A Soul For Chaos (The Soulbearer Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF

melting snow serenaded them along the forest road. She shivered and frowned. “Ortono, don’t you think it’s a bit early to be heading toward Boznac? It’s still winter. I doubt we’ll find a ship that will take us to Gravaria when we arrive.”
    Ortono cast a cautious glance at Dev before replying, “It’s cold here, but the weather is better along the coast according to the reports we’ve been given. And King Heodis himself sent a messenger ahead to arrange transportation for you and Sir Devarius, milady.”
    Dev smirked. “We’re honored the king would make such an effort to be rid of us.”
    Ortono cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I ask you a question about last night’s, er, event?”
    She was glad he changed the subject before the other nine members of the Royal Guard taught Dev how rude it was to insult their king. “What’s your question?”
    Ortono pulled at the neck of his tunic. “There are rumors that it was caused by magic.”
    “It was,” Dev said before she had a chance to open her mouth.
    A new spark of anger flared inside her. Ortono was speaking to her, not him. “What makes you so certain?”
    “Didn’t you feel it? Or are you so inept at magic that you fail to recognize a powerful spell when you’re in the presence of one?”
    Loku snickered. “Or perhaps you were too distracted at the time to notice it.”
    Her cheeks burned at the memory of Kell’s kisses, but then she recalled the electric shock that shot up her spine right before the earthquake. “I felt it.”
    “Which is why I need to get you to the safety of Gravaria as soon as possible.”
    “And what makes you think I’ll be any safer there?”
    For once, Dev wasn’t so quick to answer. A muscle twitched along his jaw. “I don’t. But at least there, I’ll have others that will help protect you.”
    Ortono raised his head. “Do you think I’d be unwilling to protect Lady Arden if needed?”
    She couldn’t resist a chance to hurl a jab at Dev after his behavior all winter. “What he means is that if he’d actually been doing his job and protecting me rather than hiding out in the basement of the palace, then I wouldn’t have had to use my magic to protect myself and Prince Kell.”
    Dev kicked his horse forward and reeled to the side, blocking the road. Rage simmered in his dark green eyes, adding an air of danger to him that chilled her blood. “Don’t you ever call my duty into question. I have sworn my life to protect yours, and if that means I die in the process, then so be it. But I’ll be damned if I let you stay in harm’s way.”
    “I’m glad to hear it,” she snapped back, “because for a second last night, I feared I’d end up like Robb.”
    Dev’s nostrils flared. Even the forest grew silent as they glared at each other. Finally, he pulled the reins so hard, his horse reared in protest before it started moving again.
    “That was a bit below the belt, don’t you think?” Laughter laced Loku’s voice. “I bet it’s taking everything in him not to teach that smart little mouth of yours a lesson.”
    “I’m too old to be spanked.”
    “Nonsense. In fact, I bet you might enjoy his hand smacking your bottom, you naughty girl. And then afterwards, I’m sure he’d find a few other ways to keep that mouth of yours occupied.”
    Arden dug her fingers into her gloved palm and gritted her teeth before she released the growl of frustration welling inside her. Leave it to Loku to turn this into something perverted.
    “Point taken,” Dev said at last in the quiet voice that she feared more than when he shouted. “From now on, I won’t let you out of my sight, if that is what you want.”
    “If he’s true to his word, you’ll be sharing a bedroom with him tonight. Remember how nice that was?” Loku’s voice, no longer taunting, caressed her like a velvet cloak.
    A new wave of longing overwhelmed her. She remembered how it felt to sleep in his arms, warm and secure, inhaling the smell