Hallowed Bond (Chronicles of Ylandre Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

reflection of his own mixed feelings about the situation rather than anything Riodan truly felt about him. Better to focus on his duties than engage in speculation.
    Dylen chose a subtly aromatic soap from the Seralye’s collection and stepped into a bath stall. He thoroughly scrubbed his body, ridding himself of all signs of the just concluded encounter with his second guest of the evening. It was deemed highly unprofessional to present one’s self to a guest still smelling of another Deir’s scent. That was the province of the bawds whose lot it was to take on as many partners as they could in any given day and therefore did not waste much time washing away the evidence of each tumble. When Dylen headed for the reception room a quarter of an hour later, he looked as if he had just arrived for the night.
    The guest who’d requested his company was seated on the couch before the fire, speaking to Keon. The secretary straightened when he saw Dylen. Excusing himself, he went to the hethar .
    “This is his first time here,” he murmured. “He’s much younger than your usual guests.”
    “So long as he’s of age,” Dylen replied. “He specifically asked for me?”
    “Most insistently in fact. He said if you weren’t available he would come back another day.”
    “Did he? Interesting.”
    Curving his mouth into a welcoming smile, Dylen approached the Deir. About to speak, he hesitated when he got a closer look at his guest. There was something familiar about him. The Deir suddenly turned his fair head.
    Dylen’s eyebrows all but flew upwards. “What are you doing here?” he asked somewhat warily as Riodan rose to his feet and faced him.
    Riodan grinned and said, “I watched Molave’s latest play and realized your club was nearby. So I thought to pay you a visit.”
    Dylen stared at him, a little taken aback not so much by the unexpected visit as by Riodan’s appearance. He had helped the other Deir put together a wardrobe sufficient for
    his needs. But he had not seen him attired for an evening out until now. Clad in a black dress tunic over a silky white shirt, dark grey long breeches and fine leather boots, Riodan looked stunning to say the least and more sophisticated than Dylen knew him to be.
    He firmly suppressed his reaction to the other’s beauty. “Rio, we’re not allowed personal visits during working hours.”
    “Oh, I paid for the pleasure of your company,” Riodan airily answered.
    “So I was told. I hope you mean that in the strictest sense of the term.”
    Riodan flashed him a sweet, entreating smile. “Don’t be angry, Dy. I only offered when I found out that visitors weren’t permitted.”
    Dylen sighed. “Very well, you might as well get your money’s worth.” Before ushering Riodan to one of the parlors, he spoke to Keon. “Have refreshments brought to the blue parlor.”
    Keon glanced at Riodan who was gazing quite avidly at Dylen. “Should I have one of the bedchambers readied?” he softly inquired.
    “He isn’t a patron,” Dylen pointed out. “Zarael hasn’t vetted him yet.”
    The secretary snorted. “As if he needs to if you vouch for him.”
    Dylen shook his head, “Just the refreshments, Keon. No more, no less.”
    Keon shrugged. “As you wish.”

As soon as the attendant who brought in the refreshments left the parlor, Dylen settled himself on the couch beside Riodan. He served his friend wine and spiced haronuts. There were also crisp vegetable fritters, slivers of fried boar meat with the rind left on, and raw shellfish drizzled with a piquant herb sauce. Riodan appreciatively tasted each dish, his dark eyes gleaming with pleasure at the toothsome delicacies. Dylen had to smile at his guileless demeanor.
    “So, did you watch the play alone?” he asked after taking a sip of his wine.
    “Nay, Ithan came with me.”
    Dylen frowned. Riodan had made the acquaintance of a number of schoolmates since he started at the University but none he yet counted as close