Read Into the Wilderness: Blood of the Lamb (Book Two) for Free Online Page B

the hand he now held out to her. Still, she conceded only one half-hearted shake before tugging her hand back quickly from his grasp.
    â€œWe have a deal then,” he said.
    â€œI guess we do.” She hated how he looked at her, like a hunter eyeing up his prey.
    â€œThen right now I have this to say—” He rubbed his toealong a join between the timbers of the deck. “I saw you kissing my cousin in the night.”
    She found she could not look at him, and studied instead his restless foot. His toes were long, each joint clearly delineated beneath his pale skin. “What of it?” she challenged him, knowing there was no point in denial. But it infuriated her that he seemed to know what she was doing or thinking at every turn.
    â€œNothing, little Sister. Nothing.” He leaned in towards her, his voice now serious and hushed. “But be careful where you rest your heart. Your blood may have given him a boost, but, believe me, Te Matee Iai does not give up its own so easily.”
    Her gaze flew up to his, but she could not read the content of his eyes. “What is it you're trying to say?”
    â€œOnly this: those who use the Blessed Sisters’ blood to halt Te Matee Iai's progress are not cured, merely given a reprieve.”
    â€œReprieve?”
    He ran his hand almost tenderly down one of the ropes, and sighed. “Have you not wondered why so many of your Sisters have already died? Or why more and more are picked each Judgement time to fill the ranks? The need for blood— ongoing need—is as endless as this sea.”
    â€œYou mean—” Her question died as the meaning of his words struck her full force. He was saying Joseph still could die. But even as she processed this, out of the corner of her eye she saw an unfathomable emotion ripple across Lazarus's face. Of course! He was teasing her, knowing full well how much his prediction would cause her grief. “You're lying,” she accused him. “I heard your own mother say she could maintain his strength.”
    â€œMaintain, yes. Keep him alive without more blood? Not achance.” He looked pleased with himself, as though he believed he'd dealt her a mortal blow.
    â€œYou really are detestable. What kind of person would wish his cousin dead merely to score a point with me?” The answer came easily enough: a liar and heartless beast.
    She turned her back on his deceit, hurrying down the deck to join Ruth at the tiller. From now on, she vowed, she would not rise to his bait, no matter how he taunted her. And if he thought he could lie to her—well, he was wrong.

    The wind rose to a gusty westerly, hitting the boat head on and making a hard slog of progress as they tacked from side to side to make leeway towards the west. Maryam and Lazarus were forced to work together, adjusting the heavy sails each time they made a turn. It was arduous and concentrated work, and by noon the sun blazed directly overhead, the harsh rays bouncing off the water and striking at Lazarus's pale unprotected skin like open flames.
    Maryam had just ducked into the shelter for a drink of water when she heard Ruth give a strangled cry from her station at the tiller.
    â€œSweet Lord in Heaven! Come and see this.”
    Maryam rushed to her, following the line of Ruth's arm as she pointed out in front of them to the south-west. There, at the very edge of the horizon, something broke the regularity of the hazy border between sea and sky.
    â€œCan you see it too?” Ruth demanded.
    Maryam blinked and looked again, clambering to the veryprow of the boat to see if she could gain a better view. There was something there, she was sure of it.
    â€œI can!” she called back, her heart banging out its excitement despite the wilting effects of the sun. But the shadowy apparition was further to the south than any land they'd plotted on the map. Time to wake Joseph , she thought. He will know.
    She charged back down