A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

adolescent living vampires still lacking control, and Kisten risked a severe ribbing should anyone find out he wore them when we slept together. His decision was born from his respect for my desire to withhold my blood from him, and Ivy’s threat to stake him twice if he took my blood. Kisten claimed it was possible to be bound and not become a vampire’s shadow, but everything I had seen said otherwise. My fear remained. And so did his caps.
    I inhaled, bringing the vamp pheromones deep into me, willing them to relax me, wanting the tingling promise that was humming in my demon scar to race through my body. But then Kisten stiffened and drew away.
    â€œIvy?” I whispered, feeling my eyes go worried as his gaze went distant.
    â€œPixy wings,” he said, pushing my chair out.
    â€œMatalina,” I answered, sending my gaze to the open archway to the hall.
    There was a distant thump. “Jenks?” came Ivy’s muffled call from her room.
    My lips parted in surprise. She had heard Matalina’s wings through a closed door? Great. Just freaking great. Then she’d heard our conversation, too.
    â€œIt’s Matalina!” I shouted, not wanting her to burst out thinking it was Jenks.
    But it was too late, and I stood awkwardly when her door thumped open. Matalina zipped into the kitchen a heartbeat before Ivy staggered in, halting in an undignified slump with one hand supporting herself against the open archway.
    She was still in her skimpy nightgown, her black silk robe doing next to nothing to hide her tall lanky build, trim and smooth-limbed from her martial arts practice. Her straight black hair, mussed from sleeping, framed her oval face in an untidy fashion. She’d had it cut not too long ago, and it still surprised me to see it bumping about just under her ears. It made her long neck look longer, the single scar on it a smooth line, now faint from cosmetic surgery. Wide-eyed from being jerked from her bed, her brown, somewhat almond-shaped eyes looked larger than usual, and her thin lips were open to show small teeth.
    Head cocked, Kisten spun in his chair. Taking in her lack of clothes, his grin widened.
    Grimacing at her less than suave entrance, Ivy pulled herself straight, trying to find her usual iron hold on her emotions. Her pale cheeks were flushed, and she wouldn’t meet my eyes as she closed her robe with an abrupt motion. “Matalina,” she said, her voice still rough from sleep. “Is Jenks okay? Will he talk to us?”
    â€œGod, I hope so,” Kisten said dryly, turning his chair so he didn’t have his back to Ivy.
    The agitated pixy flitted to perch on the center island counter. A glittering trail of silver sparkles sifted from her,slowly falling to make a temporary sunbeam, clear evidence of her flustered state. I already knew her answer, but I couldn’t help but slump when she shook her head, her wings stilling. Her pretty eyes went wide and she twisted the fabric of her silk dress. “Please,” she said, her voice carrying a frightening amount of worry. “Jenks won’t come to you. I’m so scared, Rachel. He can’t go alone. He won’t come back if he goes alone!”
    Suddenly I was a whole lot more concerned. “Go where?” I said, crowding closer. Ivy moved in too, and we clustered before her, almost helpless as the tiny woman who could stand down six fairies started to cry. Forever the gentleman, Kisten carefully tore a tissue and handed her a piece the size of his thumbnail. She could have used it for a washcloth.
    â€œIt’s Jax,” Matalina said, holding her breath between sobs. Jax was her oldest son.
    My fear quickened. “He’s at Nick’s apartment,” I said. “I’ll drive you over.”
    Matalina shook her head. “He’s not there. He left with Nick on the winter solstice.”
    I jerked upright, feeling as if I’d been kicked in the stomach.