The Lethal Flame (Flame Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

quarter, a reason to live for a life outside the castle walls.
    “What then?” she croaked out, for life was never as simple as the church vow to honor and obey a husband.  How could a vow to a king be any different?
    “He might see fit to place you in a position much as it was before.”
    “What until then?”
    The quiet bore in on them as he studied her, his strong frame never wavering.  His head cocked to the side, “you are mine.”  His words hung heavy in the air as she looked at him. 
    Quiet echoed in the chamber and defeated exhaustion weighed her down and Keri dropped her head.  After a moment she nodded.  It was a full minute longer before she heard the key releasing the chain from the wall.  Still she sat there in the dirt wondering how she would ever find the strength to walk.  The-man-on-the-gray-horse stooped before her, brushing her hair from her face then raised her chin to look down in it. 
    Without a word he balled the chain and laid it in her lap.  Not wasting a moment for her to retaliate he scooped her up in his arms, one strong arm under her legs, the other cradling her back.  He held her against his broad chest.  He walked from the torch he had brought with him, plunging them momentarily into darkness and she had a heady feeling wash over her at being in the darkness alone with this knight who was responsible for so much destruction.  Before she could contemplate if it was fear or something foreign creating the feeling they emerged into the light of a torch at the bottom of the steps. 
    He sat her on her feet and with quick work released her wrists from the iron cuffs that had chafed them raw.  “Remove your clothes,” he demanded of her taking a step back.
    She felt like a fool standing in the light of the torch, her mouth hanging open as she stared at him.  Her pulse immediately quickened then felt as if it would seize in her throat.  What awaited her outside this prison that she would have to be naked?  If he was going to take her he could do so without her complete nudity.
    A scowl nit his dark brows together over his devilish eyes.  “Remove your clothes or I will remove them for you.”  His voice was deadly, she knew he would.  Her chin lifted a notch and she was ready to defy him on the matter until he took one angry step toward her.  She made quick work of the clothing and finally stood before him naked even down to the boots he made her abandon.  She watched his eyes travel over her slowly and she felt a chill race up her spine.  It was all she could do to keep her body from quaking when he stepped to her, towering over her.  She looked up into his dark countenance and wondered what was in his head because she could read nothing on his face.  He seized her hands, pulling them away from guarding her breasts against his view.   The back of his knuckle grazed her nipple and she felt she would shoot out of her skin.  He clamped the manacles back around her wrists and it was all she could do to keep from crying out, not at the pain but the finality of it.  Removing the cloak from his shoulders he draped it around hers.  She sucked in a breath that made him chuckle as he bent and scooped her quickly into his arms and began the ascent of the steps.
    At the top The-man-on-the-gray-horse sat her on her feet and gave her just enough time to gather the cloak around her before he flung the doors to the dungeon open.  The site before her made her stagger and this time it wasn’t the gentle touch of the man’s hands but the manacles biting into her flesh as he yanked her upward that kept her from falling.  She followed docile for the moment, fighting to keep the cloak closed with her every step.  The struggle was forgotten when she saw Alec lying among his men.  She fell to her knees at his feet and the man that held the end of her chains let her.  Sorrow racked her body as she laid a hand on his bare feet, stripped of his boots, only coldness met her hand.  She