Her eyes went wide and she paled. “Enid, I can’t do that!”
    “Please, Sorcha.” Tears gathered in my eyes. “I can’t stand to share him, and if he gets rid of me I’ll die anyway.”
    She swallowed hard and looked away. “It isn’t an easy thing you ask of me.”
    “I know, and I hate to put you in this position. I wouldn’t if I had another option.”
    “Are you sure you can’t share him?”
    “Could you share Valen?”
    “No.”
    Her answer was instant and I realized she loved him.

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    “Then you understand. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with him, Sorcha. Please help me.”
    “What if he gave you to someone else? Someone gentle and caring?”
    “You know I can’t stand to be touched. It took a while for me to get used to Bastian. No one else would be that patient with me.” She frowned. “If he was so patient and caring, why is he doing this now?”
    “Politics. He’s part of the council and so is his wife-to-be’s father.” Sorcha shook her head and sighed. “Men!”
    I gave her a half-hearted laugh.
    “I don’t agree with what you’re going to do, but I’ll see if I can help you in some way.” She bit her lip. “Maybe Valen could claim you with the understanding that he would never touch you?”
    I shook my head. “I couldn’t do that to you.”
    “Are you sure about this, Enid? It’s irreversible.”
    “I know, and yes, I’m sure.”
    She stood and walked to the door. “I’ll come visit you again tomorrow.”
    “Make sure Bastian isn’t here first. His brother will know.” She nodded and left the room. A moment later, I heard the door close to my quarters. I thought I was alone until I saw Rheul enter the room.
    “Sorcha told me what you plan. Don’t do it, Enid.”
    “I don’t have a choice. You know about my problem.” He shook his head. “I can’t stop you, but know that Bastian isn’t doing this to hurt you.”
    “I know that,” I said softly. “But it doesn’t change the fact that he’ll marry.”
    “He could still keep you.”
    “I don’t want him to.”
    He looked surprised and eventually left. Once more alone, I curled up on the bed and cried. I did a lot of that over the next few days. I don’t know why it took her so

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    long, but it was nearly a week later that Sorcha returned. I hadn’t seen Bastian in all that time.
    * * *
    “Here,” she said, handing me a bottle of pills.
    “Where did you get these?” I asked, noting they were pain pills from somewhere in California.
    “Valen has access to stuff from Earth. Somehow these were picked up.”
    “Thank you,” I whispered.
    “Enid, I want you to reconsider. I talked to Valen and he said he would help in any way that he could.”
    “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it won’t change the facts, Sorcha.”
    “I refuse to stand around and watch you do this to