Crystal Warrior: Through All Eternity (Atlantean Crystal Saga Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her mother, who was clearly delighting in having all her daughters about her. Intriguingly complex and unconcernedly beautiful, Ellen Hackville, though not short, was somewhat shorter than her daughters. Even so, Torr decided with rueful admiration, she wasn't likely to be eclipsed by them. The red of her hair was probably artificially enhanced as there wasn't a grey strand in sight, but not obviously so. Her clear green eyes danced with lively intelligence and something which in a younger woman he'd have had no hesitation in labelling `sensuality'.
    For the next half hour he sought to distract himself by searching out the legacy of character inherited from her by each of her daughters. Fran was easy. It was that vivacious intelligence that intrigued men as much as it terrified them, and the unusual green eyes. It had taken a little longer to unravel Merryn's mystery. There was the obvious similarity of bone structure and dark curved brows that were a striking contrast to her pale hair but it wasn't until he'd had a chance to observe Ellen in a pensive moment that he'd recognized the mystical quality so pronounced in Merryn.
    He'd just come to the conclusion whatever there was of Ellen in Georgina was carefully, even ruthlessly repressed, when Katja, returned from her walk several minutes before, jumped up from her mat in front of the hearth, emitting a single woof. A man entered the room, his neatly barbered slightly long, sandy hair was wind-rumpled as though he'd been driving with the window down. The new-comer scanned the room with a natural and unconscious male arrogance, then with an all-encompassing smile, strode toward Georgina with the tightly coiled energy of a man used to action.
    Her features expressed relief, the first natural, unguarded emotion he'd seen since he'd met her. Their bodies met and melded with the familiarity and intimate knowledge of partners—and he was fighting the primitive need to challenge. Until he'd met Georgina Hackville he'd been looking forward to meeting Gould Barrington, world-renowned adventurer and writer.
    Now he just wanted to smash his face in.
    Damn! His legs were aching.
    Something about this country at the southern extremity of `down-under' had seriously unhinged him. Best he make a lightning recovery for any minute now he had to shake hands with that bastard, which would be difficult if his own was clenched in a fist. He was on the edge of losing control of something within himself. The last time he'd allowed that to happen a good friend had died. For sure, Justin, his saloon car racing partner and father of two beautiful kids, had just admitted to spending a wild night with Libby, his own live-in partner of the time. It wasn't as if he'd been terribly upset about Libby's defection for she'd never pretended to be faithful. Theirs had been a relationship of sexual convenience, which had suited them both.
    But he believed in commitment and if a commitment had been made, one honored it. The despair and scarcely controlled tears in Nina Amoore's eyes that day when she'd come looking for Justin at the race track where they'd been testing a new car had deeply upset him. He'd been further fired by Justin's casual dismissal of her and the two little boys who were clearly desperate for their father's attention. As always back then, he'd allowed his anger free rein. Waiting behind the wheel of the car for Justin to join him in the passenger seat, it had boiled into uncontrollable rage.
    He'd roared away from the pit while Justin was still securing his seatbelt. Their exchange had been short and violent. He'd taken his eyes off the track to berate his friend for his callousness and the car had clipped the inside metal barrier, swerving across the track. Adrenaline pumping madly from anger and shock, he'd swung violently on the wheel, only succeeding in flipping the vehicle. He could still hear the screech of metal and Justin's screams as they slid along the tarmac on the roof and he would