Brides of the Kindred
Book 10: Divided
Evangeline Anderson
KINDLE EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Evangeline Anderson on Kindle
Brides of the Kindred
Book 10: Divided
Copyright © 2014 by Evangeline Anderson
Kindle Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
Author’s Note #1— First of all, please no piracy. It's not a victimless crime—I have a family to support so please, buy your own copy and encourage friends to do the same so I can keep writing these books for everyone's pleasure.
Author's note #2—Most of you know I'm writing another series as well as the Kindred now—a set of paranormal books called Born to Darkness. If you haven't checked them out yet, they are on Amazon, Smashwords, and All Romance. The first book is Crimson Debt and the second one is Scarlet Heat. And yes, I'm still working on Ruby Shadows. I got about 30,000 words in and my muse abruptly demanded to write Chained instead. Then my muse wanted more Kindred so I wrote Divided. And now...*sigh* she appears to be intent on still MORE Kindred so I am working on Devoured, Kindred 11. Sorry guys, please don't hate me! I promise to get back to Ruby Shadows eventually. But I have learned from years in this business, that a book NEVER comes out well when there is another book my muse really wants to be writing waiting on the backburner. Hopefully when I finish Devoured, I can get back to the Born to Darkness series.
Author’s Note #3—This is the tenth book in the Brides of the Kindred series and there are at more to come. I recommend that you read Claimed, Hunted, Sought, Found, Revealed, Pursued, Exiled, Shadowed, and Chained before beginning Divided or you are going to be completely lost.
Hugs and Happy Reading to you all!
Evangeline Anderson
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Epilogue
Kindred 11: Devoured Excerpt
Kindred Glossary
About the Author
Chapter One
“So Maggie is making a full recovery?” Kat ate another bite of donut. “Mmm, delicious.”
“You say that about everything you eat,” Olivia said with a laugh.
“Just feeding my boys.” Kat winced and put a hand to her very round belly. “Settle down, you two! I’m eating as fast as I can.” She looked at Liv and shrugged. “See? Can’t help it—they want Krispy Kreme donuts. So—Maggie?”
“I’ve been keeping a good eye on her at the Med station and she’s getting better every day. It’s a miracle, really. There were some recording devices stationed in the town square and I saw what happened to her—she should have died of those injuries. All she had was some blood loss.”
“According to her, she did die,” Becca Malone said quietly. “She claims she was brought back for a purpose.”
“I believe it,” Kat said, looking uncharacteristically somber. “The Goddess spared my life too, you know—she did it for Deep when he offered to switch places with me and die in my stead.”
“That’s exactly what Maggie said Kor told her that he was thinking…or praying or whatever, when Lissa started channeling the Goddess,” Liv said.
“The Goddess recognizes and rewards self-sacrifice—especially when it’s between a bonded pair,” Kat remarked. She looked at Becca. “Hey, you were almost a nun—what do you think about all this?”
“I think Maggie is a lucky girl but she’s brave too—she went out to face the demon knowing it could kill her,” Becca said. She sighed. “I only wish I could be that brave. Sometimes I think my whole life has been about taking the safest paths and making the decisions I thought would ruffle the least feathers.”
“Speaking of decisions…” Sophie put a hand to her temple and winced. “I’m afraid your own personal decision is headed our way, Becca. Sylvan just bespoke me and said that Truth and Far are both on their way to our suite.”
Kat groaned. “Not both at the same time? There’s always so much tension around those two—it’s like being caught in the middle of a lightning storm when you have to be in the same room with them.”
“Do they still expect you to choose between them?” Liv asked.
Becca nodded. “Ever since I finally announced that I was giving up my calling to the Church, they won’t leave me alone.”
“Oh, so you definitely won’t be a nun?” Sophia asked sympathetically. “That must be hard.”
“Harder on my family than me.” Becca sighed. “My mother cried for days and my father threatened to disown me. But I just…” She looked down at her hands, trying to think how to put it. “After what I experienced in the Sacred Grove that day with Truth and Far…it’s like…like a part of me was woken up. A part I didn’t know I had, but now that it’s awake I can’t put it back to sleep again.”
“That part wouldn’t happen to be your sex drive, would it?” Kat asked frankly.
“Maybe.” Becca felt her cheeks getting hot. “I just can’t take a vow of celibacy now that I know—at least in part—what I’d be missing. It wouldn’t be honest to myself or to God. It wouldn’t be right.”
“You have to do what’s right for you,” Liv said. “Don’t let your family or Truth or Far or anyone else dictate your life—you choose what you want and who you want to be with.”
