Free Dark Moon by Elizabeth Kelly

go to parties nearly every month, and that their house had a room in it that was just for books.  My grandfather taught them lots of stuff about the ancients.”
    “James?”  Bree looked at the Red and he nodded.
    “Aye, it is true.  I am named for my grandfather.”
    “Mama says that grandpa was obsessed with the ancients.  He wanted to learn everything about them so that we didn’t repeat their mistakes.”  Dani said.
    “How did mama and Maya become slaves?”  Bree asked.
    “Their father died and their mother sold them into slavery.”  Sophia said shortly.
    Bree gave her a horrified look.  “That’s terrible.  Why would she do that?”
    “She needed money for drugs.”  Sophia replied.
    “That’s awful.”  Bree whispered.
    “Aye, it is.”  Dani was quiet for a moment.  “But mama always says that if her mother had not sold her to the slave house she would never have met dad.  She says the gods knew what they were doing when they brought Uncle Tristan to the slave house.”
    The group was quiet for a while, the only sounds were the creaking of the wagon and the soft snorts of the horses, before Dani smiled at Bree again.  “So, what type of flowers do you want, Bree?”
    Bree shrugged.  “I don’t know.  It seems silly to buy flowers when you could just pick them in the fields for free.”
    “It’s too cold.”  Dani reminded her.
    “Aye, but do we really need flowers?  It’s a waste of money.”  Bree frowned.
    “You don’t need to worry about money anymore, Bree.”  Dani said airily.  “James is rich remember?”
    Bree squirmed uncomfortably on the wagon seat.  She knew that James was wealthy of course, but she hadn’t really thought about what it would mean when she married him.
    James, sensing her discomfort, squeezed her hand reassuringly.  “If you do not want to spend money on flowers, then we won’t.  You can put the money towards your dress instead.”
    “I don’t want an expensive dress.”  Bree said softly.  “I – I don’t want to spend a lot of money on the wedding.”
    James smiled at her.  “You can have whatever kind of wedding you want, little one.”
    Bree kissed his cheek and Dani sighed loudly from the back of the wagon.  “Well, I want lots of flowers and a big party and a gorgeous dress for my wedding.”
    “You don’t even have a boyfriend.”  Leta pointed out.
    “Not yet.”  Dani smiled at Kaden who returned her smile weakly.  He glanced quickly at Sophia.  She was staring impassively at the road ahead, but he thought he saw a muscle twitch in her jaw.
    * * *
     
    “Well, I have good news and bad news.”  Nicky stepped out of the large white building and walked down the steps towards the others.
    “The good news – they have rooms available for the night.  The bad news – there’s only three.  We’ll have to share.”
    “I want to stay with Sophia.”  Leta said immediately.  She took her sister’s hand and Sophia squeezed it firmly before smiling at her.
    “That’s fine.”  Dani said cheerfully.  “James and Bree can take one room, Sophia, Nicky and Leta can share another, and Kaden and I will share the third.”
    “No.”  Nicky, James and Sophia all spoke at once.
    Dani gave them a look of frustration.  “You’re not the boss of me.”
    “Aye but before we left, your father asked me to watch out for you.”  Nicky said.  “And if you think I’m going to let you share a room alone with the human, you’re crazy.”
    “Shut up, Nicky.”  Dani said furiously.  “You’re embarrassing me.”
    “Nicky’s right.”  Sophia said.  “Your father would not want you to share a room with Kaden, and you know that.”
    “My father isn’t here.”  Dani gave her a look that clearly told her she wanted Sophia to stay out of the conversation.
    Kaden cleared his throat.  “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Dani.”
    She gave him a look dripping with hurt, and crossed her arms over her