A Fae in Fort Worth by Amy Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page B

was so raw, so savage that it frightened me and I found myself leaning back, putting more distance between us.
    “The vampires will be dealt with,” he snarled. “I called the Council as soon as we got here, spoke to your handler. They’re gonna send in more hunters to deal with them.” He seemed to battle with something inside himself then said, “We’re just two people, Ash. We can’t do it all alone. Your handler was quick to remind me that the primary concern is retrieving the grimoire.”
    I got the impression that there was something he wasn’t telling me, something important, but he didn’t elaborate. I hated that those fiends had been out there all night, likely stalking and killing humans. It went against my very nature to ignore it. I sighed. “Let’s hope we find the book quickly. I hate being stuck in here when there are so many vampires in the city.”
    The anger on Mitch’s face dissolved. A softer look took its place—a look which did funny things to my stomach. I ignored it and asked, “What?”
    “You were nearly killed last night. That would be enough for a lot of hunters to want to quit and I wouldn’t think any less of you if you decided to hang up your stake. But you can’t wait to get back out there in the field, can you? You’re an incredible woman, Ash. Fearless.”
    His gaze slid to my mouth and my breath caught as he slowly leant forward until his lips were inches from mine.
    I waited for him to close the distance between us and kiss me, and I realised that I wanted it—I wanted to feel his mouth against mine, to feel his tongue sliding between my lips. Instead, his eyes cleared and he got to his feet.
    “Get your shit together, sweet cheeks. I want to get this meeting over with so that we can concentrate on getting the book. Be quick about it.” Mitch turned and strode to the door. He opened it, slipped through and closed it behind him without as much as a backwards glance.
    Son of a bitch!
    I tugged on my boots then hastily zipped up my backpack. I was annoyed at Mitch. I didn’t know what game he was playing, but I didn’t want any part of it. I couldn’t understand what the hell that near-kiss had been about. Was he trying to prove something to himself or to me? Had he merely been testing me to see if he could’ve had me if he’d wanted me? Damn it. It was too difficult to decipher the workings of a man’s mind—especially a man like Mitch. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get so lost in the moment. I’d been charmed by his sweet words and flattered by his praise. I needed to remember that we were colleagues, nothing more. We had a job to do. I didn’t have time for complications in my life and Mitch Rakowski was as complicated as it got.
    Throwing the backpack over my shoulder, I crossed to the door and pulled it open. Then I stopped dead, staring ahead of me in disbelief.
    What I’d first thought to be a log cabin was actually some sort of treehouse and it was situated high up in the treetops. My heart began to race as I stepped out onto the porch and my hands trembled. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my body back against the wall of the house, concentrating on breathing deeply when I began to hyperventilate. I breathed through the panic attack and worked on lowering my rapid heartbeat. I hadn’t had an attack like that in over fifteen years.
    The temperature inside the room had been cool and comfortable, but outside the air was hot and humid. It was like I’d stepped into the middle of a tropical rainforest. Anxiety threatened to overwhelm me as the memory of a time in my life I hadn’t thought about in years began to claw its way to the surface in my mind.
    My parents had been killed in a place just like this. They’d been hunting a pack of werewolves who’d been causing problems for the Council all over the States. The pack had slipped over the border into Mexico and my parents had tracked them through the country to a rainforest in the south. The