Free Blood of the Guardian by Kristal Shaff Page B

you for coming, Maska,” Emery said. “I’m sorry, but it’s the only place where we can speak privately.”
    A scowl fixed between Maska’s dark eyebrows. “What do you want?”
    “What happened the night you were taken to this room?” Emery asked.
    Maska’s head dropped, his gaze fixing to the ground.
    “I know it’s hard, Maska. But it’s important.”
    “Why?”
    “Because Megan is with child.”
    Maska’s head shot up. He stepped back, sitting hard in the chair Emery had offered him a moment before. Leaning over, he raked his hands through his damp hair and stared at the ornate rug under his feet.
    “Is there any possibility the child could be yours, Maska?” Emery asked.
    He didn’t answer. Emery put a hand on the warrior’s shoulder, but Maska jerked away.
    After a long pause, he said, “Yes. The child could be mine.”
    Emery laughed in relief.
    Maska’s eyes narrowed. “And defiling the girl makes you happy?”
    “I am relieved, not happy,” Emery said. “If the child is yours, Megan will live.”
    The anger left Maska in a rush. “What do you mean?”
    Sanawen, the Guardian, stepped forward. “If the child belongs to Alcandor, it will kill her.”
    “And if it’s a half-breed bastard, she will live?”
    “If she is lucky, yes,” Emery said.
    Maska growled and turned, using his muscled back as a wall. “My Strength broke her bones while I took her. She healed, and I broke her again … and again.”
    “You’re a victim, just like Megan,” Emery said calmly, though his face paled. “Alcandor controlled you. It wasn’t your fault.”
    Nolan knew Megan had endured a lot that night; the small vision from her dream unnerved him. However, the thought of Maska hurting her, especially in that way, made his stomach turn sour.
    “So how will we know?” Maska asked. “Is there a way to find out whose child she carries?”
    “None,” Malik said. “We will have to wait and see.”
    “So what if the child is Alcandor’s?” Kael asked.
    “Well,” Emery said, “we’ll hope her Healing Shay can save her during the birth.”
    “But, Your Majesty,” Kael said. “The rumors. When they learn of a child, they will assume it’s yours.”
    Resignation surged from Emery. “Well then. I suppose I should marry her.”
    “And if it comes out dark-skinned?” Maska added.
    Emery smiled weakly. “We’ll deal with the scandal when the time comes.”
    Of course, that was the logical thing to do. At least circumstance forced them together—they loved each other anyway. However, Nolan couldn’t break away from his own selfish reflections. Not only could he never marry—unless he potentially sentenced his bride to death—he wouldn’t risk being intimate with any woman.
    He swallowed hard. He was sentenced to a life of celibacy.
    Nolan retreated to the far corner of the room, next to a statue of a nude woman made of gold. The others continued to discuss the situation. Maska even joined them, though he kept his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
    How could I be so selfish? I should be happy for my friends, shouldn’t I? Emery loves her, though nobody knows about it except for me. And Megan loves Emery as well. So why did it upset him? If it would save her honor, it would be a good thing, the right thing. Emery was a good man, even a king! And the fact they both loved each other should be enough, shouldn’t it? He should be happy for them. But Nolan wasn’t happy at all. Instead, jealousy leeched through his veins.
    “What if she doesn’t want to marry you?” The words slipped from Nolan’s lips before he could stop them.
    Emery looked across the room at Nolan and met his gaze. His eyes pulsed with violet light, his Empathy digging through Nolan’s brain. “Then I will respect her wishes.”
    “Does she even realize what happened?” Maska asked, his voice low. “I often wonder if she remembers, for she looks at me as a friend, instead of a monster.”
    “You are a friend,”