Empire of Bones Read Free

used the word in the same way.
    She set her book aside and gave Ethan her complete attention. “I honestly don’t understand why do you let him enrage you like this? You know there’s nothing we can do to stop Father from having a relationship with him. I’m not even sure we should try anymore.”
    Ethan stared at her, obviously shocked. “How can you say that? It’s obvious what the scum wants.”
    She leaned back in her chair. “Is it? I’m not so certain these days. If Jared Mertz was trying to take advantage of his blood, you’d think he’d be a little more aggressive in advancing his career.”
    “The Bastard forces himself on us time and time again, and all Father ever does is cater to him. And now you’ve become his apologist? The man wants something and I’m not convinced he won’t get it. Father has been muttering and planning something.”
    She regarded her brother coolly. “In the fifteen years we’ve known he’s been around, I’ve never heard of him ask for one thing. Not for himself. Not even for Fleet. And God knows Father has a soft spot in his heart for Fleet.”
    “But… How can you defend him?”
    Her brother’s anguished face tore at her heart, but she couldn’t keep catering to his fixation. “Because Jared Mertz isn’t the one that created our family’s problem. Father had an affair. Father had a child out of wedlock. Father shamed Mother so badly she divorced him. Jared Mertz is as much a victim of circumstances as we are.”
    Ethan slapped his palm on the table sharply, making her jump. “No, he is not. I think he knew exactly the chain of events joining Fleet would start. He did so knowing that the medical test would show precisely what it did. This is part of a long range plan to steal our birthright.”
    That was ridiculous. Kelsey only barely smothered a chuckle. It wouldn’t improve her brother’s mood one. “Take a deep breath. This isn’t some deep-seated conspiracy to displace you. Father would never allow that, even if the Imperial Senate did…which it won’t. You’ve let this delusion eat at you too long. You need to get a grip.”
    Ethan’s expression darkened further. “You’re being dangerously naive, Kelsey. If one of us needs to wake up, it’s you. The Bastard wants the power of the Imperial Throne. Rest assured he won’t fool me as easily as he has you. Tell Father I feel ill.”
    Ethan stalked out of the library even angrier than when he’d arrived.
    She rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly. The normally levelheaded Heir to the Imperial Throne had an unhealthy dislike for their half-brother. It wasn’t reassuring in a man who would one day rule the Empire. The Emperor couldn’t afford to have the same kind of petty jealousies as everyone else.
    Jared Mertz was a pain in her behind, too, but she had finally gained some hard won perspective. At worst, he was some kind of power seeker and her Father would eventually see through him. He would never be more than an irritant for her or her brother.
    When Jared appeared in their lives, she’d been just old enough to understand that her family was coming apart because of him. It had taken far longer for her to realize he wasn’t responsible for her parent’s divorce. That didn’t mean she had to like him, but she no longer blindly hated him as Ethan did.
    As far as she could see, Father’s formal acknowledgement of his bastard son had drastically complicated Jared Mertz’s life. It made advancement in Fleet more difficult because they avoided even the appearance of favoritism. Her discreet checks had revealed his commanders considered him a brilliant officer and he was long overdue for promotion to captain.
    She tried to get back into the book she’d been reading, but her mind refused to focus. The subject of the Empire before the rebellion and resulting Fall usually fascinated her, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her half-brother…and about herself.
    He commanded a Fleet ship now. He’d