Page 2 of Path of the Dark
Gael glanced back at her as he reached for his cloak and shrugged it on. “Did you really think I was a romantic harpist from Anthor, traveling The Four Kingdoms looking for the right woman?”
The scorn in his voice cut like a razor, and despite that she was having trouble focusing, Ryana flinched. “Aye,” she rasped. “I thought you loved me.”
His mouth twisted, and he turned, hiding his face from her while he did up the satchel and slung it across his front.
“I’m an enchanter, like you,” he said finally, turning back. He held up his right hand, revealing a dark-inked eight-pointed star.
Ice washed over Ryana. “How?”
He shrugged. “A cloaking charm.”
She stared at him. He spoke as if such things were easy. Enchanters of the Dark had the ability to cast charms, but the Star of Darkness wasn’t a mark easily hidden.
“Why?” she whispered, the sound so broken that she hated herself.
“The Order didn’t suit me, so I found other folk who did,” he replied, his tone casual. “The Shade Brotherhood has been looking for the missing pieces ofThe King Breakerfor centuries … and I’m about to deliver them a prize.”
Ryana swallowed hard, keeping her gaze fixed upon Gael. “You’d help them free The Shadow King?”
He favored her with another smile, this one roguish. “If it gets me what I want … aye.”
Gael moved toward the door, in long cat-footed strides.
“Wait,” Ryana gasped. Her vision blurred; it took all her will not to start pleading.
Reaching for the door handle, he cast her a cool glance over his shoulder and raised a questioning eye brow.
“Whatisit you want?” she demanded.
Their gazes fused, and this time he didn’t smile. When Gael answered, his voice was low, barely above a whisper, and yet it seemed to reverberate off the wood paneled walls. “Everything.”
