Urden, God of Desire Read Online Free PDF

hair fluttered in the breeze and she stared straight at them. “Maybe you’re right,” he murmured. “Seems we’re already drawing an audience.” He released his bride and unlocked the door, holding it open for her to hurry inside.

Chapter Five
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    Melia watched the silhouetted couple slip into their cottage. It was dark out; the double suns had set hours ago and her vantage wasn’t the best. She had no qualms about spying. If the couple wanted to fuck outside in the open then they should expect watchers. She sat in a woven lounger on the porch and stared at the stars. All around, insects sang night songs, clicking and creaking. In the distance, she heard the whisper of tree leaves blowing in the breeze. Her heart thrummed in her chest. She closed her eyes, thinking she was finally home.
    The night wore on, and the sounds of life toned down. Melia withdrew her data sharer from her robes and began reviewing Shiemir Alonwei’s file. He was in his forties, had been married once—wife deceased. One daughter—deceased—murdered by the Unangi Rebellion in Irnia weeks before Enrue’s hostile coup. Newscasts alleged that his daughter’s death was the reason for Enrue’s occupation of Irnia. It was plausible, Melia decided, but she didn’t think it was his only reasoning. Hemec fuel in the Unangi mountains might very well be closer to the truth as a motive.
    She clicked through older pictures of the man, visions of a handsome, but stoic figure standing in lines of politicians, or formal images of him signing treaties. There were only a few with his wife by his side, a frail-looking woman who seemed too young for him. Curious, Melia clicked on the wife’s file and read over her cause of death.
    Released from Taraf Global Med on 9, Hossia 2093, Shiemir Alonwei’s wife, Ruria Alonwei, died of complications from a rare virus she contracted while providing food and supplies to the Unangi people. She is survived by her husband and their daughter—”
    Footsteps crunched in the gravel. Melia glanced up at the man walking in front of her cottage. He stepped awkwardly, a cane in his right hand. She’d noticed him on the ship when she hurried to catch up to the line of Habiri followers. A hood shadowed his face, though he nodded and waved politely in her direction before carrying on.
    By now, she was certain the authorities had discovered the dead woman in the cargo area of the Irnian shuttle whose place she’d taken. She wondered how long it would be before the Habiris realized she was not one of them. Hopefully, she’d be gone by then.
    She snapped her data-sharer closed and stood, stretching her arms high. Her back cracked. “Mm. Need to lie down for awhile,” she muttered. Melia entered her cottage and flicked on the solar light. Its luminance was nowhere near as bright as standard lighting, but she didn’t mind. She glanced over the single room and smiled to herself. “This is my kind of place, small, simple, and private.”
    She flopped on the bed, reopened her data-sharer and keyed in the code to initiate a non-traceable com-link. The image of Enrue’s meeting room in the Irnian palace flashed on screen, but no one was there to acknowledge her call request. “Ah. Interesting.”
    She rolled on her back and sent a call request to his flagship. “Are you heading home?” she asked the data-sharer. “Hiding from the Empire yet?” The screen flashed and a mousey-looking, gray-haired lady appeared.
    “Shiemir Alonwei’s secretary. Can I help you?” Her eyes narrowed.
    Melia sighed. “This is Cossia Dargon from the Empire. I need to speak to the Shiemir.”
    “One moment.” The secretary clicked off the sound and stepped away.
    Melia twisted a lock of her hair round and round her finger, impatient. Soon the secretary returned , a curious smirk plastered across her wrinkled lips. She reached forward and clicked on the sound once more. “The Shiemir said you missed his formal greeting party at the Alga