A Midsummer Night's Scream (The Dulcie O'Neil Series Book 7) by H.P. Mallory Read Free Book Online

space, only the stark whiteness of the sheets greeting me. Yep, Knight was already gone.
    I sighed my despondency and tried to ignore the boulder that was already taking shape in the pit of my stomach. How long would I have to wait now until I saw him again? Another two months? Three? Four? Six?
    I shook my head as I dreaded the upcoming days and weeks and possible months that I’d have to endure alone. I wasn’t even sure how I’d managed to make it through the last two months. In a way, seeing him made his absence hurt even more; the blatant vacancy I felt without him made things exponentially worse.
    Dulcie, stop acting like a lovesick dumbass! I scolded myself. Your life was fine before Knight came into it, and it will be fine until you see him again. Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Get a move on! You’ve got a full day ahead of you!
    I sat up and noticed a folded piece of paper on Knight’s pillow. I reached for it and, unfolding it, read:
    Dulce, I’m sorry I had to leave so early—Caressa texted me with an emergency meeting. I didn’t want to wake you when you were sleeping like an angel. Be back as soon as I can. I love you . –K.
    I folded it in half again and clutched it to my chest, feeling a smile breaking out on my face.
    “I love you too, Knight,” I said out loud.
    I was half hoping that one of his never ending Loki skills might include the ability to hear his girlfriend’s voice despite being in another dimension. But when I received no response, I figured that was one trait that wasn’t in his arsenal. Bummer.
    Even though the note from Knight warmed my spirits a little bit, it was still outweighed by the emptiness that claimed me as soon as I realized Knight was gone. I exhaled and forced myself to get up. Then I threw on a pair of tan cargo pants and an old Duran Duran T-shirt that was nearly threadbare, I’d washed it so many times. Even though I was headed to Headquarters, I didn’t feel like dressing the part. That was another perk to being the boss—wearing what I wanted.
    But then thoughts of Headquarters led to thoughts of Knight and what had happened the last time I’d been inside his office and I started getting depressed all over again. As soon as my pity party started again, I nipped the feelings right in the bud, forcing them right out of my head. Depressing thoughts had no place in my life. I had a job to do—get to Headquarters and find out as much as I could about this Jax character.
    So now, you’re basically no more than a glorified babysitter . That miserable voice, the one that always states the obvious, started in my head again.
    I’ve got a job to do and that’s the end of it, I snapped back with as much authority as I could muster. I was pleased to find that my alternate self had no come back.
    After I got dressed, I made Knight’s bed before running/walking through the hallway that led to the front door. The faster I left his home, the easier it would be to focus on other things. Once I was outside, I breathed a sigh of relief. Then locking his front door, I banished the persistent doubt of when I’d be inside his townhouse again to the darkest recesses of my mind. I could only hope it would be sometime in the very near future.
    After I left Knight’s place, I drove back to my crappy, little apartment. I had to feed my dog, Blue, as well as take him for a walk. Yes, I wasn’t supposed to have a dog; my apartment wasn’t exactly dog friendly. But luckily for me, being on the ground floor, I actually had a small yard, never mind it was all cement. And even more lucky for me, I was a fairy which meant I was able to magick special wards around the place so my nosy neighbors and my landlord had no clue I was breaking any tenant rules.
    After I fed Blue and took him for a much-needed walk, I was ready to head into the office so I could interrogate our newest prisoner. But as soon as Blue was back in his yard, he became very aware that I was on my way out again. He