The Hard Way (Box Set) Read Free Page A

dark existence, where I was a brain, nothing more, nothing less.
    His hands, those pale powerful hands, cupped my face gently. He understood my pain, for he shared it. I could see the knowledge in his eyes, see him damning the fates that had so cursed us, yet hoping against hope that this time would be different.
    A tear fell from my eye as his lips brushed against mine, but a loud noise, the sound of a horse’s hooves, broke us apart.
    Luster turned as the door flap was flung open. The onyx face of Glow appeared around the tent flap. Lust opened his mouth to protest, and I dove for a pillow to use as cover.
    “Titans!” Glow shouted. His knowing eyes took in my naked body cowering behind pillows and the unashamed nakedness of his leader.
    Lust was instantly all business as he reached for first his sword, then his pants. “How many and where?”
    “A group of twenty,” Glow answered, staring at the ground. “And they are headed in this direction. What magic do they possess that makes us so easy to track?”
    “Damnable luck,” Lust responded. He quickly donned his pants and attached his sword to his back.
    “But to find us here? They have never been able to track us here!”
    Glow, so named for the white-hot glimmer that exploded from his eyes at his agitation, swore softly and turned to leave the tent. “Something is not right, Luster. Glimmer feels it, I feel it, and maybe if you weren’t so involved with the Thinker, you would feel it.”
    I gasped, staring at his retreating back. Never had Glow spoken so harshly of me. Thinker was the worst insult that could be laid on someone in this world of myth and magic.
    “Glow!” Lust shouted, anger lending his pale skin a bluish tinge. “Sinopee has nothing to do with this.”
    “Well… they left us of the forests alone until she started visiting. And she is from a place where Thinkers rule. Thinkers, just like the ones who are hunting us down and killing us slowly!”
    “It was magic that brought me my Sinopee, Glow. Do not forget that.”
    “Well, I guess that magic does not hold the answers to all problems, does it?” Glow slammed out of the tent without another word, leaving his leader panting in anger.
    “Maybe I should go,” I offered, my voice trembling in trepidation of what he would say. He alone held the final verdict. No one could force me to leave my Luster, no one but Luster. And if he willed it, I would go.
    But to never see my lover again, never to caress the ice-colored hair or the skin that seemed too delicate for a man. My heart would break, my reason for being extinguished.
    “You go nowhere,” he said, turning back to me. “My people appointed me leader for a reason, Sinopee. Glow is just flustered by the Titans being so close. They are growing more skilled. It seems that maybe this science stuff has some merit, or maybe they got lucky.”
    “Science is important, Luster. If you would let me help you, we could set up…”
    “No, Sinopee. It is science that created the Titans. It lends them their strength and is their greatest predictability. We will rely on what was gifted to us, magic and strategy.”
    “But Luster --”
    “No, Sinopee.” He smiled at me to alleviate some of the sting of his words, but they hurt nevertheless.
    “Luster,” I began again, turning away from his great beauty. “Science is my gift.”
    “But Sinopee, sweet Sinopee,” he sighed as he dropped to his knees beside me. “This is not your world, not your fight.”
    “But I was brought here!” I protested, trying to keep the frustration and fear out of my voice. If anything happened to Luster, if anything happened to my lover…
    “For me, Sinopee. You were brought here because I need you to be complete. Without you, I have no will to go on.”
    “Just maybe I was brought here so that you could utilize my gifts,” I repeated sullenly.
    Before Luster could answer, Glow returned.
    “I have brought clothing, Sinopee,” he said. “And… an apology.