Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

stranger could sense her uneasiness, what would her uncles read from her? “You underestimate them.”
    He turned his head to look down at her, gray eyes metal bright. “You underestimate me.”
    She opened her mouth to answer but then noticed the crush of people parting like water before a shark fin. “They’re coming,” she whispered. “Brace yourself.”
    She raised herself onto her toes, balanced herself against his broad solid chest and kissed him. She had intended to make a statement that she accepted this man as her mate, a clear challenge to the watchful crowd surrounding them. She had intended to make her uncles wait for their attention to prove a point, but as soon as Gabriel’s lips moved on hers, she was beyond all thought of political machination. She was beyond any thought at all except the slide of his tongue on hers, the sharp intentional abrasion of his teeth, the need that clouded doubt and reason.
    Distantly she heard the sound of a dry cough from behind them. Gabriel’s hand caressed the nape of her neck, skimmed down over the exposed skin on her back to rest on her hip. His fingers pressed into her skin. With a soft growl, he pulled slowly away. She blinked up at him but he’d already turned to face her uncle. It took her several stuttering heartbeats to find the same composure.
    It was her Uncle Vin and Aunt Marcella. Good, with her aunt present Vin did not plan to act now. There was still time to maneuver, time for her to learn more of Gabriel’s plans and choose a side. Uncle Vin smiled at her but his eyes were cold. She made the introductions and then stood slightly back to watch the exchange.
    Vin’s eyes flicked her way and he said sharply, “Find Arturo.”
    Gabriel’s hand at her waist held her firmly in place. He smiled, his eyes never leaving Vin’s face. “She is your queen,” he corrected almost gently.
    Vin’s lips thinned in checked fury. Knowing that she played a dangerous game, Iada smiled briefly at Vin and then pointedly turned her attention to Gabriel. His fingers flexed on her hip in silent approval. She would need to be very careful. It would be foolish to throw her full support, her life and her future behind this stranger no matter how compelling his strength. On the other hand, if her uncles believed her to be nothing more than a broken pawn, they might decide to remove her along with Gabriel when this was done. And she enjoyed pushing back at Vin. She so rarely had the opportunity. She pressed a little nearer to Gabriel’s side just to watch the flare of outrage in her uncle’s eyes. “I’ll stay here, uncle. Send someone else to fetch him.”
    “You are very like your sister,” Vin said to her. “I’ve never noted the resemblance so strongly as tonight.”
    Her muscles snapped rigid beneath the blow. Gabriel’s thumb stroked along the back of her arm, a warning to stillness and a pledge of support in the gentle touch. She forced herself to relax. Gabriel spared her a brief look full of suppressed curiosity. He wouldn’t understand the insult her uncle had delivered and Iada didn’t want him to. Vin’s comment was as much an attack on Gabriel as it was on her. Her sister had been exiled for bearing a mutant child. She and Anna had never been particularly close, three years and Iada’s training separating them. But she loved Anna and mourned the loss. Stupid of Vin to provoke Gabriel so soon. They needed time. She needed time. Iada forced a smile to her lips. “Thank you.”
    “Have you met our Anna?” Vin asked Gabriel conversationally.
    “I have,” Gabriel said to Vin and then looked to Iada. “Your nephew is healthy and strong. She named the child Michael.” She blinked. She had a nephew, Anna was safe, and Gabriel had understood her exchange with Vin perfectly. He’d only wanted to see how she would react to the insult. While she processed that information, Gabriel’s attention shifted back to Vin. “I have a healthy respect for all of my