Silent Blade Read Online Free PDF

changed his mind and decided to marry her and no kinsman wanted to offend New Delphi’s newest financial shark. Had her family enjoyed greater influence, she could’ve found a husband, but none of the smaller families dared to take a chance, knowing the Galdes clan lacked resources to shield them from Celino’s wrath. By twenty, having watched an endless stream of leggy blondes pass in and out of Celino’s public life, Meli realized that Celino would never marry. He enjoyed his freedom too much. He had turned her into an old maid.
    Meli refused to remain a liability. After all she was a melder. She channeled her frustration into the lethal kiss of the ene-ribbon. After her mother’s death, she excised herself from the family, developing a separate life so she could be their silent blade. Over a decade she had killed many to protect her family, always in self-defense and always after a careful study. She had two liaisons, but they were brief and failed to repair her.
    Meanwhile, Celino outgrew godhood and became a titan. The Carvannas prospered and grew under his leadership, while the Galdes stagnated.
    Now they wanted her to assassinate the man who had doomed her. A man she knew intimately well.
    A man whose eyes made her heart skip a beat, despite his unintended cruelty, despite the years, despite the gulf between them and her deep, logical desire to feel nothing for him.
    Meli rose. The next few days would prove infinitely fascinating.
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    Celino awoke early. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling above him. Around him the bedroom was luxuriously silent.
    He dreamt of the woman in the red dress. He dreamt of her ripe golden body in his bed and of dripping honey onto her plump nipples and then slowly licking it off while she laughed. He awoke hard like a rock.
    It was a ridiculous adolescent fantasy.
    â€œRomuld. Audio only.”
    The huge screen on the wall ignited with pale blue. “Sir?” Romuld said softly.
    â€œThe woman?”
    â€œThe lab lifted two partials from the knife. No match in the aerial database.”
    So either she didn’t own a vehicle, or it wasn’t registered.
    â€œThe scan showed no implants or Class C or above modifications.”
    She wasn’t a fighter. He already knew that.
    â€œThe owner of the shop reported that she stops by occasionally, never more often than twice a month, rents a stove, and bakes pastries. He says it’s highly unlikely she will return within the next week or two.”
    â€œWhat did she bake the last time?”
    â€œApple pie.”
    Celino cut off the transmission.
    And so she breezed into his life and slipped away again. Perhaps she thought she would never see him again. She was wrong. He wanted her and when he wanted something, he always got it.
    A woman like her, a lovely, earthy, provincial woman like her, where would she go in New Delphi?
    â€œNaria. Audio only.”
    A moment passed and then his sister’s voice filled the room. “Celino?”
    â€œWhere do you shop when you come to the city?”
    â€œWell, good morning to you too!” A child’s laughter rang through transmission. “Where do I shop? Let’s see…”
    He patiently listened to the long list of children’s clothing stores and designer boutiques. Wrong Carvanna. “What about Aunt Rene?”
    â€œRynok Market. She loves that place.”
    â€œThank you.”
    He ended transmission and called up Romuld. “Rynok Market. Find the woman.”
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    The presentation of the site manager dragged on. Celino had caught the gist of it within the first five minutes—the site fell behind schedule and it was the fault of the crew, the supplier, the weather, and cosmic gods. The site manager was completely innocent of any wrongdoing and bore no responsibility for anything whatsoever. Celino intended to fire him after his speech, but he permitted the man to state his case.
    The