Cursed by Fire (Blood & Magic Book 1) by Danielle Annett Read Free Book Online Page B

kind of smile most would consider friendly but I knew better. This was the smile James showed people before he smashed their heads into pool tables and bruised every inch of their bodies. I’d seen it a few times over the past few months and it never ended well for the other guy.
    “Mr. Blackmore, allow me to introduce myself. My name is James Shields.”
    I could tell that Patrick Blackmore still had no idea who he was but knew Jessica did. As soon as James said his name, her skin grew even paler, taking on an almost gray quality. The pulse point in her throat drummed rapidly beneath her skin, her hands clenching and unclenching in an anxious gesture. One she was likely unaware of. She’d been with Eric Delaney long enough to likely have learned the who’s who within the Pack.
    “I don’t care who you are—” Patrick said before his wife interrupted him.
    “Patrick, please,” she placed a hand on his folded forearm. He looked down at her in irritation and I could tell he was about to brush her off so I decided to jump in before he jammed his foot into his mouth further than he already had.
    “Mr. Blackmore, I believe that your wife is trying to warn you, because unlike you, she realizes the significance of Mr. Shields’ presence. James here is a member of the Pacific Northwest Pack. He is here on official Pack business and as I am sure you are well aware, Daniel Blackmore was a shifter, a tidbit of information the two of you failed to provide early on, which means the Pack has every right to investigate his murder and you sir, would do best to cooperate. I assure you that it’s in your best interest.”
    I hadn’t known that Mrs. Blackmore could go any paler, but she did. Her skin had taken on an ashen quality and I made a mental note to watch her for any further reactions. There was something very wrong about these two.
    Patrick seemed to digest my words and I could tell he was fuming but he made the smart choice and opened the door wider, letting us in. Looking over my shoulder I gave James a feral grin of my own. See, I could play nice. Sort of.
    I at least got points for getting them to let us in without having to pull out one of my daggers. James once again sidestepped around me and took the lead. I was slowly growing used to his irrational form of chivalry so I followed him in without comment. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmore led us into a room directly to the right of the entryway. It was a small sitting room with thick carpets and heavy draperies. Everything in the room was refined and of quality material. My hands itched around all of the finery and I had to fight myself from running my hands over the arm of the sofa I was seated in, luxuriating in its soft texture. While another irrational part of me fought not to light the damn thing on fire. Funny how conflicted I felt over fabric.
    Once everyone was seated, we all stared at one another in silence. I honestly had no idea where to begin. These weren’t the people I was expecting to speak with. When I’d spoken with Mrs. Blackmore before, she had been a distraught mother searching for her only son. She had tear tracks down her face and bruises beneath her eyes hinting at a lack of sleep, but now, now she looked better than ever. I couldn’t wrap my head around the sudden change in her appearance.
    I’d never met with Mr. Blackmore, so in his case, I hadn’t known what to expect. But a man who easily had ten years on his wife with greasy hair and a thick mid-section was not what I would have pictured for Jessica’s husband. She was beautiful in a classic way. After meeting the two together though, I figured it was safe to assume that she had married for money. Times were rough. The Awakening had completely collapsed the economy so wealth and even comfort were hard to come by for most. Jessica seemed the type that wanted to be taken care of.
    After several moments in silence James finally spoke.
    “Did either of you have anything to do with your son’s