Phantom (Endlessly Book 3) by C.V. Hunt Read Free Book Online

rocks and how the beach was arched. Strawberry Bay. We’re too far north. Hang on; I’m going to stay along the edge of the coast until we get to the beach. Nervously I asked her: You going to be okay with that? I knew how much the private beach reminded her of Verloren, but then again, she already had a constant reminder.
    “How much further?” Abby asked.
    The ocean air was a lot cooler and I started to worry about Ash’s body temperature dropping.
    Yeah, I’m okay with the beach. Actually , I wouldn’t mind seeing it again, Ash thought. We’ll be there before you know it, Abby.
    I could feel the ache in her chest as she thought about him. She lay on my back. Along the shore I leapt from one jagged rock to another. The cold wind bit at my naked skin and I felt her tense and shiver. I heard ocean waves, my breathing, the scrape of my claws against the rocks, and gleeful screams from Abby as she leapt on the rocks. I felt cool drops of water on my back and knew Ash was crying. Then it appeared. A few more large jumps and I was on the cliff where the beaten path wound down the cliffs to the beach. The opposite direction was the path leading home.

     
     
     
    6 SIGHTLESS SEARCH
     
    Ash slid off my back and faced the ocean. She stood as still as a statue.
    Abby , could you run up the path a little way? I have to shift back, I told the girl.
    Abby looked back and forth between Ash and me.
    Go ahead Abby. Just for a few minutes. We’ll meet you there, Ash told her.
    The girl disappear ed down the path. I shifted back to human behind Ash. She stood watching the ocean. I unzipped her backpack, taking out my muddy pants. I pulled them on and waited for it: the moment when she would break down and I would have to carry her ass home. It never came.
    “I can take her home if you need some time,” I told her.
    She half turned to me. “No, it’s okay. I’m ready to go.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yeah, I just wanted to see it.”
    She slipped past me and headed toward the underground house. I looked out over the cliff and shivered when the cold air rushed over me. I turned to follow her. We walked the distance in silence. The crash of waves faded, replaced by the rustle of wind through the trees.
    Abby jumped out from behind a tree and yelled, scaring the shit out of me. I yelped, struggling to stay human, and growled at her. She laughed, taking in my full height in my human form.
    “Holy cow! You are really tall,” Abby said.
    “No, you’re just really short,” I half barked. I was still pissed that she had scared me.
    The girl looked at Ash. He’s mean.
    “I heard that,” I told her.
    I marched past both of them and only looked back once to make sure they were following. They moved soundlessly. I spotted the right tree, crouched down under the roots and slid down into the concrete room. I felt a movement in the air behind me: Ash and Abby.
    Dim light outlined the doorway at the bottom. It felt colder in the room than it did outside and the temperature dropped as we descended the stairs. Ash was right behind me, hidden by my tall frame, when I hit the call button. Abby hopped around at the top of the steps. I looked up at the red light where the camera was.
    Josh’s voice boomed through the speaker. “The dog’s back and he’s all muddy. Someone grab the hose.”
    “Open up,” I said.
    Lex and Jenny laughed in the background. I stepped to the side so they could see Ash.
    “Holy s hit!” Josh yelled.
    Gasps and frantic whispers were followed by th e speaker cutting out. The lock shifted in the door.
    Abby stood at the top of the stairs staring at us.
    “Come on.” I motioned for her to follow.
    I pushed the door open and warm air hit us. Ash and I entered the orange mudroom. The tiles were warm under my cold naked feet. I heard people approaching. Ash removed her backpack and sat on the floor. She started taking off her muddy boots. Abby lagged on the stairs.
    The gargoyles busted through the door, their