“But speaking of that, how can she possibly just choose one?” Kat protested. “That’s like saying you’ll choose which half of your body to keep.”
“It might seem like that to you, Kat. But I…” Becca shook her head. “I can’t be with both. It’s already killing my family to know I failed to take my vows. I can’t tell them I want to be with…with two men at once on top of that.”
“I used to feel the same way.” Kat nodded. “I was worried about my grandmother—she’s really strict.”
“Not as strict as my parents, I bet.” Becca looked down. “You know they sent me away to convent school when I was just seven? I never even saw a boy who wasn’t my brother until I was eleven or twelve.” She sighed. “That was because my father wanted to keep me pure. And he thought he had succeeded. Until now.”
“Oh, hon…?
?? Kat reached over and squeezed her hand. “You can’t beat yourself up over what happened with Truth and Far or about how you feel now. After all, the heart wants what the heart wants.”
“But I don’t know what my heart wants,” Becca protested, pushing a reddish-brown curl behind her ear. “When I’m with Truth, I’m so drawn to his fire but when I’m with Far, I love his quiet intensity. And I just—”
Suddenly there was a soft chime at the door and all the girls but Becca groaned.
“And there they are,” Sophia muttered. “Becca can you please tell them to keep it down? Kaleb and Kara are napping and if they wake up too soon I’ll have a terrible time with them tonight.”
“I’ll do better than that.” Becca put down her half eaten donut. “I’ll take them on a walk and keep them away entirely.”
There was a chorus of protest.
“Oh, no, hon—you don’t have to do that,” Olivia protested.
“As long as they keep their voices down it should be all right,” Sophia said.
“We know how you don’t want to be alone with the two of them at once,” Kat remarked. “I mean—have you ever, since the, uh, wedding?”
Becca shook her head. “No, I’ve spent time with them one-on-one and I’ve spent time with them together when we were in a group of people, but I haven’t been alone with both of them at once since our first meeting.” She took a deep breath. “But it’s time I started facing my problems and stopped using my friends as a buffer.”
“But you don’t have to—” Sophia began.
“Yes, I do,” Becca said firmly. “Maggie was brave enough to face certain death when her man was indwelled by a demon. I can at least be brave enough to face the two men I have to choose between.”
“All right then,” Kat said doubtfully. “Good luck, doll.”
“Do you want any of us to put on a think-me and bespeak you after a little while—you know, pretend there’s a problem and we need you back here?” Olivia asked practically.
“No. I’ll be fine.” Becca didn’t know if she was trying to convince her friends…or herself. Her heart was pounding as she made her way to the door of Sophia’s suite but she forced herself to keep moving. She let her hand hover over the door release and took a deep breath. Here goes. Then she pressed the latch.
Chapter Two
When the door whooshed open, Becca saw that Truth and Far were already in mid-argument.
“…think you should leave her alone,” Far was saying, his pitch black eyes filled with icy anger.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? If I’d just step aside and give you a free shot with my female,” Truth growled, his white-gray eyes snapping with fire.
“She’s not your female. She’s—”
“Stop it, the two of you,” Becca said sharply. “I don’t belong to either one of you so stop fighting over me like a couple of dogs with a bone.”
Truth frowned. “What’s a dog?”
“You know—one of those yapping, growling little animals from Earth. Always barking and sniffing around places they don’t belong.” Far gave his brother a significant look and then smiled at Becca. “I prefer cats myself.”
“Well, I prefer not to be out with a couple of squabbling children.” Becca put a hand on her hip. “Look at you two—you’re grown ass men. Now act like it.”
She saw the brothers exchange a surprised look and felt a surge of triumph. Olivia was right—it was time to take control of her life. And part one of that plan was getting these two in order.
“We’re sorry,” Far said contritely. “At least, I am.”
“I am as well. Apologies if I have offended you.” Truth made her a short bow.
“You’re both forgiven—for now.” Becca took a deep breath. “Now, I thought it would be nice if we took a walk.”
“Oh?” Truth frowned. “Which one of us did you wish to walk with? Actually, I think it’s my turn.”
“No, it’s not.” Far glowered at his brother. “It’s my turn.”
“Boys…” Becca held up her hands to stop them. “You’re doing it again.”
They both muttered apologies but neither looked happy.
“Good.” Becca took a deep breath. “Anyway, I don’t want to pick just one of you to go on a walk with. I thought it would be nice if we all three went.”
“Really?” Far looked surprised.
“Is this really necessary?” Truth’s face was like a thundercloud.
