Free The Chaos Crystal by Jennifer Fallon

glancing around approvingly at the rough granite walls. He wouldn't be feeling the bitter cold himself, but he'd know how bad it was for her and her father.
    Arkady turned to face him, her arms crossed, clutching the scratchy grey blanket against her body. Bary stepped away from the adjoining bars and also turned to face their visitor, who was accompanied by a single feline Crasii. Arkady thought she looked like the feline Stellan had won in that bear-baiting he'd attended with Mathu and Jaxyn, a lifetime ago, back when Stellan was the Duke of Lebec, Mathu a likeable young prince and Jaxyn just annoying rather than dangerous. The feline took post by the door, her expression inscrutable.
    'Your grace,' her father began, 'it's so good to see you again. If you could —'
    'Shut up, fool,' Jaxyn ordered, without even glancing in her father's direction. His eyes fixed on Arkady, searching her face for some indication she was near breaking point.
    Arkady had no intention of giving him the satisfaction.
    'Well,' she said as he approached. 'If it isn't the legendary Lord of Temperance. I met some of your followers in Senestra, you know. They were a universally dour lot, with no personality and absolutely nothing in the way of charm or charisma. So I guess it's true that like attracts like.'
    Jaxyn seemed amused. 'Ouch! Such cutting insults.' He spared her father a look and smiled even wider. 'Do you like the gift I left for you?'
    'Is that what you call locking my sick father in a bare tower cell in the middle of winter with a single blanket so he can slowly freeze to death? A gift?'
    'Absolutely,' he said, stopping in front of her cell. 'Aren't you grateful? I found your most beloved possession for you, Arkady. Brought him back from the dead. You should be weak-kneed with gratitude for my kindness.'
    'Words fail me,' Arkady agreed in a tone that was anything but gracious.
    Jaxyn was in a rare good mood and didn't seem to mind her sarcasm. 'Who'd have thought Stellan, The Tiresomely Righteous, would lock the poor fellow up and throw away the key?'
    'You'd have done the same in his place.'
    'No, my precious, I wouldn't have. I would have killed your wretched father without hesitation and been done with him. Typical of Stellan, though, don't you think? Even when he's being ruthless, he lacks the balls to go all the way.'
    'Your grace ...' her father began again.
    Jaxyn raised his arm and her father flew backwards across his cell, slamming into the far wall. With a grunt, he slid down the rough wall, winded and gasping.
    Arkady didn't move; didn't react. More than anything, Jaxyn wanted a reaction from her. That was why he was here. She wasn't going to play his game. She squared her shoulders and spoke with all the withering scorn she could muster. 'Immortality ... control of the Tide ... and the best you can do, Jaxyn, is throw a feeble old man around? Perhaps that's why Cayal is so much more revered than you among the general populace. He, at least, doesn't lack for imagination.'
    Mention of the Immortal Prince got a response from him. Jaxyn's eyes flashed dangerously for an instant. It wasn't much, and Arkady only noticed it because she was looking for his reaction, but it was there. 'You think I care what the unwashed masses think of Cayal?'
    'I think it irks the Tide out of you that he's
    considered a legendary lover and you're worshipped as the god of restraint and self-control.'
    'I didn't come here to discuss Cayal with you, Arkady.' He stepped a little closer to her cell.
    Arkady held her ground, resisting the urge to retreat from him. 'Really? Then why did you come, Jaxyn? To torture my father? To get at me? I can't imagine why you'd bother. Or that you have the time. Aren't you on the brink of war?' She smiled as another thought occurred to her. 'Or do you think you can use me to stall Stellan? You must know by now that he's not the pushover you thought him to be.'
    Arkady glanced at her aghast father uninterestedly, hoping