In Darkness We Must Abide by Rhiannon Frater Read Free Book Online Page B

“Thank you, Sheila.”
    … be careful…
    “I will,” Vanora answered Alexander.
    The vampire dared to approach and press a kiss to the top of her head. It was so like something Roman would do, she clung to his arm for a second, relishing the moment. Releasing her, Alexander followed the other vampires into the depths of the house. They’d sleep in a crawlspace during the hours of the day.
    Vanora’s cellphone let out a little chirp. She instantly snatched it up and peered at the message.
    Are you safe ?
    Heart thudding hard in her chest, Vanora quickly answered Armando. Yes, are you?
    The ache for him was almost unbearable. The morning before she’d fallen asleep in his arms and now he wasn’t even with her.
    Yes, but he wants me to take you to him.
    Vanora shuddered, then typed, Can you resist the edict?
    “Is it Armando?” Greg asked.
    Vanora nodded, waiting anxiously for his answer.
    “Don’t tell him where we are.”
    “I won’t.”
    The message dinged into her phone. No.
    Pressing her lips together to fight back the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, Vanora pressed the phone to her chest.
    “Hey, Snow White, it’s gonna be okay once you power up.” Greg gave her an encouraging thumb up.
    Greg’s words weren’t that much of a comfort. Armando should be at her side, not the demon. This was all because of Aeron and some ridiculous prophecy.
    I hate him .
    We’ll find a way.
    Vanora could hear the words clearly in his voice as she read them. She missed him so much.
    Yes. I love you, she wrote back.
    She was not only fighting for herself and her sister, but also for Armando. She didn’t know what sort of future they could possibly have, but she wanted him free of his slavery to Aeron.
    Love you, came the simple response that held so much meaning and power.
    The first rays of pale sunlight shimmered against the floorboards. The tall oleander bushes outside the window and fence in the backyard provided privacy from the outside world. Wiping a tear away with the back of her hand, Vanora knew Armando was asleep.
    “So what do you need from me, mega-witch?”
    Greg’s voice was not the one she yearned to hear, but she couldn’t hold that against him. He was trying to help her, though for his own selfish reasons.
    “Keep me safe from any danger that might affect me while I’m in the trance,” Vanora answered, regaining her composure. “And don’t stare.”
    She shrugged off her coat revealing her nude body. Trembling in the cold, she drew the plain white cotton sheet she had purchased earlier around her body to form a hood and cloak. It provided very little warmth, but she knew it was important to mirror as closely as possible the scene within her mind.
    “Shit, Vanora,” Greg breathed in.
    “What?” Hostility gave a sharp edge to the word.
    “Your skin…” The incubus moved closer, still crouched, and pointed to her arm.
    Vanora didn’t see the phenomena immediately, but the longer she stared the clearer it became. Beneath the surface of her skin, it looked like luminescent gold was slipping through her veins. Eyes widening, Vanora lifted her eyes to Greg’s awed face. “My magic?”
    “Oh, yeah. That’s your magic. It’s even in your hair.”
    Pulling a lock forward, Vanora saw glints of gold sifting through the white strands. “Then I’m doing this right…”
    “Yeah, definitely.” Greg retreated a few steps. Though he appeared entranced, he also looked wary. “I haven’t seen anything like this in…fuck me…a thousand years or more.”
    Taking a deep breath, Vanora picked up the bottle she had set at her side. Earlier, she had poured Dead Sea salt into the spring water inside. Giving it a few hard shakes, she watched the white sediment swirling within the liquid.
    “Okay, here I go.”
    “Good luck, kid,” Greg said, and actually sounded like he meant it.
    Pouring the water into the palm of one hand, she set the bottle aside. Careful to keep the water from spilling