Daagiis
again added to the story. “Hanos killed
Vendeen’s parents right in front of him when he was only eight years old. He raised Vendeen as his own son.”
“His
heir,” Vendeen spat out. His fingers stilled in her hair. “He liked me for some reason only his mad
mind can conceive of. I was forced to
kill on his behalf. To hurt people as I
had been hurt. He stole my soul, and
every opportunity I’ve had to oppose him has brought it back, a little piece at
a time.”
Raven
stared at him. She thought of the horror
of such a life, to see one’s own parents killed in cold blood and then forced
to live as their murderer’s son.
She
couldn’t help but find Vendeen utterly riveting. His whole tragic persona and the strength he
displayed in trying to thwart the pain that would have destroyed so many
others.
Raven
swallowed. She didn’t want to admire
Vendeen. She didn’t want to feel
understanding or sympathy for what had happened to him. Yet she couldn’t drag her gaze from his
face.
Trying
to hide the rush of these unwelcome feelings, she said, “Holy shit. Let me guess ... he’s tried to kill you for
turning on him.”
One side
of Vendeen’s mouth twisted in a smile.
“Every chance he gets.”
Daagiis
tossed his drink back and swallowed with a grimace. “That is who you are going to protect Vendeen
against. I have been a warrior for many
years, and even I can’t do it on my own.”
Raven
looked at the two men. “So what do I
need to do first to prepare?”
Vendeen’s
gaze sharpened, and alarm coursed through her veins at the calculating smile he
gave her. “We can get to that part soon
enough. For now, I wish to become
intimately familiar with you.”
Releasing
August 2013
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