Seeker Read Online Free PDF Page B

in embarrassment.
    “Of course we’re not marrying you off,” her mother said with a gentle smile.
    “Don’t say ‘of course,’ ” Quin responded. “That’s what happened to you, isn’t it?” In fact, her mother had never said that exactly, but this was the impression Quin had gathered from Fiona’s description of her courtship and marriage to Briac Kincaid. She never spoke of falling in love so much as she spoke of her parents “making a match.”
    “Well, we’re not marrying you to
him
,” Fiona said, teasing her.
    “I know how it used to be done,” Quin went on. “Protect the bloodlines. Keep control.”
    In truth, she understood the value in being matched by her parents. Marrying someone her father trusted would help keep their knowledge and weapons under Briac’s direct control. Briac and Alistair were, she had always been told, the last of the Seekers, and she and Shinobu must carry on this tradition in an unbroken line—and John, of course, but his line had already been broken, because his family had almost died out. In theory, she would be happy to marry someone who pleased her parents—but in reality she very much hoped that their choice agreed with her own.
    Her mother took a long sip from her mug and shook her head. “We’re not marrying you to someone, Quin. Even if your father might like the idea. Enough of your life has been planned out for you already, I think. You should choose your own mate.”
    Quin looked out across the meadow to where she and John had just been walking. The feeling of happiness was upon her again, and she decided to take a leap. She was only hours away from taking her oath. Soon she would be an adult in their eyes. “Mum, you know I’ve already chosen him, don’t you?”
    Her mother followed her gaze out the window, but there was nothing visible except grass and trees.
    Slowly Fiona asked, “And is he?”
    “Is he what?”
    “Is John Hart your mate?”
    Quin felt her cheeks flush hotly. “Ma.”
    “I believe you’ve been sneaking off together for a long while. Have the two of you …”
    “No!” The conversation had taken a very fast and drastic turn. “Wait. What are you asking me?”
    “Have you kissed each other?”
    “Oh … Yes.” Quin found herself smiling despite the embarrassment. “Yes, we have done that.”
    “And …” Fiona prompted.
    “And what?” Quin was thinking of the way John had laid her on the ground, those lonely eyes of his focused completely on her … She looked down at her hands and said, “There’s been kissing. A somewhat large amount. Don’t you know already, Ma? You usually know these things without me saying.”
    “Sometimes I do, but not this time. Are you sure that’s all?”
    “I’m not an idiot. Briac’s hard enough on him as it is. I don’t want him chasing John around with a shotgun.”
    Fiona really did smile at that, her face lighting up as it rarely did. For a moment, Quin saw her mother’s beauty at its full force, like a warm spring sun coming out from behind heavy clouds.
    “Mum,” Quin said, deciding that she was already so embarrassed, she might as well press on, “do you think Father will mind?”
    “Mind what?”
    “If I marry John?”
    Quin held her breath as she said it, worried about her mother’s reaction. But why shouldn’t she speak about marriage? John was the perfect partner. He was from an old family like her own, wasn’t he? Like her, he wanted to use his training to do good things in the world. Maybe they would live together here on the estate, or maybe she would live with him somewhere more exotic, but either way, they would work together, fight together, to help the world.
Tyrants and evildoers beware
 … And of course, she loved him deeply. Surely her parents could see that.
    Quin’s eyes followed her mother, waiting for an answer as Fiona got up to tend the stewpot. It was a mystery to Quin what needed to be tended. It was stew, after all. You could cook it