Dark One Rising. Leandra Martin

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ of the court it was. She was now even more enraged at him. How could he do this to her? How could Kevaan betray her like this, especially after knowing what Fallon tried to do to her. Well, it didn’t matter now. She decided. In the morning, she would be gone.

      She had been crying in her pillow for about an hour when there was a knock on the door. She lifted her head and sniffled, then lay back down, not answering the visitor. She didn’t want to see anyone. The person knocked a second time, this time with more force. Then she heard a voice. “Mel, it’s me, Kevaan. Let me in.”

      She lifted her head once again. “No. Go away. I don’t wish to see anyone, even you.”

      “Mel, let me in. We need to talk.”

      “You had your chance earlier. You chose to hide the truth from me. Nothing you say to me now will do any good,” she yelled.

      There was silence for a few moments, and she thought he had decided to give up and leave her alone. It was too much to ask.

      “If you don’t get up and unlatch the door young lady, I will kick it in. Do not test me, Melenthia, you know very well that I will!”

      She rubbed the tears from her eyes and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Not very lady like she knew, but at this point, what did it matter? The pillow case was drenched with her tears, her shift completely wrinkled now, and her eyes were swollen and red. She padded to the door and undid the latch. He turned the handle and entered just as she was crawling back into bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin, curling up in a fetal position. He came over to her bed and sat on the edge of it, staring at her, his eyes filled with sadness.

      He reached across the bed and brushed back a curl that had come out of its pin-up and fallen in her eyes. Then he wiped a tear away as it ran down her cheek.

      “What do you want, Kevaan?”

      “I want to talk. I had to come and see you and make sure you were alright.”

      “Do I look alright to you? What does it matter to you anyway? You lied to me, Kevaan. You said he’d never make a decision like that without you. So if that’s true, then you went along with it. Then you said you wanted father to tell me because you didn’t want to be the bearer of such news, but you didn’t tell me because you didn’t want me to know that you are on his side. You think I’m odd too. You saw this coming but you did nothing. He practically attacked me that night, and you still let this happen. I don’t wish to see you. Leave!” She sat up and reached a hand across the bed and was going to slap him, but he grabbed it and held her back.

      He held both of her hands in his. “Mel, I did not want this for you, you know that. It’s my fault that you’re who you are. I’m the one that thought teaching you such unladylike things would help protect you, but instead it has ruined your chances for love.”

      “So, you think I’m weird too, huh? You think that no man could love me because I’m not a real woman?”

      “No, that’s not what I meant. I think you have many wonderful traits that would make you endearing to someone. You’re beautiful and funny, and you handle the people of this kingdom with love and respect, and they adore you. You’re a real princess, one who can make the people happy and keep the peace. That’s not something a lot of people can do, men or women. You make a wonderful princess, and I know you would make a wonderful wife to whoever would see in you what I see. You will find him.”

      “It hardly matters now. I’ve been betrothed to a monster.”

      “I don’t think father knows what he’s done. I think there is something terribly wrong. I’m sorry I have put this burden on you, but don’t ever think that I wanted this for you. When father told me today, my heart was broken. I knew nothing until right before you did. He didn’t include me in his decision, and I wasn’t asked to be present when he gave your hand. I would have stopped it then. I don’t think he’s himself these days. I think something has happened that he hasn’t told me. He would never do something so horrible to the daughter he loves if there wasn’t something wrong.”

      “I don’t care about the reason why, only that it’s done.”

      She started to cry again. She hated breaking down in front of people, but it never bothered her when she did it in front of Kevaan. The few times she had ever cried, it was only ever him who saw it.

      “Please, Mel, don’t cry. I promise I’ll do something to get you out of this.”

      “You cannot. Even I know how the world works, Kevaan. I’m not naïve enough to think that once a pact of honor has been made, it can be broken so easily. Father will remain a man of his word, no matter the cost, and Fallon will hold him to it. Trying to get out of the bargain would only infuriate Fallon, and that puts father, and you, in danger. I know what kind of power he has. I’ve seen the evil he wields. He’s frightening. I fear he has the darkness on his side. The only way to get out of this pact is if I leave, without father knowing, and never come back. I threatened to do it, but I don’t think he believed me. He thinks I would never leave you. Father will know nothing about my departure. If he is unaware, Fallon cannot claim treachery.”

      Kevaan looked scared. “Melenthia, you cannot leave. I won’t let you roam around the kingdom alone and unprotected. It’s too dangerous for you, no matter what I’ve taught you. In the fighting arena with armed men of father’s own guard is one thing; out there it’s totally different.”

      “I can handle myself, Kevaan, you know that better than anyone. I would be much safer out there than I would be under Fallon’s roof. The people love and respect me. They will protect me.”

      “If they feel threatened, they would sell their own mother, you know that, Mel. They don’t want trouble, and harboring you would bring them more trouble than they could handle. Besides, Fallon will never just walk away. He will look for you, and, if I know him, he’ll never stop until he has found you. I don’t know what marrying you will gain him, but we need to find out.”

      “You need to find out, Kevaan. I need to run.”

      “No. I shudder to think what he might do to the people who try to help you. I shudder even more to think what will happen after he catches you. His anger just might get you killed.”

      “I won’t stay here and be given over to that barbarian. I won’t allow myself to be a slave, or worse. If you hadn’t stopped him that night, I know he would’ve forced himself on me already. I said I would leave, and I will. You won’t stop me.”

      “Please, Mel, just wait until I try and think of something. He won’t be here for three days. Promise me you’ll wait to hear from me before you do something rash.”

      “I don’t know if I can do that, Kevaan. I don’t think there is anything you can do this time. His mind is made up, whether from his own freewill, or coercion. The deal has been made.”

      “Melenthia, please, if you love me at all, promise me you’ll wait for me.”

      She stared at him, his eyes pleading with her, his brow furrowed in fright. She knew that she would have to leave, but she knew she should give him some time to try. She owed him that much. She was no longer angry with him; she was sad. Sad that this might just be the last day she ever saw him. Sad that today might be the last day they were family.

      “Okay, Kevaan, you win. I’ll wait a bit for you to try and help, but I fear you will fail.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