“Yes, it is,” Becca said firmly. “Now, let’s go. Maybe we can go down to the common area and get some sun.” She was referring, of course, to the artificial green sun that hung in the center of the Kindred Mother Ship. It was the ship’s power source and it also shed light over the Sacred Grove and the vast, grassy parkland that surrounded it.
“What—down by the place where we first met?” Truth asked, looking at her significantly.
“Um…yes.” Becca felt her cheeks heating in a blush when she considered what their first “meeting” had entailed. It was the first and last time she had touched either of the brothers sexually—or rather, they had touched her. She knew Truth and Far were thinking of it too.
“Look what you’ve done—you embarrassed her,” Far accused his brother.
“Apologies,” Truth murmured, his eyes still trained on her face. “I just wanted to be certain I knew what my lady wanted.”
“That’s right, Becca is a lady and you should treat her as such—not some automated Pairing Puppet you want to—”
“Enough!” Becca held up her hands again. “Come on, let’s walk. And listen, boys—if you can’t say anything nice to each other then don’t say anything at all.”
That shut them up at last and the three of them walked in silence down the long, curving metal corridor towards the transports that would take them to the common area.
Becca walked between the brothers but she was very, very careful not to touch them. She kept her hands securely in her pockets and her elbows tucked close to her torso to avoid brushing either one of the big male bodies bracketing hers. She was wearing a t-shirt and a modest knee-length denim skirt but her casual clothing didn’t feel like nearly enough of a barrier. She wished she hadn’t forgotten her cardigan back at the guest suite she was staying at—not because she was cold but because it would have formed another layer of insulation…protection between herself and the men.
Anyone watching her careful avoidance would probably think she was being so cautious because of her background as a novice and her attempt to retain her chastity—but they would be only half right. Becca had other reasons to avoid contact with the two of them.
As they walked, she reflected that she didn’t have to be nearly so careful when she was with either one of them alone. Far liked to hold her hand and stroke her fingers when they talked and Truth loved kissing the pulse point of her wrist—probably because that was the only place Becca would allow him to kiss her. But though both of these contacts made her heart quicken pleasantly, neither one felt dangerous. Being with the two of them—especially being between the two brothers—did.
Even now, Becca wished she could walk on one side or the other and not be in the middle but that was impossible—she always had to act as a buffer between them or they fought like cats and dogs.
You’re not a buffer, whispered a little voice in her head. You’re a conduit. A catalyst. A channel between the two of them. And when they touch you both at once…
Becca shivered, trying to push the thought away but she couldn’t help remembering the one and only time she had touched both brothers skin-to-skin at the same time. The electricity that had jumped between them, the pleasure so intense it was scary, not to mention the way they were suddenly all in each other’s heads and the things she had seen…felt…experienced…
It was only that way because I ate the bonding fruit cake, she told herself uneasily. I’m sure it would be perfectly safe for me to touch them both now.
All the same she kept her hand
s in her pockets. She might be brave enough to go out with both of them at once, but she wasn’t that brave. Small steps—she would take small steps and see where they led her. And there was no way she was risking that scary pleasure again—not today, anyway. It was too easy to lose herself that way and after finally deciding not to take her vows, Becca felt like she was just beginning to find herself. She didn’t want to lose the ground she’d gained.
“Well, here we are,” Truth said as they stepped out onto the park-like common area.
“Thank you for that, Captain Oblivious,” Far muttered.
“I believe the Earth term is ‘Captain Obvious,’” Truth growled, frowning.
“No, I think I got it right the first time.” Far raised an eyebrow at his brother meaningfully.
“Boys, please!” Becca glared at the two of them. “I swear—it’s like being with a pair of Kindergarteners!”
She stalked off, heading over the grassy plain dotted with green and purple trees and happy Kindred families, leaving them to either catch up or argue.
Unfortunately, they did both.
“I think we should stay away from the Sacred Grove,” Far was saying under his breath as they came up to her again. “It might bring back…memories.”
“What’s so wrong with that?” Truth demanded. “I swear that was the only time I could stand being in the same space with you.”
“And I, you, Brother,” Far spat.
Becca sighed mentally. Back in high school she might have thought that being fought over by two hot guys was a rush but she was well past that stage now. The constant bickering between the two of them was really getting old. Trying to tune them out, she watched as a human girl tried to show her Beast Kindred boyfriend how to play Frisbee.
“Look,” the girl was saying. “You hold it like this and then just give it a fling—it’s all in the wrist.”
“What is the point of this game?” her Kindred boyfriend growled, his amber eyes flashing.
“To catch it and throw it back, of course.” The girl was half exasperated, half laughing. “Come on—it’s fun.”