House of Gilded Nightmares by Aurora Grey EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Aurora Grey
- Language: English
- Genre: Romantic Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 3.9 MB
- Price: Free
THE FIRST DAY of Ostara is a day marked by the blooming of
astherium blossoms around the lake and the warming of winds from
the northern mountains and five rounds of ringing bells in the
Amethyst Palace. It is also the day of the Choosing, and so, while
everyone else is flooding into the palace, my only desire is to escape.
Which is why I now have the sharp end of a sword pointed between my
eyes.
I gaze down the long length of the blade and drop to my knees, slicing
with my dagger at my attacker’s legs. He grunts, spinning just in time to
avoid my parry. While he’s distracted, I roll forward, leaping to my feet,
and when he turns to face me again, it’s my sword in his face this time.
He lets out a low chuckle and bows his head. “That was actually quite
good, Sarielle.”
I raise my brows. “You say that as if it’s a surprise.”
A few feet away from us, Lilette laughs. “It’s almost as if you’re a good
teacher, Dain.”
“Oh, certainly, it’s all Dain,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Never mind my
countless hours of practice…”
“Oh, hush,” Lilette says with a grin. “My turn now.”
I offer Dain a somewhat sarcastic bow and retreat to my spot beneath the
astherium tree. The clang of their blades rings through the small valley as I
lie back in the grass. Shoots of verdant green scattered with white blossoms
surround me, and a soft breeze moves the branches overhead, shaking loose
more tiny white flowers. Sunlight and shade play over my skin.
Up here in our hiding place, it’s as if the three of us are the only people
alive in all the world. In truth, we’re anything but free. And I can’t fight the
growing tightness that crushes my ribcage as I think about how things
might change after tonight’s announcement.
“Ow!” Dain yells, laughing as Lilette kicks his shin. “Is that any way for
a priestess-in-training to act?”
“You always taught us to be unpredictable in a fight,” she giggles.
He tackles her into the grass and I close my eyes and pretend I don’t
notice. Lilette and Dain have loved each other since we were children. An
innocent, reckless love. A love that, tragically, is quite forbidden.
Just like what we’re doing now.
Leaving the palace grounds. Learning to use weapons. Not to mention
Dain’s hands on Lilette’s body. If we were caught…I don’t even want to
think about what would happen.
It seems I’m not the only one thinking about the risk we’re taking.
“Come on, we need to get back,” Dain says, his voice full of longing and
regret. He stands more to lose than us, being a palace guard. He’d lose his
head for certain.
Love is so foolish…
I shake my head as the thought skitters through it. I’m glad I don’t have
to suffer such an affliction. I lead these excursions for a different reason. It’s
usually only once a month we find an hour or two to escape the palace.
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