The Arcanist Read Online Free PDF Page B

as she looked him up and down.
     
    “You know it has been a long time.” She stretched a little, arching her back, breathing in deep and letting her breasts stand proudly in front of them, almost bursting free from her dress. “And I can be gentle.”
     
    Edouard kicked Marcus again before he could open his mouth. He could already see the way his eyes were widening in appreciation and his mouth opening as he thought of something to say. Something stupid. The pain seemed to help a little as it took his brother's thoughts off the voluptuous woman in red and let Edouard answer for him.
     
    “Indeed it is a kind thought and most generous. But we would not be worthy of your time.”
     
    “Oh.”
     
    Did she seem a little disappointed as she walked away, leading Marcus' horse towards the stables? Of course she did. But that was all part of her seduction, including the shockingly mesmerising way in which her hips swayed as she walked. Demons – pure seduction and endless trouble. One way or another they always caused strife, and then they used that to their advantage. Whether it was in the business empire or the bed chamber – they aimed to rule. And his brother was falling for it.
     
    “She said she could be gentle!” Marcus hissed it at him, upset for some reason, possibly because he was rubbing at his ankle and making strange moaning noises as he did so. But at least he didn't shout.
     
    “Her gentle would still leave you with your spine crushed and your legs torn off.” What else was there to say, though as a born warrior his brother should have noticed the talons on the ends of her fingers where a woman had fingernails. And as a lecher known from one end of the city to the other, he should have heard the tales of the unfortunate gentlemen who bedded demonesses. Those that had survived. “And you'd have to wear armour to bed.”
     
    “It still might have been worth it.” Marcus stared ruefully at her disappearing form. One thing he was never lacking in was desire. In that he took after their father, though at least he hadn't yet started on his multiple marriages. Either out of wisdom or vulgarity he settled for enjoying the women of the night instead of making their father's ongoing mistake and marrying them one after the other.
     
    “It would not, now hush! Eyes on the grass and look straight ahead.” How often did he have to repeat himself he wondered? Marcus truly didn't understand how dangerous this place was for a man. In truth few did. He also didn't yet realise that he’d given his horse away either. When he found out that he had actually made an offering of his riding mare to the temple Marcus was going to be upset. But that was a worry for Edouard to deal with later. If and when by some chance they were allowed to leave the temple. Besides, he should have left his horse with the carriage as Edouard had told him to. He should never have brought her onto the temple grounds.
     
    Temple. That was the danger men faced here. They thought this was a temple like any other. They heard the word temple, and they saw lovely long grass and peaceful lands filled with demure, modestly dressed woman in homespun robes. Their thoughts turned to the idyllic dreams of youth. Of pleasant summer days and walks in gardens with pretty young women. They had no idea that it was a trap. Until its teeth closed around their throats.
     
    Of course for all those who were stupid but innocent at heart, there were many more that weren't so pure. Edouard wasn’t sure of the exact number of truly stupid and ill hearted men who had come here demanding their wives or girlfriends back, often at the point of a sword. He did know however, that many fewer had left.
     
    “You have words to share with the Mother?”
     
    Edouard looked up to see another of the handmaidens standing in front of them. This one at least was a mortal woman, though still not a dryad. She was human. Humans, demonesses, dryads and even a satyr. He'd seen