Beguiled (Book 2 Immortal Essence series) Read Online Free PDF

affect my body the way they used to, but I felt anxious. Michael noticed, and stood closer. “We should get you into some dry clothes.”
    “ Such a gentleman, Michael.” Ramien sauntered to the opposite end of the long room. Michael put an arm around my shoulders and we followed. Ramien opened the door to a bedroom, which I found odd. Why would it be right off the banquet room? Ramien interrupted my thoughts. “ You’ll find clothes in the closet.” Ramien clapped his hands twice, and a young kelarian of no more than ten or eleven entered from another door. Her metallic skin was pasty, and fear bled from her silver eyes. “This is Angela. She’ll help you dress, do your hair, and anyth ing else you require.” He gave Angela a haughty stare. “Come, Michael. Let us leave the lady to her dressing.” To me he added, “We will be in the dining hall once you’ve finished. Angela will bring you.”
    “Michael?” I asked. He answered by shaking his head, a n unreadable expression on his stony face. A tendril of anger curled in my chest. “I’d like to speak to my parents right away,” I said to Ramien.
    “All in good time, dear. Get dressed.”
    It was an order said with a smile .
    “Fine,” I answered through clenched teeth.
    After Ramien and Michael left, I turned to the little kel cowering in the corner.
    “Hi.” I said with a noncommittal wave .
    She bobbed a curtsy. “Highness. Can I help you get out of your wet clot hes?” Her voice was high and mousy as her demeanor. Sh e took a cautious step .
    “Yes. Thank you.” Sighing, I shrugged out of my jacket and let it fall to the wonderfully rich and soft white carpet. Angela scurried over and picke d it up, hanging it on a chair. Droplets of water trickled off the jacket and hit the carpet.
    I wanted a warm soak in lilac scented fresh water reaching all the way to my chin . But now wasn’t the time. I ’d settle for being dry. Saving my parents meant more than anything else.
    “ Let me unfasten your dress.” Angela ’s hands skittered along my back working to undo the fasteners. A cloying aroma, like dead flowers, or too much perfume, emanated from the girl. It wasn’t terrible, just really strong.
    I grabbed what was left of my braid and pulled it over my shoulder , out of her way . Her little fingers worked quickly. I removed th e belt Aetha gave me after she changed me into a kelvieri. She ’d called the irrihunter face on the buckle , Tortevia. As I touched it, Tortevia licked my fingers. I smiled. The god dess said Tortevia would be a light in the darkness. So far t he irrihunter head hadn’t been more than a minor comfort. I’d grown attac hed to her though , and always wore the belt . I usually wore my boots as wel l.
    The symbols in the boots’ heels transformed after I changed from regular kelarian to kelvieri. Where before the heels contained a thumping heart and a glowing arrow , they now enclosed stars and fire. I believed the thumping heart represented my transformation from mortal to immortal. The glowing arrow represented my indecision, or lack of direction, and the irrihunter blood was the deception I drowned in .
    Zaren . . . and Michael had helped me get back to my planet. The deception was reconciled, at least according to the gods, and the Chans of my country .
    The new symbols seemed so much broader in their representation—s tars and fire. Could they mean cold and hot? Light and dark? Good and evil? I still wasn’t sure.
    “Princess .” Angela spoke, bringing me out of my reverie . She tugged on my dress, indicating she wanted to remove it.
    “Oh, of course.”
    Angela pushed my dress over my shoulders and down my arms. The soaked material puddled at my feet. “Would you like a new unisa?” Angela asked, opening the closet next to the large four-poster bed.
    “Yes, thank you.” I stepped behind a partition and slid off my cream unisa. One of Angela’s small hands came around the divider. In it she held a thick