Souls of Aredyrah 3 - The Taking of the Dawn by Tracy A. Akers Page A

now. I’ll not come of age for two more years. Father can’t
do anything until then anyway.”
    “I wouldn’t be so sure. He’s been known to
bend the rules.”
    “Hmmph! I’d like to see him try to bend that one. It’s a mortal sin to wed before the proper time.
Even he can’t override that law.”
    “Since when has morality stopped him?”
    “Let’s not talk about it anymore. There’s
nothing we can do about it tonight, is there?” Falyn sighed and
shook her head. “The bruises are really bad this time,” she said.
“I’m sorry I got you into this.”
    “Nothing to be sorry about,” Sheireadan said.
“I wish Father’d just hit me and leave the pit out of it
though.”
    “At least I found a way to get you food and
water. That’s something at least.”
    “If he ever catches us…”
    “He won’t.”
    “He will. And when he does, it will be the
death of us. Well, the death of me anyway.”
    “Don’t say that,” Falyn said. “I would never
let that happen. Never.”
    Sheireadan turned to face her. It made Dayn
more than a little uncomfortable. But what Sheireadan said next
made him even more so: “I did everything I could to keep Dayn away
from you, Falyn. I don’t think I can keep Zared away from you, too.
Dayn ran. Zared won’t.”
    “And you won’t either,” a voice boomed.
    Falyn’s and Sheireadan’s heads spun toward
the voice. From out of the shadows a dark figure emerged, its hair
and clothing so black, its face looked like that of a decapitated
skull floating toward them.
    Falyn gasped. “Father…We were only—”
    “Save your breath, daughter,” Lorcan said.
“It’s clear what you’re doing. You’re defying my orders.”
    “I made her come,” Sheireadan blurted. “We
meant no disrespect.”
    “I’ll be the judge of that.”
    “I only came to take the healing. I—”
    “Who gave you permission?” Lorcan asked.
    “Father, please,” Falyn pleaded. “He’s
hurt.”
    “Hurt?” Lorcan whipped his walking stick from
beneath his cloak, slapping it against the palm of his hand. He
laughed, a laugh so cruel it sent a chill down Dayn’s spine. He
couldn’t imagine the fear it must be sending Falyn’s and
Sheireadan’s way right now. How many times had they been forced to
endure it over the years?
    “Out. Now,” Lorcan ordered.
    Falyn and Sheireadan hesitated, but then
slowly worked their way to the edge of the pool. Sheireadan reached
it first. Lorcan yanked him by an arm and pulled him out, flinging
him to the ground. Sheireadan groaned and curled into a ball,
hugging his ribs.
    Lorcan picked up Sheireadan’s clothes and
tossed them on top of the huddled form at his feet. “Get dressed,”
he said with disgust.
    Falyn clambered out of the pool, her skirt
weighted with water and clinging to her legs. She shuffled over to
Sheireadan, but her father grabbed her arm and jerked her away. “He
will dress himself,” he said.
    “But Father, he can’t. He—” But the backside
of Lorcan’s hand sent her sprawling.
    Dayn stepped around the pillar before he
could think what he was doing. “Touch her again and I’ll kill you
with my bare hands,” he said in a tone that even he did not
recognize. He stood, hands fisted at his side, glaring at Lorcan
with a rage so intense, he wondered if he truly possessed demon
blood after all. Dayn’s legs felt like pudding quivering on a
plate, but at least his words had come out sounding like those of a
demon.
    If Lorcan’s expression had turned any darker
it would have disappeared into an abyss void of color. All Dayn
could see of the man were the whites of his eyes, but then a cruel
flash of teeth sent a message of hatred across the spans of the
pool. “Demon,” Lorcan hissed.
    “That’s right,” Dayn said, trying to sound as
sinister as the creature he was facing. “Lay another hand on her
and you’ll feel me tear your soul out by the roots.” Dayn forced
his feet forward, slowly making his way around the