Soul of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

through Aaron’s head when Malcolm had told him about her reasons for doing so. Aaron’s apparent feelings of outrage and betrayal were certainly justified and understandable.
    And, deep down, Aidan felt for him and regretted having caused him pain. But as much as he could understand where Aaron was coming from, he couldn’t help but react strongly to his brother’s insinuations about Persephone.
    He was as crazy for her as Aaron was…and he would not back down!
    If they ever got her back and finally abolished the curse, a fierce battle for her affections would undoubtedly begi n― and she would be the one to decide. Until she chose one over the other, Aidan intended to fight. There was sadly no room for brotherly affection when the woman they loved stood between them.
    And though Aidan would mourn the loss of a relationship with his only brother ― his own flesh and blood ― what he felt for Persephone, for the only woman he had ever fallen in love with, was stronger than the call of blood.
    In his case, blood was definitely not thicker than wate r― only redder.
    Malcolm slowly approached and positioned himself between his sons, who had risen from their chairs in anger and stood facing each other. He gently placed a hand against each of their chests.
    “Do not fight each other…you are brothers,” Malcolm beseeched them, his voice sounding strained and a bit sad.
    “I have no brother,” Aaron replied in a cold, hard voice, dismissing any relationship to Aidan, who stood completely still and silent, stunned by Aaron’s harsh words, though he had just thought along the same lines.
    Hearing it spoken aloud, though, felt like the last nail in the coffin of their brotherly bond.
    Well, he chided himself, what had he expected? He’d swooped in and taken the girl from him. He couldn’t blame his brother for hating him…and he already hated himself with a vengeance for what he had let happen to Persephone.
    “Let us not speak words we will regret,” Malcolm hastily interjected, “What is important now, is how we can help Persephone,” he finished, his statement making Aidan recall that they did, indeed, have much more pressing matters to discuss.
    “Father…,” Aidan asked, suddenly struck by a thought, “…maybe I should bring her home for a short visit so that she can see her parents. Surely,there are so many memorie s― happy memorie s― that we might get an emotional response. If she saw her old room, she would certainly feel something .”
    “I agree. She would undoubtedly respond in some way. Alas, it is impossible,” Malcolm said slowly, his tone remorseful.
    “Why?” Aidan asked, suddenly alarmed. Something was wrong. He knew his father’s voice too well not to be worried.
    “Persephone cannot go home…,” Malcolm sighed heavily, “…there is no home to go back to.”
    “What happened?” Aaron asked, his tone of voice echoing Aidan’s own fear.
    “Something dreadful has happened. Persephone’s parents were…murdered…their bodies burned in the flames that consumed their home. This has the separatists written all over it.”
    “How could this have happened?” Aidan asked bewildered, “You must have anticipated that they might find Persephone’s home. Why didn’t you see to her parents’ protection?”
    “I did, Aidan,” Malcolm replied softly, “I sent some of our guard to keep an eye on them…to protect them.”
    “So, what happened? Did they abandon their posts?” Aaron asked.
    “They are dead. They are all dead,” Malcolm replied solemnly, his voice a mere whisper.
    “How many men? And when was this?” Aidan demanded, his heart sinking lower with every declaration his father made. He’d known these men. He’d known each and every single one of them.
    Apart from belonging to his large family and being distantly related to him, they had been his friends, his ‘brothers in arms’.
    As the leader’s son, Aidan was a high-ranking member of the guard by right of