Crystal Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

make my decision there.”
    Graham rose from his place by the fire. “Yes, Rul. I’ll see
    to the quinar.”
    “Good eve to you, my friend.”
    Sianna could hear the hint of laughter in Kyne’s voice.
    Graham gave a wry smile and said, “And to you, friend.”
    After Graham left, Kyne sat motionless, his gaze resting
    on the fire’s glow. She searched his face for any trace of
    softness. Other than his obvious affection for Graham and his
    love of Katya, Kyne appeared hard and unyielding. Why could
    she read nothing of his emotions behind the expressionless mask
    of his face? Even with her father and Laila she sensed the
    existence of the emotions hidden from her. Her inability to pierce
    Kyne’s facade disturbed and frightened her.
    “You may cease your pretense of sleep.”
    His quiet accusation made her jump. Holding the blanket
    around her shoulders, she sat up. She could guess Kyne would
    respect courage and disdain begging. Not that she intended to
    beg.
    Lifting her chin, she faced him. “Why have you abducted
    me?”
    A look of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by
    disdain. “I did not abduct you. Katya did. But now that you are
    in our hands, you will serve our purpose well. Through you we
    will reach your father. He will pay for his crimes.”
    “By what right will you be his judge, jury and executioner?”
     
    “The right of blood—the blood of my parents and brother
    spilt by your father.”
    Sianna forced herself not to cringe in the face of Kyne’s
    fierce scowl. “Perhaps you overestimate my value to him.”
    His hard stare unnerved her. “I think not. What man
    wouldn’t value a daughter such as you—young, lovely, intelligent
    and marriageable.” The words rolled off his tongue like vile
    insults. “Are you your father’s key to the throne? By himself
    he can never truly rule Dramon. Does he think through your
    marriage to the young prince can he gain the power he craves?”
    Sianna couldn’t argue or refute Kyne’s logic, but neither
    would she confirm it. Her father had told her much the same
    when he informed her of her betrothal to Prince Timon.
    Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Who was Aubin?”
    She gasped as Kyne reached out and encircled her throat
    with his hand. His fingers felt hot against her chilled flesh.
    Emotions—Kyne’s emotions—flooded over her, a torrent of
    impressions she could make little sense of, so fast did they hit
    her.
    “Do not speak his name. I should kill you now and be done
    with it. DiSanti need never know we fish with dead bait.”
    Fear coiled in Sianna’s belly as his fingers tightened. Wave
    after wave of jumbled thoughts and feelings swamped her. Still
    she met his gaze steadily. “Kill me if you must, but before you
    do answer my question.”
    His grip eased. “How innocent you sound. If I didn’t have
    proof of your guilt, I might believe you knew nothing of your
    father’s plan.” He pulled his hand away and rubbed it absently.
    She placed her hand where his had been. As if tossed and
    tumbled in a pounding surf, she felt disorientated. Her pulse
    beat wildly. “What proof?” When he didn’t answer, she
    continued. “Believe what you will. I am innocent. I don’t know
    of any plans my father might have, beyond his desire to see me
    married to the prince.”
    “You lie convincingly, Laila...”
    Laila. The rest of Kyne’s words were lost to Sianna. They
    believed she was Laila. In shock, she remembered her sister’s
    strange distraction on the journey home, and her sudden
     
    disappearance.
    “But I’m not...” she started, then stopped as what Kyne
    was saying registered.
    “...even now you may carry Aubin’s child.”
    Understanding dawned. Laila and Aubin had been lovers.
    These people believed her sister had somehow conspired with
    their father to kill Aubin. Sianna’s heart rejected the possibility
    of her father being so wicked, and she knew Laila incapable of
    such an act. Sianna thought back to