Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning Read Free Book Online

her street and disappeared around a turn. Janie breathed in a sigh of relief. She wondered if Matt would disappear too if she walked slowly enough up her front walk. Nope, still there. Damn!
    She searched the porch for Ava, but didn’t see her. Did she really have to be alone with him?
    “Hey, Janie.” Matt greeted her a few feet from the steps, wearing his varsity wrestling jacket, a lightweight sweater and jeans.
    “What is that?”
    “A rose.” He smiled.
    “I mean, why?” She focused on the single yellow rose; the petals had just started to unfold. From what she remembered, yellow only meant friendship. It was red she had to fear.
    “You saved my life. It’s the least I can do. Besides, I was worried about you when you didn’t show up at school today.” He handed her the rose.
    “Thanks.” She half-smiled. “I was sick today.”
    “Who was that guy on the bike? Your boyfriend?” he said.
    She blinked and replayed his question in her mind. It sounded ridiculous.
    Janie coughed, stifling a laugh. “Who, Kai? Hardly.”
    “Yeah, who was that?” Ava appeared in her doorway. Luke followed behind her, wearing plaid pants and a solid gray sweater. A white scarf hung meticulously around his neck.
    “When did you two get here?” Janie said.
    “A few minutes ago,” Ava said. “We stopped by to check on you. Your mom let us in. I noticed your Honda in the driveway this morning. When you didn’t answer the door, I figured you got to school some other way.”
    “Where were you, and who was the hottie on the Harley?” Luke added. He gazed off into the distance, no doubt picturing Kai riding off into the sunset.
    “Nowhere, and nobody important.” She brushed by Matt and climbed the porch steps.
    “So, Janie, there’s this bonfire tonight, at Pete’s. His parents own like acres of land. Are you interested in going?” Matt said.
    Janie swung back around. “Um, what?”
    Luke hung over the porch rail, entranced by every word that rolled off of Matt’s tongue. “Sounds fun.” His scarf acted as a good bib to catch his drool.
    “Um—” Janie glared at Luke. “I’m busy.”
    “Come on, Janie, it does sound fun.” Ava shot her an are-you-crazy look. “Live a little.”
    She didn’t participate in lame school activities, but Janie knew she wasn’t going to win this argument. Anyway, Luke had probably already mentally picked out his outfit. “Fine, I’ll think about it,” she said.
           
    Isabelle rested the phone between her ear and her shoulder. She waved her hand for Janie to sit. Janie plopped down into the leather armchair and propped her feet up on the ottoman. She massaged her calves. It was nice to finally take her boots off. Her dagger had been digging into her leg half the night, well before she ended up in a T-shirt asleep in a very odd Daychild’s bed.
    Her living room was large enough for a sofa, chair and ottoman. A flat screen hung above the brick fireplace. The walls were still a light sage green from when they moved in. Isabelle never put any effort into painting since they moved every four years. One large scenic picture of a barn blanketed in snow hung above the sofa. A picture of Janie’s dad perched on the side table next to a bulbous lamp. Janie sighed. The ache in her heart twitched. Dad, I miss you.
    “Sorry, that was Abram.” Isabelle entered the living room, her dark brown eyes serious under knitted brows. “Did you come home last night?”
    Isabelle had seemed too preoccupied with her conversation with Abram to be that angry. “The city was crazy last night. You know how it is. Some nights are worse than others.”
    From Isabelle’s blank expression, Janie wondered if she’d even heard her explanation. “Is everything okay, Mom?”
    Isabelle sighed. “The Apotheosis had a meeting last night, over at the old Baptist church on Dulaney Valley Road.” Pieces of her straight black hair had fallen out of her loose bun. They wisped around her forehead as she