Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga) by Cole Courtney

Author:Cole, Courtney [Cole, Courtney]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Published: 2011-04-20T15:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

The walk back to the palace was a long one. Not because I was supporting Iras’ weight as she limped along on her sore ankles, but because I wasn’t sure how to answer Antony’s demands for information. And one thing about Antony… he was definitely demanding. He expected to get what he asked for.

“Antony, I told you,” I leveled my gaze at him once more as we trekked along the beach to the palace. “We’ll go straight to Cleopatra and get the answers that you seek.”

I was desperately trying to buy time, to decide what to do, so I allowed him to think that Cleopatra was the mastermind behind our deception.

“And I told you, Charmian,” he replied through gritted teeth. “She won’t give me the answers that I seek. She’ll give me what she wants me to hear. I want the real answers from you, right now.”

I sighed and stared at the fiery light of the lighthouse across the harbor. It was hard to believe that I could’ve died beneath it just a scant hour ago. It seemed so benign now as its beacon guided sailors safely in from the sea.

“Antony, please. You know that I cannot do that. Don’t ask me to- You know that I am loyal to you, my lord… but my loyalty is first to Cleopatra.” I implored him with my eyes and he grunted in frustration, looking away.

“Oh and Antony…”

He glared sullenly at me once more. “Yes?”

“Thank you for saving my life.”

His taut mouth stretched into a grin.

“You saved your own life, Charmian. You’re quite the feisty hell-cat!”

He slapped my shoulder and we continued on past the guards stationed at the staircase in silence. He abandoned his efforts to get information from me, as he scooped Iras up in his arms and carried her up the stairs.

As we re-entered the palace, Antony led the way, barging down the quiet hallway with the subtly of a charging bull. I sighed again. At this rate, he was going to wake the entire palace.

He pushed open the doors to Cleopatra’s chambers without knocking, as I trailed along in his wake. Cleopatra was reclining in a chaise lounge by her open balcony doors, reading thick papyrus scrolls by the light of an oil lamp. She looked up in surprise as we barged into her chamber.

“Antony, what in the world…” her voice trailed off. “Iras!” she breathed, obviously relieved.

“So you did know,” Antony hissed at her as he towered above her. “You knew that Pothinus was holding Iras hostage… because he wants some sort of magical stone. And you never thought it was important enough to share with me!”

His voice elevated to a thunderous pitch and I cringed. Antony was a kind man, but he did have an explosive temper.

“My lord,” Cleopatra purred soothingly as she rose from her lounge.

She took one look at my face and read the unspoken message there. She rolled with the punches and I had never been so impressed. The woman was good.

“I did

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