The Red Twins by Dianne Hartsock

Author:Dianne Hartsock
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, magic, sorcerers, mage, twins, psychic powers, military, hurt-comfort, established couples
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2024-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

KORIN SAT ON the edge of the fountain and counted the newly won silver in his pocket. He’d bluffed his way into the game, and though he’d lost a little gold ring on one toss, it hadn’t been his to start with, and silver was much easier to spend anyway.

He glanced up when someone called his name. “Korin, what are you doing here? This is an unexpected pleasure.”

“My lady Nikki!” Korin rose to his feet with a smile for Commander Jaden’s daughter as she came up to him. Then his heart skipped at the sight of her companion. “Hello.” He bowed to them.

“Have you abandoned your friends already?” Syros asked coolly.

The contempt in his voice tore Korin’s heart. Where was this coming from? “Perhaps,” he managed and cleared his throat. “Why are you still in the South? Isn’t it dangerous for you here?”

“It may be, but I will stay until this issue with Robin is resolved.”

Korin couldn’t stop himself from looking at him, so damned handsome in his uniform. Syros frowned, his lips parting as if he were going to speak. Then he blinked and his eyes grew cold as they rested on him.

“Syros,” Korin said in dismay. “Can we not at least be friends?”

“I’m sorry, Korin, but I can’t give my friendship to a man I have no respect for.”

Korin felt numb and put his trembling hands in his pockets as he walked away from them. He wondered, with distraction, why his heart thumped so painfully. It didn’t matter. Nothing ever mattered.

He walked aimlessly along the streets, his wandering feet leading him into the castle. He climbed the long stairs to the tower and sat on the parapet, kicking his heels against the aged stone. The sun was going down in the far distance and little lights flickered in the houses below his feet. He giggled a little as he held the wine flask he’d appropriated from the kitchen on his way through to his lips. He never realized before how empty and alone a man could feel in the vast space of the world. But the wine was sweet and cool and brought the return of blessed numbness.

“Will you come down?”

He froze at the voice, the one he longed to hear, but now it only filled him with a blinding anger. He stared fixedly at the lowering sun.

“Korin?” There was a worried note in the voice. Must be the wine.

“I’ll not apologize for who I am!” The words burst out of him in a harsh whisper, and he trembled with emotion. Why was Syros tormenting him? He’d not endure it! He slid to his feet, but his traitorous body wouldn’t walk away. He stood with averted face, his heart pounding in his ears.

“I’m sorry, Korin. When I heard you called Lord Fredrik’s ‘pet’ last time you were here, and after the way you behaved in Siagan…” Korin flinched as Syros’s words cut into him but held his breath as Syros continued, “I thought it was true. I thought you were Fredrik’s lover.

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