Dying Wish: A Novel of the Sentinel Wars Read Online Free PDF Page A

you agree to join our Band of the Barren, I swear I will never reveal you as a member, just as I will never reveal who the others are to you.”
    Cain stared at the ring, hope plain on his face. “What do you ask for in return for saving my life?”
    “Only that you live by the code I set for all of us. Our lives depend on secrecy. If Joseph were to find out, he’dhave us sent to the Slayers for execution. We must lie well, my friend. You must act as though you are fine, as though you have honor, no matter how dark your thoughts become.”
    “What’s in this for you?”
    Iain wasn’t sure anymore. At first he’d simply wanted to save his brothers, but now even the satisfaction he gained from that was a distant memory. His actions were merely habits now—doing things because he’d always done them, without thought of why.
    But that answer was not what the members of the Band needed to hear. They needed hope so they could hold out for a while longer, fighting back evil as they were sworn to do.
    “What wouldn’t you do to save one of your brothers?” asked Iain. “We’re in this together.”
    “It’s against the rules.”
    “We need all the warriors we can get if we’re to have even the slightest chance to win this war, even if it means breaking a few rules.”
    “You said it slows the progress?”
    “Right.”
    “How do you know when it’s too late? How do you keep yourselves from hurting others because you wait too long to give up the fight?”
    “I keep a careful eye on everyone. If you’re too far gone, or if you do anything to jeopardize the others, I’ll kill you myself.”
    So far that last resort hadn’t been necessary. Even Madoc, who had been worse off than most, had managed to find salvation in time. Only Iain had held on too long, and there wasn’t enough of the man he used to be left for him to care that he should have gone to his death long ago.
    If he died, who would recruit those nearing the end of their time? Who would watch out for them? He couldn’t give that burden to someone else. He alone was strongenough to resist his darker urges. His absolute commitment to his brothers had kept him going for years. His devotion to rules he created for himself had hidden his condition, even from the other members of the Band. None of them knew his soul was dead, only that he was nearing his end.
    One day he’d go down fighting, but he refused to give up. He might not have the gentler emotions that made up what passed for a conscience, but he had his honor. He remembered what it was like to love someone so utterly that nothing else mattered.
    Serena was long gone, but his brothers had filled the void, giving him a purpose to replace the hope he’d lost so long ago.
    Cain nodded and held out his hand. “Okay.”
    Iain extended the ring. “It burns like hell.”
    “I’m used to pain.”
    “When you find your woman, be sure to take it off and return it to me. You won’t be able to bond while wearing it. You may not even be able to detect compatibility.” Madoc had worn that ring and had learned that bit of information the hard way.
    “I understand.”
    Cain slid the ring onto one thick finger and clenched his hand into a fist. If he felt the cold burn coming off the metal, he hid it well.
    “Good. Now sit down and let me tell you what you need to do—what will keep you from being sent to the Slayers.”

Chapter 3
     
    T orr stood at Grace’s side. She’d grown so thin, so pale. All the beauty and vitality that had once filled her every movement was now gone. With every passing day, she slipped further away from him.
    The machine that breathed for her hissed quietly, breaking the silence of the room.
    Torr held her hand, refusing to voice his anger at her actions. She’d done this to herself. She’d saved him, thinking he was more important.
    She couldn’t have been more wrong. The world was full of people, but few had souls as pure and good as Grace. Her limitless kindness was now