Altered Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page B

halfway to his mouth, their eyes met. His golden gaze didn’t stray to the knife in her hand but he stiffened slightly.
    “It seems I owe you my life.”
    She remembered the color of his eyes. How could she forget? But she wasn’t prepared for the weight of his gaze.
    Oren glanced at Selia then back to Jaden. “Would you like some stew?”
    “Yes. Thank you, Oren.”
    She kept her gaze on the Svistra as Oren left carrying the bucket.
    “In payment for my life, as is our custom, I owe you fealty.”
    He didn’t seem very servantlike. She imagined a lounging king might have the same demeanor. “You owe no debt, and I need no servant.”
    “You could do worse than having the loyalty of a Svistra, especially in this day and age.” His gaze never wavered.
    “I wasn’t aware Svistra knew any form of loyalty, especially in this day and age.”
    His smile was devoid of mirth. He looked deliberately at the knife still in her hand. “You are skilled with a blade as well as an arrow?”
    “The arrow shot didn’t matter. If I missed, you were dead anyway. Death from my hand would have been quicker than what the thieves had in mind for you.”
    His pale eyes narrowed. “I can’t fault your logic. But why—”
    “Why have I cared for you? Or, rather, why has Oren cared for you?” she finished. “Oren and I often take care of wounded beasts from the forest. We care for them, then, if they survive, release them.”
    The Svistra gazed into the tea. “You didn’t expect me to live.”
    Something in his voice filled Selia with shame. He couldn’t know she’d thought that very thing earlier.
    “You will release me back into the wild?” he continued.
    “As soon as you are able.”
    “For your sakes, I hope it will be soon. But that doesn’t release me from my bond.”
    “It is your custom, not mine.”
    His hands shook. Holding the mug must have tired him.
    “Drink your tea. It will get cold.”
    “As you wish.” He drained the mug and looked up moments before Oren opened the barn door.
    “Careful, it’s hot.” Oren removed the bowl from the bucket.
    The Svistra tried to move and winced.
    “I’ll feed you. Stay there.”
    Jaden settled back against the hay as Oren maneuvered around her.
    After a few bites, the Svistra looked at Selia and then the knife. “That’s really not necessary.”
    “I’ll decide that.”
    The flames shimmered in Jaden’s topaz eyes, but she thought she saw a flicker of amusement there as he inclined his head in apparent agreement. “Oren says this is a tavern,” Jaden said.
    “Yes.”
    “And you own it?”
    “Yes.”
    “And your name is Selia.”
    How much information had Oren given him? “Yes. It is.”
    Jaden glanced up at Oren who was scraping the bowl. “I’ve had enough, thank you. There’s a family of kittens buried under there.” He pointed toward the stall opposite. “I’ve watched the mother hunt mice from time to time. I haven’t seen her since the kittens were born.”
    Oren’s grin lit up his face. “I wondered where she’d gone off to. I used to feed her scraps at the kitchen door.” He squeezed past Selia to investigate.
    “How do you know the kittens were born?” she asked.
    “Well, my first clue was the mewing. The second, the mother hasn’t hunted today.”
    Oren beamed. “Selia, come see how cute they are. Their eyes aren’t even open yet.”
    She ground her teeth. He’d watched the cat hunt mice? Selia glanced past the lantern light to the pitch-black barn. And now he’s concerned for kittens? What game was the Svistra playing?
    Oren made comforting sounds to the unseen feline.
    As Selia turned the Svistra watched her. “Have I offended you?”
    “No.” She lowered her voice. “If you hurt him, I will hunt you down and kill you myself.”
    Jaden’s eyes opened wide, and he matched the pitch of her voice. “Oren?” His face hardened before her eyes until it appeared made of stone. “I wouldn’t hurt him.”
    “Good, then we