Dragonvein Book Four Read Online Free PDF

wasn't forthcoming and ignoring her question. “Now let us see if we can find our way, shall we?”
    “No! You've got us over that gap. I think you should go now.”
    A look of displeasure that actually bordered on hurt splashed across his face. “Is nothing I do ever enough to please you? I saved your precious Ethan from certain death. I have found a way to defeat our enemy. And I have passed an incredible amount of knowledge on to you. I would think I have earned at least a modicum of civility in return.”
    Kat’s hard stare gradually softened. “Yes, you’re right. I'm sorry. I do appreciate what you’ve done for us. I really do. It’s just…”
    “It’s just what?”
    “I know you want to take over Ethan’s body and not give it back. That scares me. I almost lost him once before. The thought of losing him again is just too much.”
    “And if I did succeed in possessing this form permanently? Would that be so horrible? Have I not shown how much I could help this troubled world? And you.”
    She sighed. “I know you have feelings for me, Martok. But my heart belongs to Ethan. He is my soulmate, and no amount of magic or power can ever change that. So yes. To me, what you are suggesting would be horrible.”
    He could tell that she was having difficulty in holding his gaze. With most people he would have taken this to be a sign of dishonesty or shame. But not Kat. With her it was regret.
    “I do not deny that I long for you to be mine,” he began. “In fact, I say so freely. And if you dared to look deep within yourself, I think you would discover that although Ethan possesses your heart, I have won your affection…if only in a small way.”
    Before Kat could reply he walked on past her, taking out the pendant while still on the move. She remained where she was for a few seconds before following, though not too closely.
    The short distance to the boulders was covered in silence. Martok smiled inwardly. Kat could deny it all she wanted. She was beginning to yield to his charms.
    Yet again the howls from the beasts of the Wastes echoed in the distance. Martok looked over his shoulder. “When this is over, I shall hunt down every single one of them. They have suffered enough.”
    Kat nodded. “That would be merciful. Renald told me they were once wolf-like creatures that roamed the land in vast packs.”
    “Yes. Harmless to humans…unless you were stupid enough to wander alone. They hunted the great Bull Mantos mostly.”
    He could see that Kat was unfamiliar with this name, so continued: “Mantos were beasts of immense size and strength – twice as tall as a man at the shoulder, with a thick gray hide and three horns protruding from a massive head. I saw one once when I was young. It was a truly impressive sight, I must say.” His expression darkened. “But they only lived here, in what has since become these cursed Wastes. As did many other wonderful beasts, now all gone forever.”
    “You really do love Lumnia, don’t you?” she remarked.
    Martok gave her a sideways look. “Of course I do. This is my home. All I have ever wanted is the best for Lumnia and its people. Despite what you have heard about me, I was never like Shinzan. I never tried to enslave anyone. Nor did I kill without good cause. And not all of the mages were against me. Only those who could not look past their own bigotry and fears. To them, the idea of all three races coexisting seemed impossible, whereas I saw it as inevitable.”
    “But you did try to conquer the world,” Kat pointed out.
    “I was left with no other choice. Those who wanted to silence me began an aggressive campaign against the elves. When the dwarves joined with them, what else was I to do? Stand idly by and permit genocide? Would you?”
    “No. Of course not. But even as a little girl I heard the tales of your conquests. Are you telling me that none of them were true?”
    “What I am telling you is that you do not truly know me. You cannot possibly