Ebony Fight (The Guard Duet Book 2) by Natalie Herzer Read Free Book Online

the way, and I’m making breakfast for us, I think it’s about time you told me your name.”
    “Oh, right. Sorry. I’m Becca.”
    Turning, he nodded a greeting. “Nice to meet you. I’m Stone.” Then he asked, “Where do you keep the mugs?”
    A slow and weak but beautiful smile curved her mouth. “Top cupboards, middle one.”
    His hands followed her orders and after grabbing two cups, he poured coffee before he sat a steaming mug in front of her. “Did you get wounded during the fight?”
    “Yeah, you could say that.”
    When she moved to get up, Stone frowned and demanded, “Hey, what you doing?”
    “Uhm, I need to feed Claws.”
    “Claws?”
    One of her fingers pointed down towards her feet covered by a ball of fur. “The cat.”
    “Oh.” Not quite sure whether it was advisable to make a comment on that one, Stone decided to take the safe route and kept quiet. “Right. Well, I can do that. Just tell me where and what.”
    The witch was about to protest when Stone kept his persistent gaze that had made more powerful creatures crumble. Scowling at him, she crossed her arms over her middle and plopped back down on her chair before telling him where to find the food.
    “Anyway…coming back to last night. I know this might sound odd, but what exactly happened?”
    Becca snorted and shook her head at him. “Do you make it a habit of jumping into a fight you don’t know anything about?”
    “No, I wouldn’t exactly call it a habit.” He pointed the egg lifter at her, reproachful. “By the way, it’s not nice to answer a question with another one. Some even consider it rude, I think.”
    The witch chuckled. “It’s a long story.”
    “As far as I can tell we have some time. So…shoot.”
    She looked at him, slightly indecisive and with a serious calm that had him wondering whether he had said something wrong. Had he given himself away by being too friendly? Fortunately, his worries were dispelled the moment she sighed and said, “I need to ask you something first.”
    “Okay.”
    “What were you doing at the club last night?”
    He turned towards the stove, focusing his attention on the meal he was preparing. “Honesty?”
    “I’d prefer it.”
    “I heard rumors. Rumors about…change.” Hoping that he had her now, Stone faced her again, his face and voice deliberately softer. “About you.”
    “What rumors?”
    “That even demons could be granted a second chance. That things could change, and that you’re trying to bring it about.”
    After a slow nod, she started to tell her side of the story and her reasons for being at the club the night before. He listened as she talked. When she was finished, Stone stood in silence for a while, his attention back to the food while he let it all sink in.
    Her reasons were as clear as day to him. For her this was about her brother and nothing else. He was her motivation, her driving force…but also her weakness.
    Figuring he’d gleaned enough information for now, Stone opted to lighten the mood. “So why exactly are you working together with Ivorys if you end up looking like shit?”
    She had such an expressive face, he suddenly realized, with a wide mouth and big, warm chocolate eyes. And right now those eyes were as round and big as saucers. Her jaw dropped open. “Well, thanks. Gee. How sweet of you. Any more compliments for the woman who happened to save your sorry ass?”
    Stone was surprised to find himself genuinely smirking at her. “It happens to be a nice ass and not a sorry one.”
    Becca laughed, a clear and honest sound that made at least a hint of healthy color rush back into her cheeks.
    Not quite sure where that rather flirty remark had come from, Stone told himself it was all for the sake of needing to appear interested in the witch’s cause. Every demon with half a brain would worry whether he’d made the right decision after being welcomed by that kind of committee, and so he quickly went on, “Anyway, back to the Ivorys.