Read Daughters of the Dagger 03 - Amber for Free Online Page B

now hand it over.”
    “You mean it belongs to you, don’t you? I have no doubt in the least that neither the church nor the monastery ever sees a penny of this. I’ll hold on to half of it, as after all, I’ll have travelling expenses. Though I’ll be on pilgrimage, this time I’ll be stopping at pubs to eat and sleep along the way instead of begging for food and sleeping on the damp earth. Matter of fact, I think I may even buy a horse, as I tire of walking.”
    “Lucas, that wasn’t the deal, now hand it over.”
    “It wasn’t part of the deal that I almost got killed either, so I’ll take my share as I feel is fair.” He dumped most the coins on the bed and shook the pouch, looking inside to inspect what was left. “There you go.” He pulled the strings closed and tossed it to Father Armand. “Your thirty pieces of silver, Judas.”
    “Don’t call me that!” snapped the priest, shoving the coin pouch under his robe.
    “Why not? After all, you have betrayed God. Besides, being called Judas is admirable compared to being called Lucifer, don’t you think?”

Chapter 3
    Amber rushed to her room and closed the door, then threw herself down at the side of her pallet. On her knees, with her hands folded in prayer, she blessed herself and tried to calm her breathing.
    “Forgive me, God,” she prayed. “I never meant to kiss the man. I am devoted and would never do this of my own accord, but it was he who saw to kiss me. I despised every minute of it.”
    She went into a mantra of Hail Marys, but stopped when she thought once again about the kiss. His piercing blue eyes were dangerous and perusing, and he tasted like power and strength as he thrust his tongue into her mouth.
    Her heart beat even faster just thinking about it, and she realized she was lying to God when she said she despised it. She’d felt a flutter in her chest and a tingle against her skin when he’d touched her. She could still remember the softness of his lips and the way she’d almost melted under his slight embrace.
    “Nay!” she cried out and squeezed her eyes shut. She should not be feeling this way about a man. Especially such a dangerous one that they’d referred to as the devil. But a part of her came a live today that she’d never known existed. She enjoyed the kiss just like he’d said. But she would never beg him to kiss her again as he predicted. She would make certain of that.
    She never wanted to see him again. He was just like that fallen angel Lucifer to try to coerce her into sexual pleasures. He was a vile man to even touch a nun , even if she was only a novice. She still deserved the same respect of any of the other Sisters of St. Ermengild. She needed to focus. Her training was in midstream, and before long she would take her final vows and become married to God for life. She didn’t need this right now, as it was going to spoil everything.
    She was here for a purpose. It was up to her to save her family’s souls. Her mother had been dishonest and dishonorable , and her older sisters both had committed mortal sins. How could anyone who killed a man or committed adultery ever make their way to Heaven? It was up to her now, and she needed to concentrate on her goal. She didn’t need doubt creeping into her thoughts about becoming a nun. She was doing the right thing, she told herself. She would just keep far away from Lucas and she would have nothing to worry about.
    Locked inside the abbey with all the nuns and monks, she knew she would have no trouble keeping her mind on prayer. But she had kissed a man, and now she’d have to confess it. She only hoped when she went to confession in the morning that Father Armand would be forgiving. He was already upset with the way she spoke to him at the church, and she had no doubt her penance was going to be hefty. But no matter what, she would accept her penance with grace, and repent for her sins. She would keep her soul from being blackened, but in order to do that,