Blood Sacrifice Read Online Free PDF Page B

force. All I wanted to do right now was to find my former lover and pound him into the ground with my fists. No magick, just pure unadulterated physical joy of beating him into a pulp. Adam grabbed hold of my wrists and pulled me to him, his eyes flashing. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was aroused or disturbed—or both. He held my wrists tightly to his chest, kissed each of my tightly closed hands and then looked me deep in the eye.
    “We
will
get through this. We will do it together.”
    “All of us,” Niko said. “As a family.”
    I let my head sink onto Adam’s shoulder. “All of us.” That’s the only way I could do this. My new family, my brothers/Protectors, blood-bonded and sworn to me and Adam. I wasn’t alone anymore. Didn’t have to fight Gideon on my own. Didn’t have to run from my mother’s icy indifference.
    After a few moments of silence, during which I attempted to collect myself, my brother spoke.
    “So what’ll it be? Door number one?”
    What indeed? The lady or the tiger? Problem was, the lady was often more vicious than the hungry beast.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    “It is a wise father that knows his own child.”
    —William Shakespeare
, The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 2
     
    A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
    Niko looked to us, a question on his face. I nodded, as did Adam.
    “See who it is. The wards didn’t ping, so it’s someone neutral.” As all three men looked at me quizzically, I shrugged. “What? I’m perfectly capable of spelling up a few warning wards,” I said. “Early detection system. Easy peasy.”
    A laugh, and Niko opened the office door, Tucker right beside him, both men creating a block with their bodies, just in case. I chuckled at their actions.
    “I came to see my son and daughter.” Drystan’s calm voice didn’t betray anything. It was as if he’d stopped by for afternoon tea.
    “Let him through,” Adam said.
    “Aeddan,” Drystan nodded in acknowledgment as he stepped into the room. “My daughter.”
    “Drystan.” I echoed his greeting.
    “What brings you here, Father?” Adam asked.
    “I could not help but believe that I may be of some assistance.”
    “Against your only other son?” Adam’s sarcasm nearly equaled my own usual tone. “I find that difficult to believe.”
    Drystan raised both hands in a gesture of peace. “I come to help, Aeddan. I find that I dislike this division.”
    I snorted. “You didn’t seem much fazed by it a few months ago,” I said. “When we first met and you’d taken to Gideon as if he were the prodigal son returned. Only that’s really Adam, isn’t it?”
    “Prodigal son?” Drystan sounded confused. “I do not understand your reference, Daughter, but yes, I must admit that then I was not so knowledgeable about my second son’s… shall we say, proclivities?”
    “Since when do Unseelie shy away from the dark side?” I retorted. “Unless you mean Gideon’s lack of anything that resembles leadership skills.”
    Drystan laughed and stepped closer. “My dear child, you are a fit match for my only heir. May I?” He gestured to a chair next to me.
    “Please. Sit.” I said the words with as much grace as I could. I didn’t dislike Adam’s father, per se, but I didn’t trust him, either. When we’d gone to Faery in the spring, right after I’d Changed, he’d been all “hail fellow, well met” to Gideon, though I had to admit he’d shown the same cheery welcome to us, too. At least the Unseelie tended to stab you as they faced you. They didn’t hide much, unlike my mother’s relatives who often fed you sugar as the dagger entered your back.
    “Your brother,” Drystan said to Adam, “is not the kind of person I’d wish as my heir.”
    “So he did ask you,” Adam said. It wasn’t a question.
    “Yes, and I quickly disabused him of the notion.”
    “Was that before or after he tried to kill me?” I asked.
    Drystan sighed. “My apologies, my dear. I did not intend for