Kiss Of Twilight by Loribelle Hunt Read Free Book Online Page A

a quick distraction.
    "Where were you all day?" he asked Kara as Winter returned.
    "At Wolf and Associates signing all the real estate paperwork," Winter answered before Kara could. "I feel for her. That was twenty properties we bought today."
    Winter gave her a sympathetic look. "How's your hand?"
    Kara flexed her right hand. "I'll live. And since I was gone all day, I'm sure I have a ton of messages. Do you need me?"
    Winter shook her head. "No. Go on. And don't forget to eat."
    Kara gave her a saucy grin. "Yes, mom."
    Dupree waited until she was gone before turning to Winter.
    "Who did you send to guard her?"
    "I didn't. The lupines have got security in and around that building locked down tight."
    Dupree snarled. "I don't care if it's as secure as Ft. Knox. I don't want her going anywhere alone."
    Winter just cocked an eyebrow and he struggled to get his emotions back under control.
    "She said Gray is considering ordering you to lift the edict."
    "I should have known she'd hear about that. She has better sources than Gia." Winter snorted. "Well, close. Give her another twenty years."
    Dupree clenched his jaw hard enough to pop. He wouldn't be here to see her in twenty years. If he had anything to do with it she'd be happily married somewhere, raising her children away from the Order and this demon Mecca it protected, Camden, Georgia.
    "So? The edict?"
    She sighed and he knew she didn't want to answer. His stomach dropped. This could not be happening.
    "He's considering it. I'm sure he will, Dupree. Resign yourself to that fact. We lost over a hundred people and they're going to be very difficult to replace."
    He knew that. Recruitment wasn't what it used to be. Americans were obsessed with the paranormal. They loved vampires, werewolves and most of all people who hunted them. But they didn't believe anything that went bump in the night on their TV screens had any basis in reality. It made convincing good soldiers to join a secret society of knights to fight demons damned near impossible. He'd given the task to Lance, one of the quad leaders who was considered their most charming and persuasive, but even he was having problems.
    "Speaking of, anything from Lance?" Winter asked.
    "No," he answered. "But he just started. Give him a few weeks. Gray can at least do that."
    "I'll ask but you shouldn't hold your breath."
    He nodded. He knew that. Weary, he stood, not even bothering to attempt the stairs, and teleported up to his room, but when he opened his eyes he found himself standing outside Kara's door. He lifted his hand to knock. He still owed her that apology, but growling at his own stupidity he forced himself to back off and walk down the hall, vowing to keep his distance from her.

Chapter Seven
    The Order has become too lax. There is as much risk of corruption of the soul from secular society as there is from the demons we are bonded to. Let us not forget the principles of our founders.
    --Email from Roman Emerson to the other council members
    Kara barely dodged the open palm flying at her face, and in the dodging, landed on her ass. Lucky for her, the sparring was taking place on thick tumbling mats behind the nightwalker's house. Winter couldn't curb her mate's overprotective instincts. She might be the Order's commander in this region, but Marcus was the nightwalker lord and he was bigger, stronger and bossier. Kara's jarred bones were thankful for the cushioning, but she was still going to be covered with bruises, especially if she kept at it.
    Rolling to her feet she once again faced her commander, envying Winter's stamina. Not to mention her strength, agility and speed. After twenty minutes of the match, she looked like she was out for a stroll while Kara was dripping sweat. She was certain every particle of dust in the air had found and cemented itself to her skin. The summer breeze just made it worse.
    "Ready to quit?" Winter taunted with a cheerful tone and matching grin.
    Not in this lifetime. Kara was