Earth Borne Read Free Page A

twice the breadth of hers and thick arms that beguiled her feminine senses whenever he flexed.
    Alkippe cleared her throat. Oh gods, had she been salivating? She forced her mind back to their conversation and slammed down her hairbrush with a frustrated cry. “How can I lie to him? How can I?” She leaned backward into Alkippe’s warm, motherly presence, drawing comfort from the delicate scent of her anise perfume.
    “You will, my child.” Alkippe framed Melita’s face in her hands and eyed her through the mirror. “If you don’t succeed, there will be nothing to stop him from ordering your execution. And mine.”
    Oh, clever centauress. She always knew how to convince Melita to do anything. While she might be willing to sacrifice herself, she’d never risk her friend. “Alkippe, I would nev—”
    “What am I? Some sort of dim-witted ninny?” She snorted. “No, if milord discovers your identity, he’ll deem you’ve had help. ’Twas my scheme, after all. He’ll presume I had knowledge of it, and I’m as guilty of treason as you are. Milady, you will seduce Lord Thereus, and in doing so, save both our hides.”
    The enormity of the falsehood she’d been living overwhelmed her. She bit her lip and the tang of copper spread across her tongue. How dangerous this folly was. Though it had broken her heart, she’d believed with the rest of them that Thereus was most likely dead. That she was safe.
    What if I can’t carry this through? It had churned her stomach, but she’d been able to fool his family, the servants, and the villagers. His family had never met Kalliste. No servant had ever seen her up close. The villagers never laid eyes on her. Lapith noblewomen usually wore veils over their faces to protect their delicate skin from the sun’s harsh rays, and Kalliste had been no exception.
    But not Thereus. He’d been with Kalliste in the most intimate of ways… Sort of. Whatever truths came free, he could never learn the cruel depths of her deception.
    Even worse, what if he should recall Melita from that night? She wasn’t sure if he’d been intoxicated enough to forget it entirely.
    Still, she had to try to solve this. She wouldn’t compromise the one woman who’d been friend, mentor, and mother to her. Besides, she’d spent the last four years masquerading as Kalliste, ever since her death. She’d been present for every second of interaction between her sister and Thereus, though he’d never once glimpsed her face. Her appearance, being similar to Kalliste’s, had convinced her sister that Melita should be cloaked. A simple enchantment altered her countenance, and her scent.
    It was not unheard of for royalty to possess a look-a-like—a servant who posed as them in dangerous or undesirable situations. Indeed, Kalliste had been saving her sister for precisely such an occasion. Should the war between Lapiths and centaurs ever resume, it had always been Kalliste’s intention to switch places until her brother arranged for safe passage home.
    Unlike her siblings, Melita didn’t perceive centaurs to be brutish animals. Those of Cheiron’s line were wise, gentle, and though fiery by nature, not the barbaric race history claimed them. In fact, of the two, she rather thought her father’s house more savage.
    Smoothing down the silk of her dress, she hoped to erase her nerves as easily as those wrinkles. Alkippe’s plans might call for seduction, but Melita had another scheme in mind. “Very well, I shall give it my best.” Offering a determined smile, she glanced at Alkippe.
    “Remember, child. Whether or not you are his bride, you are his bonded mate. One cannot force such affection on any centaur. What he feels for you is true.”
    She huffed at her friend’s reassurances. Would that they gave her the confidence they intended.
    “Let’s not keep him waiting.” The centauress opened the grand wooden doors.
    As Melita passed through them, she recalled the other victim of their deception.