bryn n sinjin 02.5 - blood lust Read Online Free PDF Page A

cannot,” I curtly replied before returning the paper to my pocket. “But I do appreciate your assistance.”
    “When are you planning to do this?” she asked.
    “I must politely decline to respond. I am keeping that information to myself.”
    “You’re so stubborn and headstrong, Sinjin,” she complained while shaking her head at me.
    “Two attributes that have only helped me in my lengthy experience on this earth,” I quipped before turning to the next important topic at hand. “And now we must discuss step two of my plan. You must tell me everything you can about the daily schedules of each offender in question.” I motioned to a shady area beneath one of the towering pines of the forest, which bordered Kinloch Kirk. “We have perhaps twenty minutes before I am due for a meeting with the queen.”
    “Okay,” she said with a sigh. “But I’m not comfortable telling you any of this. I know Bryn would be really mad at me if she knew what you were planning, or that I was helping you.”
    “The shrew’s would-be anger does not concern me at the moment,” I admitted truthfully. “All that does concern me, and all that consumes me, is … revenge.”
    Crimson red revenge , I thought more aptly.
     

FOUR
    “My queen,” I greeted Jolie with a small nod as I walked through the courtyard of Kinloch Kirk.
    “Sinjin,” she said with a wide grin as she looked up from where she was busily playing with her baby daughter. They both were sitting on a white blanket spread atop the grass in the rose garden, just beyond the courtyard. The sun was nowhere to be seen, owing to the heavy gray clouds, which successfully hid it.
    “Do you have a moment?” I asked as I watched her draw large loops above her lovely baby’s face with a red rose.
    “Of course!” she said as she tapped the empty space on the blanket just beside her. “Have a seat.”
    “Thank you,” I said as I sat down beside her, pulling my long legs into my body as I watched the princess grinning up at me. I could not help my smile. She was a most charming baby. In general, I was rarely interested in children, but I have to admit that the princess held a special place in my mostly cold heart. “It is a very fortunate event that the princess resembles you entirely, instead of your less comely counterpart,” I finished with a quick smile.
    Jolie laughed and playfully swatted my arm. Shaking her head, she gave me an expression that said I should not jest so. “I will take that as a compliment, Sinjin,” she started, “but you know all too well that I think Rand is an exceptionally handsome man.”
    “Yes, love is blind; or so they say,” I nodded. I pretended to be confounded by the topic as she swatted me again. There was a time when her announcement about Randall would have incited some level of jealousy within me, but that time was long past. Now I held nothing but platonic love for my queen and my close friend.
    “I’m sure you didn’t come here for a discussion about whether or not I’m attracted to my husband,” she started as she smiled up at me, her blue eyes warm and kind.
    “No, I did not,” I started, but the words seemed to die on my tongue.
    “Well?” she prodded.
    I cleared my throat and eyed her earnestly. “I wish to request time away from you and the kingdom, my queen,” I blurted out quickly. I expected Jolie to demand to know why I desired such time away, but that was not something I wished to discuss with her.
    “Of course,” she replied. “You can take however much time you need.” I could not help but notice the absence of curiosity in her gaze, which struck me as odd.
    “Your express safety is my top priority as always,” I nearly interrupted her. “And I have ensured that Klaasje and your sister, the Lady Bryn, will be available to protect and defend you in my absence.”
    “Thank you for that, Sinjin,” Jolie said with a quick smile and a knowing expression. “So are you off to Paris for some high-end