Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey O'Hara Read Free Book Online Page A

really important.”
    Antoinette’s stomach clenched in premonition. “What is it?”
    “Let’s go to the eating hall, it’s usually empty this time of night.” Nici avoided her eyes.
    As predicted, no one was around. All the students were in bed long ago, training started before sunup. She’d been one of those students once and while life had seemed hard at the time, it had really been much simpler. Now she and Nici only used the family’s school as a home base in between missions, not knowing where they’d be from one day to the next.
    They sat at the end of a long communal dining table but now that he had her attention, Nici seemed reluctant to speak.
    She reached across the table for his hand. “Nici, what is it?”
    “I’ve been offered a place with the Guild,” he said, so softly she barely heard him.
    Antoinette withdrew her hand and sat back. A foreboding shadow darkened her heart. “You’re leaving me?”
    He looked up suddenly, his jaw jutting. “It’s not like that.”
    “No?” she whispered. “You’re my brother, we’re supposed to stick together.”
    She instantly regretted her words. By the guilt and anguish on his face, he’d not made this decision lightly and didn’t need her making it even harder. “When do you leave?”
    “In a few days.” His face filled with pride, she’d never seen him so sure of himself, so confident. “They’re really impressed with my designs and want me to start as soon as possible. It’s London—the best lab facilities in the world—and I’ll finally have a chance to fight in my own way.”
    “But you do—”
    “No, Antoinette,” he softened his tone, “you do. I sit in the van waiting to find out if you’ve killed or have been killed, sick with worry and hoping it isn’t the latter. This way I get to work on equipment to help save the lives of Venators like you.”
    Nici had always tinkered on things in the workshop and Antoinette had to admit his designs were good. In London, he’d really be able to achieve his full potential.
    She caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A young woman stood half hidden in the doorway of the kitchen, watching them. Tatiana, Nici’s girlfriend, and another tech-head. Tatiana dropped her gaze to the ground and backed away from the door—she was always timid around Antoinette.
    “I see,” Antoinette said. “You’re not accepting this R&D position just for yourself, are you?”
    Nici followed her gaze and the girl reappeared in the doorway, her lips trembled as she tried a shaky smile.
    “She’s pregnant.” Nici’s eyes softened before he steeledhimself again. “Look—you’re the Venator, not me, that’s the way it’s always been. And to be honest, I don’t really have the stomach for it anymore.”
    “What about our parents’ deaths?” Antoinette snatched at his hand, the fear of losing him overwhelming. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
    “Of course it does.” He pulled his hand out of hers and ran it over his face. “But it’s not going to bring them back, is it?”
    He was right, and if she was truthful with herself, she’d sensed his unhappiness for a while now. “How long have you known about the job?”
    “They contacted me two days ago, but I sent in the application a month before that.” Nici looked at his hands.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” Antoinette asked.
    “I tried. But every time I saw your face I knew—”
    “That I wouldn’t like it.” And he was right.
    He nodded. “I felt like I was abandoning you,” he said. “But I’m not like you Antoinette, I don’t have your…”
    “Obsession?” she finished for him, placing her elbows on the table and leaning in.
    “I was going to say passion, but yes, obsession is a good word.” He searched her face. “Look, I have a wife and I’m about to become a father—”
    She sat up straight. “Wait a minute, you’re already married?”
    He held out his left hand, showing her the wedding ring she’d