Demonbane (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ice.”
    “Yes,” said Dutraad as his eyes roamed up and down her appealing figure. “It’s always been one of my favorite times of year.”
    She poured the wine into the two glasses, then shoved the cork back into the bottle. “I think I’ve already had too much to drink tonight. I’m a little unsteady.”
    Dutraad gave a wolfish smile. “I’m sure one more glass won’t hurt, my dear.”
    Kara turned, a full wine glass in each hand. “No, I’m sure it won’t.” She extended one towards the baron. “To your health, my lord.”
    He got up and took the glass, then clinked it gently against the one in her hand.
    “To both our health.”
     
    The door to the billiards room opened. The hinges groaned softly in the darkness.
    Kendril tensed. He gave a curt wave to Joseph.
    The scout nodded. He poured a healthy dose of the Xoma scent onto the thick cloth in his hand.
    Kendril looked carefully around the edge of the billiards table leg.
    Bronwyn was in the room.
    The door shut softly, closing out the sounds of laughter and music from the main hall.
    Kendril shifted noiselessly, his body ready to pounce forward at a moment’s notice. His stomach tightened the way it always did before action.
    There was a soft scrape as a match was lit. A moment later a candle flickered to life. The room was filled with its soft glow.
    Kendril tried to still his breathing. It sounded impossibly loud in his ears. Couldn’t Bronwyn hear it?
    The beautiful woman stood by the door for a long moment. She set the candle down on a table by the door.
    “Really, Kendril,” she said with a long-suffering sigh, “aren’t you at least going to come out and say hello?”
     

Chapter 3
     
    Dutraad drained the glass, then set it down on the side table. “A fine body.”
    Kara sipped contemplatively at her own wine. “It certainly has.”
    He grinned, and stepped closer to the young woman. “I wasn’t talking about the wine.”
    She took a step back. “Really, Dutraad, I don’t think—”
    “Playing hard to get, eh? I certainly like a girl who—” Dutraad lurched to one side, suddenly dizzy. He frowned and put one hand to his head. “Uh. I don’t feel very—”
    Kara backed against a nearby bookshelf, watching the man closely. “You look like you’ve had too much to drink, my lord. Perhaps you should lie down.”
    “No,” he said with a wave of his hand. He wobbled, almost falling over. “I don’t…know why…I’m—”
    Dutraad pitched forward and fell hard onto the floor.
    Kara let out the breath she had been holding in, then set down her glass on the shelf behind her.
    “Because I drugged your wine.”
     
    Kendril stood up.
    Bronwyn looked at him, her eyes sparkling. “It is you, Kendril. I almost didn’t recognize you without that gloomy cloak you’re always wearing. When Nadine told me about the Ghostwalker here in town, well, somehow I just knew .”
    Kendril glared at her, silent.
    Bronwyn cocked her head. “Surely you know Nadine? The two of you have met, I believe. She told me all about you. Have you been following me all the way from Llewyllan?” She clucked her tongue. “Really, Kendril, I love attention from a handsome man as much as the next girl, but that’s just sad.”
    Joseph rose from cover as well, looking over at Kendril in confusion.
    The Ghostwalker didn’t move.
    Bronwyn gazed indifferently at Joseph. “Oh, how sweet, Kendril, you’ve brought a friend with you.” She looked at the cloth in Joseph’s hand. “What was your grand plan, then? Kidnap me? Force me to tell you where the Soulbinder is?” She leaned forward. “That is what you’re after, isn’t it?”
    “That’s right,” said Kendril in a dangerously quiet voice. “We know what you and Dutraad have been up to.”
    Bronwyn wagged one delicate finger in the air. “You’re fishing , Kendril.” She gave a heavy sigh. “Still no smarter than before, I see. You’ve walked into the middle of the spider’s web with no way