Hidden Darkness (Hidden Saga Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

on her left ring finger, the familiar weight of guilt settled over me like a heavy old blanket steeped in that musty attic smell.
                  “I always do.” Outside my window, the other cars passed in a blur. I slumped in my seat, letting out a long breath. “What choice do I have?”
                 
     

Chapter Four
Ryann
     
     
     
     
     
    Altum was a flurry of activity as I made my way from the royal residence to my family’s quarters in another part of the cavernous underground kingdom. It was Saturday, and as I had no school today, I’d spent last night in my private suite in the palace.
                  Even outside of Lad’s home, there was a palpable feeling of excitement. For the first time in centuries, an ambassador from the Dark Court would be in residence. It was supposed to cement the peace between the tribes and create more cooperation, more openness between them.
                  Elves rushed along the paths, carrying items toward the palace in preparation for today’s welcoming ceremonies. Many were more finely dressed than usual. I would be too, after Grandma Neena helped me get ready. She’d offered to let me wear one of her own vintage Elven-made dresses for the occasion.
                  I ascended one of the stone staircases built into the cavern wall. The residential areas were set up something like high rises, with families occupying entire floors in multi-room dwellings. Arriving at my Amma and Afi’s door, I opened it and walked in without knocking. I was family now.
                  Grandma greeted me just inside. Good morning, Ryann. Have you seen your great-grandparents today? Having grown up in Altum, she was entirely comfortable with silent communication and had easily fallen back into using it now that she spent most of her time here.
                  Amma and Afi were the names I used for her parents Dierk and Else, who appeared about thirty years younger than her, but seemed like grandparents in every other way. Their other daughter Katrien, my great-aunt, had never had children, so I was the only grandchild. Once they’d gotten past the fact I was part human and met me, they doted on me to a ridiculous degree. 
                  I walked through the marketplace but didn’t see them. Maybe they’ve gone to the palace already? They are attending the ceremony today, right?
                  Yes, but they’ll come back here first. Amma is supposed to be bringing the flowers for you to present to Ava.
                  Beyond the new emissary’s name and profession, Lad said he knew little about her. One thing was for sure, as a Dark Elf she’d have a lot of experience interacting with humans and the ability to communicate aloud. For that reason, I was anticipating Ava Morten’s arrival as much as everyone else here. Though I could now communicate in the Elven way, I really missed spoken language when I spent time in Altum. I had started giving English lessons to a few Elves who’d expressed interest in learning, but the number was small.
                  I followed Grandma to her room to get dressed. I liked it here, surrounded by things from her childhood—a doll she’d loved, her beautiful Elven clothing, detailed bronze miniatures lined up on her dressing table, each representing a famous historical figure from Elven lore.
                  I usually enjoyed staying here myself, but tradition held that the royal bride be assigned her own suite of rooms in the palace, and Lad and I had stayed up late last night. It had been easier to just tiptoe down the hallway than trek across the kingdom in a wee hours walk of shame.
                  Probably no one would have criticized my staying overnight in Lad’s room—I was his betrothed, and he was the king. But he insisted he couldn’t have me sleeping so close by if he were going