Hot Blooded Episode 1: The Prodigal Prince (Supernatural Thriller Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

The muscles in Revfran’s arms bulged as he maneuvered through the salty sea, getting them to the base of the cliffs in almost no time.  Yavmah and Lakerdi were already there, tying their boats to wooden poles located in a cave under the cliffs, out of sight. 
     
    Akna stepped out of the boat.  The waves lapped at her feet as she stepped along the wet rocks at the base of the cave.  “All right, tell me what you know,” she said, walking ahead of them.
     
    “There was a fisherman’s ship.  Belonged to water giants, no doubt about it.  It was engulfed in flames when we arrived, and the framework was breaking apart.  My guess is that it was lit up only a short while before we got there.  The flames were too hot, so we didn’t get close enough to see if there were any survivors.  If fire giants were the ones responsible for this, they were long gone,” Lakerdi said.  His feet were too big to walk along the sparse stones without slipping, so he sloshed through the shallow water by Akna’s side.
     
    Akna nodded.  “That seems like something they would do.  That might mean we’re not their target after all.”
     
    “Thinking like that is what gets people killed out here,” Naslen said.  “Better to strike first than die first.”
     
    Akna’s eyes widened, and she turned around to stare at her father. 
     
    Naslen floundered at the sudden stop, his left arm grabbing the rock he was stepping on in order to steady himself.  “Watch your step!  You almost knocked me off balance, you waste of space.”
     
    Akna gritted her teeth, and stared down Lakerdi and Yavmah.  “All right.  Which one of you rat bastards is responsible for this?”
     
    Yavmah took a step back along the rocks, and his hands flew up in front of his body.  “Hey, he just got on the boat!  I assumed we were all going together!” Yavmah said. 
     
    Akna slapped the palm of her hand against her forehead.  “Oh, that’s just great.  Tell me, Father, how are the troops going to get here if we need them now?”
     
    Naslen regained his balance, standing upright.  “I left Tiambla in charge.  I’m sure she can handle it,” Naslen said with a wave of his hand.  “I can’t be expected to row back to the island by myself with one hand.  Besides, you would pit any one of these boys against ten of Drarke’s strongest soldiers, isn’t that right?”
     
    Revfran grinned at that statement.  “Damn right!  Don’t worry, Chief, we won’t let you down.”
     
    “You’re all idiots,” Akna said, shaking her head.  “Now more than ever, that makes this strictly an information-gathering scouting mission.  Absolutely no contact is to be made with anyone from the mainland, no matter what.”  She frowned at Naslen.  “You are to stay by the boats.  Got a problem with that?” 
     
    “No problems here, Chief,” he said.  He looked to the side, a pained expression crossing his face.  Tears welled up in his eyes.  “Although, with the waters as rough as they are, and me not being a strong swimmer, I probably won’t be there when you return.”
     
    Akna stomped on the rock her right foot was resting on, shattering it.  “So just rest in a boat!  Kick back!  Relax!  And stop being so damn difficult!” 
     
    Naslen locked eyes with Akna.  “Such an unloving daughter.  I wonder what your poor mother would say if she could see you now?”
     
    Akna felt her blood run cold.  “You would go so far as to bring up something like that?”
     
    Naslen smirked.  He raised his chin, looking down at her.  “What good is sacrificing yourself for your child if your partner can’t hold it over that child for the rest of his natural life?”
     
    Akna felt a lump in her throat.  Turning around, she stepped into the water, the waves now splashing all the way up to her knees.  She lowered her head.  “You’re a heartless bastard, you know that?”
     
    “I do what I can.  So, are we going, or what?”