A Demon's Dark Embrace: An Elite Guards Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

see the future in time to save it. The stress he felt with the impending birth of his brother’s children, and his inability to see their future. He allowed it all out while he could. He changed the song and enjoyed the Fairy ring, which was a continual circle that fed everyone.
    It wasn’t until his brother Asrian moved closer and started to dance that Ristan really opened his eyes and looked around. He hadn’t realized he’d allowed them to see his inner turmoil, and as his brother stepped forward, he placed the mask back in place on his face. It was a simple smile that he didn’t feel, but still showed to everyone to maintain his place in this world.
    He turned and found Synthia lounging on the grass, her hand absently rubbing her pregnant belly. His smile reached his eyes at the sight of her, and he made his way to her side. He collected the souls he’d allowed out to play as he did so. His fingers moved in the air as he fed Asrian his power to expel music from his soul for a brief time.
    “You shouldn’t be out here, Flower. Not with such precious cargo stowed away in your blessed womb,” Ristan teased as he shook a single finger at her. She was a naughty little nymph if he’d ever met one. Which he had, and she would have tempted the saints with her sweet lips and even sweeter kiss, which he would know since he’d stolen a kiss from her long ago as he’d healed her with his own powers. The second one had also been stolen and had been sweet as sin. Pun intended.
    “I had to mess with Zahruk a little, but he finally allowed me out to play with the grown-ups,” she said with a wicked smile as she peered back at Zahruk, who was alert and even now looking for any hidden threat to the Princess and her unborn offspring. “So, what’s up with the show?” she continued as she winced and her hand moved to another spot on her stomach.
    “Fairy Ring—we will have a nice one going here by dawn. It’s a way of working things out. Some Humans work out, others go mad,” Ristan said, and shrugged as if it should answer her sufficiently. Ristan looked past Synthia to where Darynda silently glared and watched Zahruk. “Puzzles have a way of being solved when you least expect it,” he added softly. He watched the body language between the two, the tension in their stances was hesitant, and yet there was something there. Something deeper than just sex, which would eventually come to a boil, and that was something he wanted to be around to see.
    “Which puzzles are you working through?” she asked softly as her eyes went alight with interest, even though her voice held a hint of caution.
    “A shit storm of information with very little time to figure it out,” he replied easily. His eyes looked troubled, betraying his cheerful attitude even as he tried to contain it. Synthia had enough on her plate already; she didn’t need his bullshit on it too. “Danu has been fucking me over with no new visions for the past month, and can’t seem to leave me alone. The Guild is slick with traitors and your uncle is too stubborn and prideful to just walk away. Just trying to see where it all connects because it has to. Every puzzle has a starting piece,” Ristan said on a deep exhale.
    “You, of all people, would like puzzles,” Synthia said with a naughty smirk on her lips. “Those first few weeks here, Ristan, I couldn’t have done it without you by my side. I’m pretty sure I would have killed at least a dozen Fae before I settled in without you guiding me,” she continued.
    Ristan considered it and smiled at her. She was smart and blunt, which was one of the reasons he enjoyed her company. “You told me once that it’s what a true friend does, and you taught me a few unexpected things as well, Flower. Just tell me what is on your mind, weighing it down, and I will help you where I can. Even if you think it’s silly, sometimes it may be the most important thing,” he said as he watched her for a reaction. He was