Kierra's Thread (Argadian Heart Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

away, Jarek. Now!”
    Hate surged through Jarek and he’d almost lost control. Had
fully meant to send Devon Andromeda into little molecules. If Eluria had been
one second slower—
    “Step aside, Eluria.” Devon put his hands on Eluria’s
shoulders and eased her away. “This is between Bakari and me. I won’t have you
hurt.”
    “Devon,” she lifted a hand to his heart. “We are bound. I
cannot stand by and watch you killed. You know that.”
    Devon’s steel-blue gaze met Jarek’s and silent understanding
passed between them. Neither one wanted Eluria or Kierra hurt. Jarek slowly
reholstered his diffuser and sat back down.
    Devon again eased Eluria aside and into her chair. “I think
we understand each other now.” He turned back to Jarek. “I tortured no one.
Odon’s is the only compound where bound servants are used, the rest are trained
with simulators. There were many stories spread throughout the ranks about his
tactics. Enforcers trained by Odon were very easy to spot. I may not have had
all my emotions available, but causing unnecessary pain was never my way.”
    “Then I guess you better make sure Kierra knows that.
Because the thought of her brother causing the same torture she was subjected
to is part of what’s destroying her.”
    Devon’s head dipped low and Eluria leaned toward him. He
turned to her. “She’s always going to think that, isn’t she?” He turned to
Jarek. “It’s what you see. You can’t see the male—only the Enforcer. What is it
going to take for you to forgive the Before?”
    Jarek locked stares with him for long moments before
answering. “I don’t know, Andromeda. Turning Enforcers is going to be the only
way to breach the security of Argadia. We’re going to have to find a way to get
along. The Beyond depends on it.” He brushed a hand through his hair. He was
tired of the fighting, tired of the hate and the rage. “We’ll have to take it
one step at a time. When Kierra sees you and Eluria together she might come to
understand. And it may aid in her healing.”
    “Try to talk with her, Jarek. You have a way of reaching her
when none of the rest of us can.” Eluria said.
    He nodded. “We are bound in ways you cannot understand.”
    Eluria looked at Devon. Jerek saw her devotion reflected in
her eyes. “I believe we understand.”
    It came to him in that moment that Eluria was different. She
no longer held the look of a woman ravaged by her past. There was a glow of
peace about her. Jarek’s gaze dropped to her wrist and he noticed the mark of
Guardian.
    “I heard of your Union. You have healed, Eluria.”
    Eluria turned to looked at him. “We have been blessed with
another chance at what was lost. Do not give up hope, Jarek. Kierra will one
day be healed.”
    “I would never do that, Eluria. You know that. Kierra’s
welfare is everything to me.”
    “Go to her. We have kept you long enough. Try to prepare her
for the meeting tomorrow.”
    He rose from the table. “I’ll do what I can to ease the way.
She needs her family. I’ll try to help her to see through the facade of the
Enforcer to the brother she lost.”
    “Thank you, Jarek. Devon needs his sister as well. Now, if
we can just find Alekos.”
    “I believe Alekos may be beyond redemption. There are many
stories of his exploits.”
    “There is always hope, Jarek. Remember that.”
     
     

CHAPTER
FOUR
     
     
     
    Jarek stood in the doorway to the laboratory and watched
Kierra as she sat, staring in fixed concentration at the screen of the microreader.
He saw the numbers flash by in rapid succession and studied Kierra as she
scanned the screen as they flew past. Periodically she would make notes on the
small electronic notekeeper setting on the counter before her.
    If no one disturbed her, she would sit there all night. He
knew she’d done it before. Her caramel colored hair was intricately wound in a
braid draped down the center of her back. He had the urge to free it