a Pleasure Rites, #1 by Ines Johnson (reader novel .TXT) 📕

Tired of her life of leisure after only a week, Chanyn asked to accompany Rianald as he ran his errands. She'd wanted to see the city, she told him. And she had wanted to explore this new land she now lived in. It was not what Chanyn expected.

The part of the city where they lived was clean and safe. The building faces all freshly painted. Round domes sheathed the tops of all buildings, the tips pointing toward the Goddess. The grass below grew green and level. Women strolled the streets in finery. Some were on the arms of men but mostly the men trailed behind. Unattached men looked Chanyn over with interest, glancing first at her ringless hand, then her breasts. The women gave Chanyn curt, suspicious glances. Many spoke rudely behind their hands. Chanyn heard the words "wild" whispered more than once. Not one female came up and asked Chanyn where she got her dress, or paid her a compliment on her shoes, like they did in the books. When one female's flowered cap caught Chanyn's eye, Chanyn approached. Only to have the girl grow wide-eyed and retreat behind her males. Chanyn didn't approach another soul.

With Dain away, and Khial forever attached to his hip, and Jian missing in action, for the past two days Chanyn had been alone. It was worse than five months alone in the ruins without her mother. People surrounded her, but the distance of the crowd crushed her spirit.

Chanyn wrapped her arms around herself at the memory. Then her ears perked up. A sweet sound lured her back to the house. She knew it was Khial playing his instrument. He and Dain were back. Chanyn made her way through the home, up to the second floor. The music lured her past her bedroom.

She'd never been this far into the recesses of the house.

Rianald came out of a door. When he saw her he smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He looked down at the door, hesitated for a brief second, and then left it ajar. He passed Chanyn with a slight bow and continued on down the steps.

Chanyn looked at the door, hesitating. This was obviously both Dain and Khial's bedroom, a bedroom she no longer yearned to share.

Dain and Khial were in love. And so was she.

Dain told her she had a choice in whom she would mate. He'd promised she would not be forced. Chanyn knew Dain wanted to protect her, but she also knew he didn't love her. Dain loved Khial and he was being kind to her, like a friend. That was all there was between them. Friendship. And Chanyn was glad for that friendship, but she knew a marriage couldn't be founded upon it. Especially when there were more than two people in the relationship.

She decided to go in and tell Dain that. When she pushed the door open a bit further, she froze.

Deep brown furniture with black accents lay on the outskirts of the inherently masculine bedroom. A large sleigh bed dominated the area. Dain lay in bed, his eyes closed. Chanyn opened the door farther, and went in. Even from far away she could see that he was ill. His cheeks looked gaunt, sweat dampened his forehead.

As though sensing her, Dain opened his eyes and looked straight at her.

Chanyn saw the same joy he always displayed at seeing her. Dain was a truly loving person, and though she didn't love him in an intimate way, she did love him.

Chanyn read stories of small fish swimming under the bellies of great whales for protection. When Chanyn looked at Dain she felt her heart grow to the size of a whale. Her heart hurt to think that anything could be wrong with her friend.

Khial stopped playing and turned to see what caught Dain's attention.

"Good morning, my lady." Dain pushed himself up to sitting.

Chanyn came to the opposite side of the bed from Khial and sat upon the mattress. Taking Dain's hand in her own, she said, "You don't look well."

Dain's handsome face folded into a mock frown. "I just woke up. Let's see you first thing in the morning with bed head."

Chanyn felt Khial tense. She looked up and for once, Khial didn't scowl at her. But that was only because he looked too weary to manage the expression.

"What's wrong, Dain?" Chanyn asked.

Dain straightened himself with Khial's help. His face paled with the effort. His golden hair lacked its usual luster.

Chanyn hated it. She wanted to push him back down. She wanted to fold him in the covers to keep him warm. To swim above him, keeping him under the protection of her belly.

"I'm ill, Chanyn."

"I can see that," she said. "Can't we go to a physic?"

"We've been," Dain said. "Just yesterday. There's nothing that can be done. I'm going to die, Chanyn."

Chanyn's heart missed a beat. Her mouth lost its sense of taste, her body ached. Falling in love, having your heart broken, and hearing that you would soon lose a friend all felt exactly the same.

"It's my heart," Dain continued. "I was born with weak muscles. They didn't expect me to live past a year. But my parents told the doctors if my heart ailed me then I only need to be showered with love. And that's what they did. They took me home and celebrated each day of my life. I've lived far longer than I was meant to. I've had a wonderful, full life. I've known love."

Dain looked over at Khial. The other man grit his teeth and gripped his instrument, but it was the look of vulnerability on Khial's scowling face that broke Chanyn's heart once more.

Dain turned back to her. "I've been given far more than I could have ever asked for. And then, when I thought things could not have gotten any better for me, I met you."

Chanyn gasped. "Me?"

Dain grinned. "I thought you were an angel when you saved us from that boar. I was right." Dain squeezed her