Master of Chains - Jess Lebow [85]
"So what are you going to do about Purdun's offer?" asked Samira after a short silence.
Liam shrugged. "I just can't help thinking that Purdun might be right."
"Right about what?" asked Samira.
Liam sat up a little. "When I talked to him the first time, he told me that the Crimson Awl were being manipulated by an outside source. He said that we were being used to a greater end."
"Used? By whom?"
A bolt of realization struck Liam. "By a vampire."
"A vampire?" Samira laughed, running the cloth down his arm. "The vampires haven't been seen in Erlkazar for years. The Crusaders dealt with them during the revolution."
"We fought vampires today."
Samira dropped the cloth, gripping Liam's hand.
"There's something else too, something that has been bothering me."
She gave his hand a squeeze. "What?"
"Do you remember when Montauk and his thugs came by the field to take me to talk to the Council?"
"Yes," she said. "I was so worried about you."
"They took me to the old druid's circle. But when I got there, there was a group of strangers there. Most of them were wearing cloaks. I couldn't see their faces, but I'm pretty sure I had never seen them before."
Samira frowned. "But I thought you knew everyone in the Awl."
Liam nodded. "Me too. I mean, I do. And that's what bothers me." He shook his head, remembering back to that day. "When Purdun's troops arrived, things got pretty crazy. Still, I could see the strangers leaving the druid's circle." His eyes met Samira's. "As they walked away, I could have sworn several of them transformed into wolves."
"Wolves?"
Liam nodded. "I know it sounds strange, but… I saw it. With my own eyes."
Samira ran her hand along his arm. "But what does it mean?"
Liam took a deep breath. "I think it means Purdun was right. Someone has infiltrated the Awl and is manipulating the Council."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," said Liam. He turned away from her for a moment, then turned back. "What do you think?"
Samira smiled at him. "Well, I don't think you need to solve all of Ahlarkham's problems tonight." She reached up and pulled out the sticks holding her hair in a pile atop her head, letting it fall down over her shoulders. Several of the flowers and tiny gemstones toppled out onto the floor.
Then she stood up and slipped the gown off her shoulders, letting it slide to the floor as well. Samira stood before Liam. The candle on the chest of drawers behind her lit Samira's naked body in a soft orange-yellow outline.
Liam admired the exquisite woman before him, a warm sensation spreading up his spine. It had been a long time. He had always wanted this, but Samira was his brother's wife.
Samira knelt on the edge of the bed and leaned over him.
Liam placed his calloused hand along the side of her face. He felt like such a brute, his rough, broken hide alongside Samira's smooth, soft skin. He pulled the hand away, but she reached out and pulled it back, placing it again where it had been.
Liam looked away, but Samira grabbed his chin and turned him to face her.
"Ryder is gone," said Samira. "Nothing either of us can do will bring him back."
"I know that," replied Liam.
"It's time we started living our lives for ourselves," she said.
"But…"
Samira moved his hand down her shoulder and across her chest.
"But nothing, Liam," she said. She leaned down and kissed him.
The aches and pains in his battered body were instantly replaced with a feeling of euphoria.
"I've seen how you've looked at me, Liam," said Samira, pulling away slightly. "I've secretly looked at you too."
Whatever worries Liam had in the world were swept away by those few words. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down on top of him and squeezing her to him.
"I've always loved you," he said, somehow now not afraid to tell her about the feelings he had been holding back for so many years.
"I know," she said as she moved her hand along the