Fearless by Christine Rains Read Free Book Online Page A

darling, I think maybe we could all go
have a sit-down. Our conversation got cut short earlier today, and I prefer to
work up an appetite.” Demetrius gestured to their hostess to lead the way.
Burrows looked as if she was going to protest, but finally nodded and took them
into a smaller room where the furniture was more worn in and a flat screen TV
hogged the space on the far wall.
    “Have a seat. I’ll just check on the food and make sure it
doesn’t get cold.” Burrows exited the room with a smile over her shoulder at
Demetrius.
    Ten seconds later, the power went out. The house was dark
and quiet. Too quiet. Just like it had been outside.
    Abby’s hands glowed and the swords slid out. She gripped the
slim hilts, trying to ignore the nervous perspiration. She and Demetrius moved
to stand back-to-back with one another. Instinctive reflex.
    Who turned out the lights ? Tawa squawked from the
other room.
    “I guess I’m not getting any dinner.” His humor didn’t hide
the tension in his voice.
    “I think that’s the least of your worries.” Abby listened
for something, anything, but the house itself didn’t even creak. “Too bad you
didn’t bring your club. Anything else you could use as a weapon here?”
    “Ah, but I did bring it.” Demetrius reached into his pants’
pocket. She glanced over her shoulder and gasped as he withdrew his enormous
weapon. It was like watching a cartoon. It wasn’t physically possible. Her
mouth opened and shut wordlessly.
    “Bet you’re wondering what else is in my pants.” He smirked,
clearly enjoying her reaction. She elbowed him. “Magical weapon. It can be a
twig or a trunk depending on your needs.”
    “I’m not going to say anything.” There was no way Abby could
do without thinking about what else was in his pants. Focus. She needed to
focus. “Burrows was expecting us to do something. We search one room at a time.”
    “Main floor first,” Demetrius said. “Then—”
    Staircase ! Tawa shouted. Something’s coming down
the stairs !
    Abby and Demetrius raced from the TV room. She managed to
catch sight of what looked like a black magic carpet hovering beside the banister
before it pounced on the fae. It wrapped itself around him and his club like an
inky cocoon. He twisted and fell, rolling on the floor.
    The thing was smothering him, and Abby couldn’t wildly stab
it without hitting Demetrius too.
    “Hold still!” It was like trying to tell a cat in a bath to
stop fighting. He was a fighter. He couldn’t stop himself.
    Let him fight it . Go after Burrows. She’s the real
threat here . Tawa barked.
    “No. Dammit.” Abby cursed. She tried to shallowly slice at the
monster, and though it squealed, it didn’t release its hostage. Her heart
hammered in her chest. She refused to let him die. She stepped on either side
of Demetrius and trapped him between her legs. She raised her right sword and
brought it down through the most bulky part of the cocoon.
    The monster wailed and let go of Demetrius. He gulped in a
huge breath. It shuddered before flopping down to lie motionless between her
legs.
    Demetrius stared at her and then at her blade still embedded
in his club. “You could have hit me.”
    “There’s nothing about you that big.” Abby yanked her
sword free and stepped away. She scooped up her backpack, hitching it over her
shoulders.
    “That you know of.” Demetrius picked himself up. “You should
have listened to Tawa. If Burrows gets away—”
    “No.” Abby replied too quickly. The thought of leaving him
behind to die tore at her soul. She cleared her throat and motioned to the
stairs. “Besides, she’s not going to leave. All monsters want to fight. And you
deserve better than death by blanket.”
    Demetrius grabbed onto the backpack’s straps and pulled her
to him. He kissed her. Nothing gentle about it. Teeth clinked as his tongue
rolled around hers. Her world spun and went out of focus. When he pulled back
an inch, all she could see