“I’m flattered, but unfortunately, my network isn’t quite that extensive or well informed.”
She opened her mouth as if to respond, her gaze swimming with thoughts left unspoken. Gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head before continuing on. “Muncy Tidwell died unexpectedly a few weeks ago.”
Somehow he doubted that was what she’d originally intended to say, but if she chose to ignore his boorish behavior, he sure as hell wasn’t going to bring it up. And so the awkwardness dissipated ever so slowly.
“A more useless N’thuil the world has never seen,” Gray replied.
“Granted, but Jai Idrish chose him . . . it must have seen something within his heart that spoke of promise.”
“What did it see in you?”
She ducked her head, looking almost shy . . . or ashamed. “I don’t know. It has yet to speak to me. Not since the night of my choosing has it woken from its slumber.”
“Which must be a tale in itself. Jai Idrish has never chosen anyone not shaman-trained.”
“Or male,” she added. “So I’ve been told—repeatedly.”
“Then how . . .”
“It wasn’t my fault, Gray. Honestly. I woke one night as if someone had called to me. I walked out into the corridor, thinking I was being summoned; that the Duke needed me. I don’t remember much after that, but the next thing I knew I was standing in the tower sanctuary, the sphere glowing warm beneath my fingers. It was as if a piece I never knew was missing had suddenly slotted itself into place and I was whole.”
“Sir Dromon must have been furious.
“The Arch Ossine wasn’t happy, but there was nothing he could do once the crystal had chosen its Voice. The laws are clear, and if Sir Dromon is a stickler about anything, it’s following clan law.”
“Hoist with his own petard. He must have been furious after so many years of a compliant toady like Tidwell serving as mouthpiece and cover for his crimes.” A smile quirked his lips as the implications of this news sank in. “Perhaps that’s why you were chosen. You’ve never been compliant in your life.”
A fact he now counted on.
A member of Romance Writers of America and a Golden Heart finalist, ALEXA EGAN lives in Maryland with her family. Visit her on the web at www.alexaegan.com.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Alexa Egan
First Pocket Books paperback edition October 2013
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Cover illustration by Craig White
ISBN 978-1-4516-7292-3
ISBN 978-1-4516-7295-4 (ebook)
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Glossary of the Imnada
Warrior’s Curse Excerpt
Prologue
Chapter 1
About Alexa Egan