Burning Both Ends by Ally Shields Read Free Book Online

back to the view outside the window.
    Ari’s gut clenched at his words, her fear meter bouncing wildly upward. Maybe it was his matter-of-fact tone, his easy acceptance of Sebastian’s superior power. Andreas was always so confident; Ari was used to thinking of him as nearly invincible. In her head she knew that Sebastian was much older, but she hadn’t considered how that might play out in a contest of wills. If Andreas thought they were out-gunned, they should be running for the hills. But what options did they have?
    She didn’t know much about the inner workings of the secretive vamp community. Much of their life—especially court maneuverings—was hidden from the rest of the world. Take tonight, for example; none of her education and training had prepared Ari for what might happen when two master vampires met under the current circumstances. If it turned into a fight, would they use weapons? Hand-to-hand combat with strength and teeth? She didn’t think it would be that simple, and not knowing what would happen next gave her goose bumps.
    She studied Andreas’s rigid back. He was different tonight, unapproachable, remote. The indefinable, mystical link between them barely flickered. Andreas was blocking her out. A part of her, a very small part, wished she’d stayed home in Riverdale.
    Ari stood and joined his eerie watch at the window. The moon chose that moment to pop from behind the clouds. “The Hunter’s Moon!” she said, startled she hadn’t remembered before now. The coincidence made her uneasy. This was the night when hunters of the past had killed the meat for the long winter. Also known as the killing moon, it boded a night of terror for prey. Otherworlders of all kinds, including vampires, were attuned to the ancient call of this night.
    “Yes, a night to be wary,” Andreas said without inflection. “I could wish our timing was better, but it cannot be helped. Our errand is urgent.”
    She studied his profile. Was he worried? Her witch blood stirred sending tiny barbs across her neck.
    Another half hour passed.
    At last Andreas turned away from the window. “It is time to go.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    The clouds had covered the moon again and left the area outside Sebastian’s headquarters in total darkness. The storefront seemed as deserted as before, but Andreas didn’t hesitate. He strode to the door, tapped once and announced his name. It opened immediately, a werewolf beckoned to them, and the delegation from Riverdale filed inside.
    Andreas halted at the sight of a dozen heavily armed vampires and werewolves. A large, black-haired vamp detached himself from the group. “I am Francois. Your servants will remain here.”
    The big guy looked impressive, but he was no more than a hundred years old. Ari sensed his limited power.
    Andreas arched a brow. “I think not. Surely, this is not how Sebastian treats a visiting court.” Andreas was at his most commanding and arrogant. He allowed a hint of his power to leak over everyone in the room. “These are members of our delegation. I am sure you do not intend to disrespect them. Take us to your prince.”
    The other vamp took a step back but remained adamant. “My orders do not include your party.”
    “If you do not have the necessary authority to admit them, then find someone who does. We will wait.”
    The younger vamp hesitated this time. “You can ask Jerome. Follow me.”
    Round one to Andreas. The group was in, but it had been a shallow victory. The vamp sent to meet them was so low level his presence was an insult. Sebastian would not expect him to stand up to Andreas’s greater authority. Their host was being pissy. Not a good start.
    Andreas moved forward, and the others followed, crossing an open space to the back of the original store and down the stairs into a basement area. A wall panel slid open on the right. Stone steps descended into man-made, or vampire-made, subterranean tunnels. Branches spiraled in all