Bound to Shadows by Keri Arthur Read Free Book Online Page A

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distance we were keeping between us.
“Vampires like him hardly ever require my style of killing.” He crossed his arms and leaned

casually against the door frame, the leather of his old jacket straining deliciously across his

shoulders. “Besides, from what I’ve heard, he’s been too busy drowning himself in alcohol of late

to make the effort of hunting him worthwhile.”
Because for men like him, the hunt was almost as important as the fee. Almost. “And how would you

know he’s been drinking to excess?”
He raised an eyebrow, amusement setting his golden eyes ablaze. “I can smell the

booze.”
“Liar.” Alcohol was the one scent not present in this house. Rotting vampire, unwashed dog, and a

little bit of mold, maybe, but not booze.
The smile was still flirting with his lips, and a whole lot of me ached to kiss him. “Then maybe

I know he was a drunk because I do my homework when I’m following a lead.”
“What sort of lead?” I glanced down at the still-squirming dog and wondered whether his intense

reaction came from having another male on his turf or something more sinister. Whatever it was,

scratching his head didn’t seem to be calming him down. I stepped back, deposited him in the

front bedroom, and quickly closed the door. He continued barking, and started scratching at the

door.
“That dog seriously dislikes you,” I added, crossing my arms as I faced Kye again.
He shrugged. “The alpha always defends his territory.”
The steely edge in his voice suddenly had me wondering if I were one of those territories that

needed defending. Was that why he’d suddenly reappeared? To reclaim what was his?
The thought made me shiver. His gaze swept me, then rose to linger on my mouth. His hunger

swirled around me, thick and strong, and little droplets of sweat broke out along my

spine.
I wanted him. God, how I wanted him.
I clenched my fists a little bit tighter, digging my nails into my palms, using the pain to

offset my desire.
It was a useless thing to do, really, when he was a werewolf and we were connected on more than a

base level.
“I’m chasing a missing person,” he said softly. “Did the vamp inside kill himself, or did someone

help him along?”
“I don’t know. And since when did you start taking on missing persons cases?”
“I go where the cash is. And don’t play games with me, Riley. You’ve been in the business long

enough now to make an informed guess.”
“It’s a Directorate case, Kye. I can’t discuss it.”
“No, you won’t discuss it. Not with me, anyway.”
He had that right. “How long are you in town?”
“Why? Did you miss me?”
“No.” Yes . Given the nail-digging wasn’t achieving much, I flexed my

fingers instead, but it didn’t help release the tension rolling through me. “Why are you here,

Kye?”
“As I said, I’m simply following a lead. Nothing more, nothing less.” But his gaze met mine and,

in those golden depths, I saw the hunter. The possessor. A wolf who hungered to control the very

same things that I did. It made a mockery of his words, and it was a sight that sent a chill

through my heart.
I didn’t want this.
I didn’t want him.
Even if my soul ached with the need of his kiss, his caress, his body.
But the wolf wasn’t the sum of me, and as much as I might hunger for Kye, there was another man

in my life. One I cared about, one I loved. And that part of me was what I reached for now to

keep me strong.
“Whatever it is you’re doing,” I said, my voice harsh, “make sure you keep out of my

way.”
He laughed. It was a soft, cold sound that sent shivers up my spine and heat swirling through my

body. “Things haven’t changed, have they, Riley? Your words say one thing and your body

another.”
“I’m not the only one adept at playing that game.”
“No,” he agreed. “So what do you suggest we do?”
“Precisely what we’re doing. Ignore and deny. You and I