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

have given myself to Quill fully, not after knowing his past. But that was all a moot point now. Both Quill and I had found people who made us happy. Now, we were no longer in each other’s sights.
    As with Knight, I hadn’t seen Quill in a couple of months eother. He was also stationed in the Netherworld, helping to set up the new order. And he and Knight weren’t the only ones. Christina Sabbiondo, Knight’s second in command, and also Quill’s girlfriend, was actively planning for the new Netherworld, along with my very good friend, Dia Robinson.
    Dia had been the head of the ANC in Moon, here on the Earthly plane, before business in the Netherworld drew her there. I was the only one, well, Sam and I, were the only ones stuck here with not a hell of a lot to do and all day to do it in.
    Not that I was complaining …
    “Morning, Sam!” I called out as I passed by her desk. I aimed straight for the break room, where I could already smell a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Coffee was the one benefit of the morning that compensated for the fact that I was awake.
    “Morning, Dulce,” Sam said as she came up behind me. I could hear her heels clicking on the tiles in the break room. I never understood why Sam bothered with heels; she was already so damn tall. Not to mention how uncomfortable heels could be. I always opted for tennis shoes because in my line of work, they could mean the difference between life and death. If you aren’t able to run, you’re as good as dead …
    “I brought Blue with me to work today,” I said as I rescued my mug from the sink.
    “I saw that,” Sam responded. She watched me inspect the mug to make sure whatever was previously living in the bottom of it wasn’t life-threatening. But growing ever more suspicious of the gunk in the bottom, I decided to wash it.
    “Good thing Knight isn’t here,” Sam continued. “I doubt he’d be too happy to see Blue.”
    “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” I agreed before rinsing out the suds in the mug and drying it. The coffee was ready so I poured myself a cup and gave my best friend a broad smile as I added cream and sugar until the coffee was the color of caramel. “How are you?” I asked.
    “Probably not as good as you are,” she answered with a quick smile and a knowing expression. “I heard Knight came into town last night?”
    I smiled more broadly at the memory of our evening. “Yes, he did.”
    “No wonder you look like a giddy schoolgirl this morning.”
    “Oh, stop!” I said, waving her away with an embarrassed smile, which I then hid behind my mug as I attempted to take a sip of the hot coffee. At her insistent grin, I realized there was something she wasn’t telling me. “Okay, out with it! What’s that smile all about?”
    “You aren’t the only one who is giddy this morning,” she announced.
    “Really?” I asked as I took another sip of coffee. “And who is the very lucky man?”
    A blush stole across her cheeks as she leaned against the refrigerator and crossed her arms against her chest. “His name is Jordan and he’s this cop I met at Starbucks a week or so ago.”
    “Wow, look at you! And what is he?”
    “He’s human,” she said with a sigh that belied her disappointment. I immediately felt my shackles rise because I’d had a long relationship with a human once and it hadn’t led anywhere good. In fact, I regretted it completely.
    “Does he know you’re a witch?” I asked.
    She frowned and then shook her head, her expression one of concern. “Not exactly.”
    “Be careful, Sam,” I said as I inhaled deeply. “Remember my whole situation with Jack, the shithead. You know not all humans accept us.”
    “I know,” she answered immediately. “And it’s not like I think I’ll ever see him again. I mean, he’s cute and what not, but I wouldn’t be that bummed out if he didn’t call me again.”
    “You sure?” I asked as I eyed her, trying to decipher if she was being honest with me,