Free Kierra's Thread (Argadian Heart Trilogy Book 2) by Adrianna Dane Page A

up. Kierra, when
Jarek awakens, you don’t want him to see you like this.”
    She looked down at her hands and for the first time realized
what she must look like covered in Odon’s blood. Kierra turned to look back
over her shoulder toward where she knew Odon’s lifeless body lay, but Devon
blocked her view.
    “No, Kierra, you don’t need to see him. He’s dead. He won’t
hurt you or anyone else ever again. We’ll see what Skorda has to barter with.
He’ll be useful in getting us out of here as well.”
    Eluria put an arm around her to lead her toward a basin to
clean away some of the blood. Kierra looked to where Jarek was still
unconscious, still bound. “Release him.” She tried to break free of Eluria to
go to him, but Eluria’s grasp was firm.
    “Let Devon do what he must, Kierra.” She gently forced
Kierra in the other direction.
    “I need to go to him. He needs me.”
    “Don’t let her thoughtwalk,” Devon said from the other side
of the room. “Skorda will attempt to revert what he’s done and it could damage
her mind, or inadvertently cause a problem with Jarek.”
    “You don’t understand,” Kierra sobbed. “I need to let him
know we’re here, that he’s safe and everything will be all right.”
    “We don’t know that yet. Do not thoughtwalk. That’s an
order.”
    “Devon—”
    “Kierra, let Devon do what he must. Let’s get you cleaned
up.”
    “I can’t bear to see him like this. What if he severs the
thread, not realizing he’s safe?”
    “It’s in Guardian’s hands now. Let them do what they must.”
     
    *         
*          *
     
    An hour later, Skorda sat back in his chair. “That’s all I
can do. It isn’t everything, but it’s more than he had. The process isn’t
supposed to be reversible.”
    “Get him out of those restraints,” Kierra demanded.
    Corbin and Torak looked to Devon and he nodded. Jarek moaned
and Kierra knew he was returning to consciousness. She hurried over as Corbin
and Torak helped him away from the wall and settled him into a chair.
    Kierra knelt in front of him. When he opened his eyes, she
was there. She waited, her breath locked in her chest. Would he recognize her?
How much damage had Odon done?
    She saw the bruises on his body, the cut to his head, and
she knew the damage done to his mind. She wanted to hold him, wanted to
thoughtwalk to be with him in mind as well as physically.
    She stroked the side of his face and he opened his eyes. At
least they weren’t the turbulent stormy gray—they were green. She exhaled when
she saw the recognition flare when he looked at her.
    “Kierra.” His voice was hoarse. He reached out and cupped
her face. She saw him wince at the movement. His face was lined with deep
grooves, a reminder of the pain he’d suffered. She wanted to kill Odon all over
again.
    Then she saw the concern reflect in his eyes. “Are you
hurt?”
    She looked down and realized although she’d been able to
wash away most of the blood from her skin, her uniform was still drenched with
it. She shook her head. “Odon’s blood.”
    His gaze flickered away from her and scanned the room.
“Where is he?”
    “He’s dead. He won’t be causing anyone pain again.”
    “How?”
    “Kierra killed him,” Eluria answered. “She got to him before
any of us could.”
    Jarek looked up at her, confusion evident on his face. “What
do you mean she got to him?”
    “She used a dagger. She’s been hiding one great wealth of
courage or she was just plain crazy,” Eluria said. “You’d have been proud of
her though.”
    Jarek cupped Kierra’s face. “You shouldn’t have come here at
all. You could have been killed.”
    “You know I couldn’t have stayed away. Would you have if it
had been me?”
    He didn’t respond, but simply brushed his lips against hers
in a gentle kiss. “You saved my life.”
    “Devon wouldn’t let me thoughtwalk to come to you.” She shot
a venomous look at her brother.
    “He was