Free Richard: Blood Brotherhood – Erotic Paranormal Dark Fantasy Romance by Kathi S. Barton Page A

she?”
    “Who might you be talking about? There are a great many shes in this house. Or I should say, there were a great many in this house. There are only a few now. Male or female, as a matter of fact.” Lucia asked her what she was talking about. “Shes. You asked me where she was. I’m telling you that I don’t know which she you are talking about. There is you, of course, and me, but I don’t think you would have said it that way if you meant me. Nor would you begin to ask me where you were. When you should...well, you might not know, but you might too. There is still Blue, but I think she was on her way out. And—”
    “Shut up.” Hunter only smiled at her. “Where is Ryiah? I’ve been told that you have been with her a great deal. I want you to tell me when to expect her back with my mate.”
    “Never.” Lucia waited for more of an answer. When none seemed to be coming, she asked her again when she was returning. “When she has her powers sorted out, I would guess. And then there is the added magic that comes to her as well now. That’s a lot of sorting out, don’t you think?”
    “She has no powers. And if you think to answer me in riddles again, I will have you killed.” Hunter said nothing, but did smile bigger at her. “I hate you, Hunter. And would gladly kill you for this. What is it you think you know?”
    “I know a great deal. Much more than you would wish the world to know about, I’m sure. Like that Ryiah is not just your sister, but older than you by fifty-nine and a half minutes. I know that you have lied to her all her life, keeping her under your thumb so that you could have her murdered.” Lucia looked around for anyone that might have heard the little fucker. “And so you know, Richard wasn’t your mate. He never was. We knew this, but let you believe it so you’d send her to the compound.”
    “Why would it be important for Ryiah to go to the compound?” She didn’t think about the things Hunter had said to her. Didn’t even want to know how she’d found out that Ryiah was her older sister, or how she’d been lying to her about their order of birth. But she really needed to know why it was important that Ryiah go there now. She was pretty sure she already knew that answer too.
    “See? You do know it.” When Hunter flew to the window and sat there, Lucia felt her knees weaken and slid to the floor rather than fall. “Does it bother you, Lucia, that your sister has finally found some happiness after living with you and being terrorized all her life? You’re not nearly as stupid as we all think. Almost, but not nearly so. And yes, she’s found her mate…the one we let you think was yours. We’ve been…all of us have been keeping him safe for her. Not you.”
    “She belongs to me. And so does he until I say differently. I shall say if she can have a mate or not.” Hunter laughed, making the hair on the back of Lucia’s neck dance with it. “Tell her to come here now. I wish to speak to her.”
    “No.” Lucia looked at Hunter when she spoke. “I no longer serve you. None of us do, as a matter of fact. The only reason I’m here now is to distract you and to have a little fun while the rest of the inhabitants of your prison have time to gather what they can and leave.”
    “I won’t allow that.” Not that she could do much about it right now, but she was starting to see that things were going to go badly for her if she didn’t regain some control over this. “You will not disobey me, Hunter. Go and find Ryiah and bring her to me this minute. I don’t know where you heard those lies from, but they’re not true. I am the eldest and I rule here.”
    “You only wish that you did. And as I have told you before, we know you not to be the oldest. Ryiah is. Whatever plans you had for her? They are now gone. She has come into her own.” Hunter moved around the room again. This time when she landed, it was close enough for her to touch her should she want.