Burning Both Ends by Ally Shields Read Free Book Online Page A

directions, similar to Prince Daron’s compound in Olde Town, except much older. As the area had not been modernized with electricity, their escorts took torches from the walls. Two of Sebastian’s party went ahead; the others, more heavily armed, followed behind.
    A gradual upward slant in the path preceded their arrival at the inner chambers. They entered a small, nondescript room of bare stone and concrete walls. Two giant werewolves guarded the massive, iron, double doors at the other end. Although both wolves were in human form, they didn’t look or act human. Their eyes were the distinctive, golden-brown common among their kind, and one of them had furry tuffs on the back of his hands. To retain such wolfish features, the men had to have been infected by lycanthropy, not been natural born, and spent way too much time in wolf form. Both had the physiques of weight lifters, and their faces betrayed a feral look.
    The furry-handed guy glared at their escort. “Why are the others here? Your orders were clear.”
    “But Jerome, I…I mean, he…”
    Andreas interrupted. “As a representative of a visiting court, I have the right to bring my delegation with me.”
    Jerome looked them over, then ordered the big vamp back to his post. The wolf pointed at Ari but spoke to Andreas. “Why is this female wearing a holy item? It will do her no good and is an insult to the prince.”
    Which item was he objecting to? The silver cross or the holy water? They weren’t big enough to do much damage. The amulets were much more powerful, but he hadn’t mentioned those. In any case, she wasn’t handing over the gift from her grandmother.
    “It is mere jewelry,” Andreas responded in an even tone. “Surely the great Prince Sebastian would not be bothered by such a trifling thing. As you can see, I am not.”
    “She must leave it behind,” the wolf insisted.
    Ari tilted her head. “No, but I will take it off.” She looked at Andreas. “Perhaps you could keep it for me?”
    “My pleasure.”
    Ari unfastened the clasp and slipped the bracelet into a pocket of Andreas’s jacket. She had anticipated her bracelet would raise an objection. In fact, she’d counted on it to distract him from other possible weapons.
    The giant werewolf wrinkled his nose with displeasure, and for a moment Ari thought he would try to confiscate the charms. She tried her best to look like a spoiled but helpless female. Not something she had much practice in, but her blonde hair and slender frame often conveyed that impression. She offered a slightly apologetic smile and dropped her lashes submissively. Argh. The wolf sniffed her once, sneered, and promptly lost interest.
    “If this one is your chosen consort, she may come. Select one other. The rest will remain here.”
    Ari kept her eyes down but was amazed they were allowing her to enter the court chambers without a thorough search. Had Sebastian’s court grown complacent, too sure of their power? Didn’t they know she was a cop and likely to be armed? Maybe the big wolf had so little respect for females that he didn’t think of her as a potential threat. Whatever the reason, it was a serious breach of security. Ari would have fired him on the spot.
    That Jerome had mistaken her for a consort kind of rankled, because she didn’t like the implications of servitude tied to the word, but if the deception would get her inside Sebastian’s court, Ari was willing to play along. She waited to see what Andreas would say.
    He lifted the other brow, as if in disbelief at Jerome’s impudence, then turned his back on the wolves. He spoke to his companions as if Sebastian’s people weren’t there. Andreas kept his voice bland, but his eyes glittered with mischief.
    Ari suddenly realized he was enjoying this test of wills.
    “I am afraid Sebastian is having some kind of security problem,” Andreas said. “Otherwise, they would not be restricting visitors. Under the circumstances, we will honor their