Dark Solace by Tara Fox Hall Read Free Book Online Page A

choker with a
small golden bear with red eyes.
    “I can tell by your expression that you
expected her to be prettier,” Lash hissed. “Devlin speaks of her as
if she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw, save you. She
wasn’t pretty, not by traditional human standards, at least. But he
loved her, loved her more than all of the other prettier women that
he might have had. The way he loves you, Sar. Though you are
beautiful, without a doubt.”
    I didn’t know what to say. Lash seemed to
sense that. “Let’s go,” he hissed. “Or there’ll be no time for
sushi.”
    We didn’t talk much as we drove to the
restaurant. I was thinking a lot about Annabelle; about what her
life with Dev could have been like. But once we arrived, Lash
ordered us a large platter to share, accompanied by a serving for
each of us of alcohol. As we were sipping, he casually mentioned
that he had gotten the newest South Park DVD. Soon, we were
lost in conversation like old friends. Which, in a way, we
were.
    * * * *
    When we got back to Hayden, it was close to
eight. “Go up and wait for him,” Lash hissed at the stairs. “And
you should change your clothes.”
    Good idea. I didn’t want to smell like Lash
for Dev, even if the hug had been innocent. “Goodnight.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Lash hissed, heading
into the kitchen.
    Was he hungry for dessert, or for another
type of flesh? Don’t think about it...
    “Sar,” Titus said in surprise, emerging from
the cellar. He hugged me.
    “Hi.”
    Titus wrinkled his nose, and drew back from
me. “You smell of Lash.”
    “I know. I’m changing my clothes,” I said,
irritated.
    “Come below with me first,” Titus rumbled,
his eyes red. “I have something to discuss with you.”
    Sigh. I followed him downstairs to the
basement. “What’s up?”
    Titus spoke some words. “No one can overhear
us now.”
    “What is it?” I asked, concerned. “Is
something the matter with Terian?”
    “You tell me,” Titus rumbled. “You asked me a
while back about him, and I told you I thought he was the same. But
now I’m beginning to wonder.”
    “I think the work that he and Theo does is
affecting him,” I said, after a pause. “He’s more powerful, too.
And he’s in love. That together explains his new bold
behavior.”
    “He’s been asking about some darker spells,”
Titus rumbled, his eyes holding mine. “Spells that he would have
shrank from when I first met him months ago.”
    I was tempted to tell him it was his own
black influence on Terian that had done this, but I wasn’t 100%
sure of that. I didn’t want to make Titus feel bad unless it was
the truth.
    “Sar, do you know why he would want to do
darker magic?”
    “I can only guess to protect the children or
to protect Sundown. Terian was never about power for power’s sake,
Titus.”
    Titus nodded. “I agree. I just wanted to ask.
You are close to him.”
    I wasn’t really, not anymore, but I didn’t
say that.
    “I needed to know if he was changing.
Sometimes in half breeds, the demon side can overwhelm—”
    “Titus, why are you telling me this?” I said
suddenly. “What do you want from me?”
    “I want you to watch him,” Titus said
sternly. “When you visit Danial, make it a point to see him. He
hasn’t been visiting me here much lately, and I want to know if he
needs help. I can help him keep the demon part of him under
control, if or when it comes to that. But it’s easier to help when
you catch it early.”
    I couldn’t deal with this on top of
everything else. Plus the very idea of Terian turning evil seemed
like something out of a comic book. So I just nodded. “Okay.”
    “Thank you.” Titus moved to get up. “I
appreciate it.”
    “Titus, why do vampires smell like earth?” I
asked, following him up the stairs. “They don’t sleep in a coffin,
or need any native soil that I know of near them.”
    “The legend of the earth likely came from the
smell,” Titus replied, his