Keir Read Online Free PDF

given to him and how the legend had misled her into believing the Blue Demon might be the Sentiac. His bare torso was the rich blue of an evening sky, the long, unkempt hair a knot of black curls tangled at the nape of his neck. Deep black tattoos, resembling some form of runic lettering, were carved into every inch of his skin.
    A thread of disappointment wound over her surprise. All that searching, all that effort, to find the Sentiac and she’d been so wrong.
    “See, girl? That is the Blue Demon, a curse on the city of Adalucien and friend to nae living soul.” The old man shook his head and sighed, as if under a dreadful burden.
    Women hid their children’s eyes or made mystical gestures against the creature that had entered their grounds. A terrible fear and anger rose in Quin, not for herself but for Keir, helpless and half-naked in the midst of a hostile gathering. No words could rescue him from this. She saw the knife lift for another strike and clawed at the man who held her, shrieking urgently for Keir.
    Despite her warning cry, Keir didn’t move from his hands and knees, as if too exhausted to rise alone. With agonizing slowness his bowed head turned toward her, revealing an expression of deep shame, blue eyes full of despair.
    Heart torn to shreds at his torment, Quin shook her head in mute denial. “Get up,” she willed him. “Save yourself.”
    He stared, a flicker of hope lighting his face. Weakly he tried to rise, only to be floored by a stabbing blow to the shoulder. The knife strike seemed to trigger the pent-up aggression of the other men and they ran forward, kicking and hitting.
    Quin writhed in her captor’s grip as each blow landed, a moan escaping her throat at the dull thump of fists on flesh. The gang parted briefly–long enough for her to see Keir huddled on the ground before a boot caught him in the side and flipped him over and the men piled on him. Each desolate cry that came from Keir stabbed her in the chest. He made no attempt to defend himself or break free.
    Something inside Quin snapped at the unwarranted attack. Rage sent white fire scouring through her veins and flickering over her skin in silver tendrils. She threw her arms back, screaming Keir’s name, and sent out a blast of energy that flattened fences and tore the roofs off the nearest buildings. A second surge of power flung his attackers across the fields and drove any remaining bystanders shrieking to shelter.
    In the sudden, shocking quiet that followed, Quin stood with arms outstretched, psi energy whipping her hair about her face and sparking over her skin in threads of lightning. The sting of it only intensified her anger. The old man cowered before her as she strode over to Keir. Dropping to her knees in the mud, she gently turned him over, biting back tears at the sight of his bruised face and the blood oozing from the wound in his shoulder. The energy playing over her skin dimmed and died away.
    “Oh, Keir,” she whispered, bending over him.
    His eyelids flickered in response. “Quin,” he murmured. “Go now.”
    “I will not leave you here!”
    She glanced up. The jolt of telekinesis had stunned or scattered the villagers, but that wouldn’t last long and she couldn’t guarantee another burst. They had to leave. Now. Already one or two people were on the move, gathering courage and, no doubt, weapons. She had one last trick she could use.
    “Keir, I’m not very skilled at this, but I can take some of your pain,” she said, softly. “I’m hoping it will be enough to help you move. Will you trust me? Will you come with me?”
    He opened his eyes, but his gaze was unfocused, turned inward. “I trust you. I will come with you. Am I dying, Quin?”
    Oh Powers, no, she prayed in silence. Please.
    “No.” She laid her hand on his forehead and reached into his mind. He shuddered at her touch, groaning as her thoughts merged with his. The backwash of his distress lashed at her. “I won’t let that