Enlightened (Love and Light Series) by Melissa Lummis Read Free Book Online Page A

gearshift into drive and stole a glance at the dogwood— yep, still there —then spun the wheel, spraying gravel. The raven flapped fitfully and took off as she careened down the driveway, leaving long divots in her wake.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Loti screeched to a halt in front of her friend’s farmhouse in five minutes flat–a ten minute drive under normal circumstances. White-knuckling the steering wheel, she peered into the rearview mirror, half-expecting a pair of glowing eyes or the raven. When nothing manifested, she turned her wide eyes to the front porch, a loud rushing in her ears. It took a minute, but the blue porch light penetrated her voided mind, and she realized she was holding her breath. But when she tried to breathe, her constricted lungs fought back. Grimacing, she pried her stiff hands from the wheel and fumbled around in the glove box for her inhaler. The screen door flew open, and Rachel ran down the porch steps, flinging the Jeep’s door wide as Loti took a hit off the inhaler.
    “What the hell’s going on, Loti? I got your message.” She yanked at Loti, who sat motionless behind the wheel, inhaler held mid-air. They stared at each other, Loti’s eyes glassy and wild, until she let her breath out in a harsh huff. She took her first deep breath since she woke from the nightmare.
    “What are you still doing up?” she rasped, blinking rapidly.
    Rachel gawked. “Are you serious? What. The. Hell?”
    A toxic mix of adrenalin, cortisol, and albuterol raced through Loti’s bloodstream. Nauseous, she tasted copper and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She tried licking her lips, but she couldn’t make enough spit. Dropping the inhaler in her lap, she groped around for her stuff.
    “You’re in your nightgown. Its freezing,” Rachel yelped as she leaned into the car to turn off the engine and retrieve the keys.
    “Put this on.” Rachel draped her coat over Loti’s shoulders as she helped her walk.
    “I don’t know what happened.” Loti laid a tremulous hand on her clammy forehead. A tingling frothed up her spine and she bent over, barfing on the brick walkway. The screen door slammed shut. She snapped her head up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. A dark figure stood on the porch, hands in his pockets. The porch light cast a blue halo around him, so that it was impossible to make out any features. Straightening, her heart pounded as she clutched the wad of clothes tighter.
    “Nice outfit.” He chuckled.
    She rubbed at the strange vibration in her chest as she looked down at her nightgown and Uggs, her cheeks and ears burning, cold sweat dripping down her back.
    “Wolf,” Rachel warned.
    “Hey, just saying. Here—” He braced a booted foot on the top step and held out his hand to Loti. She looked at it like it might bite her. “Give me your hand,” he said like he was talking to a child.
    Dizzy and covered with a sick slick of sweat, she managed a glare “I don’t need your help, thank you very much.” She clipped each word as she spoke, and he lifted both hands.
    “Have it your way,” he rumbled and backed up as she skirted the puddle of vomit and stomped into the house. She clenched her jaw so hard, her teeth hurt. Rolling her neck a few times to ease the tension, she leaned on the kitchen table. Glancing at Wolf, it dawned on her how rude and silly she was being. The man hadn’t—check that—the vampire hadn’t said or done anything that bad. So, what was her problem? The freak show she witnessed at her house? Her queasy stomach? That insane buzzing in her spine?
    She wobbled into the living room and dropped her stuff on the big, blue chair by the fireplace. An inviting fire crackled behind the screen, so she held her hands to it, giving herself time to gather her wits. Shivering, she looked down and moaned. Oh, good lord. This was the nightgown David had always loved because it was just clingy and see-through enough to get him hard. Her face burning, she