Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall Read Free Book Online

reluctantly handed a couple more to Bastien and Melanie, then seated himself.
    Seth opened the file and perused its contents.
    The front door opened.
    Bastien glanced over his shoulder and was surprised to see Tanner enter.
    “Sorry I’m late,” Tanner said, crossing swiftly to the table and taking one of the last two seats.
    “No problem,” Seth responded. “Glad you could make it, Tanner.”
    Tanner took the file folder Chris handed him and opened it to glance at the papers within. Though his blond hair was windblown, he still looked like an accountant as he reached up to adjust his glasses.
    What was he doing here? Was he already one of the immortals’ Seconds?
    Bastien’s gaze slid to the surly immortal whispering in Sarah’s ear. Hell. Seth wasn’t going to assign him to Roland, was he? Roland was notorious for scaring the crap out of any Second sent to serve him, which was why Seth had allowed him to go without one all of these centuries.
    Or perhaps Tanner had been assigned to Marcus? Was Ami no longer going to serve as Marcus’s Second now that they had married?
    That would actually be a relief. She had come too close to death too many times since being assigned to that volatile immortal.
    Seth closed the file and folded his hands atop it. “So, tell us what happened last night, Sebastien.”
    Surprised that he had been asked directly, Bastien complied.
    Every brow present furrowed as his words floated around the table.
    “You couldn’t have spared even one?” Chris asked. Leave it to him to ignore everything except the deaths of the humans. Hell, if Bastien had let every human soldier live, Chris no doubt would have still found fault with his actions.
    “Not without risking capture myself.”
    Richart nodded. “It’s true. He was barely conscious when I found him, with two darts on the ground beside him. By the time I got him to the network, he was out cold.”
    “How are you feeling, Sebastien?” Seth queried softly.
    Bastien fought the urge to squirm, uncomfortable with the concern in the elder’s voice. He had yet to figure out why Seth gave a damn about him. “I’m fine.”
    Seth’s gaze shifted to Melanie. “Dr. Lipton?”
    Melanie sent Bastien an apologetic look. “He’s still a little groggy and hasn’t yet fully regained his strength. I understand he’s roughly the same age as the d’Alençons, so—based on the time it took them to recover when they were hit—I’d say he should recover fully during the next few hours. Certainly by dawn.”
    Seth nodded. “I assume you’d like to observe him while he does so?”
    “Yes, if that’s all right.”
    “Of course. We rely on your medical expertise in matters such as this and know you need to gather as much information as you can.” The words, as well as the warning look that accompanied them, seemed to be directed at Bastien.
    Bastien scowled. The bastard had better not be reading his thoughts again.
    Of course I’m reading your thoughts, Seth said. As is David. And most likely Étienne and Lisette. How else can we reassure the others that you are sincere in your claims?
    “These men . . . these soldiers . . . weren’t out to kill,” Richart continued. “They were out to capture and would have done so had Bastien left any standing. Perhaps if I had returned sooner, we could have taken one or more alive. But alone, Bastien had no choice but to protect himself.”
    “This is so bad,” Darnell muttered.
    Several heads nodded.
    “Chris,” David spoke, “have you succeeded in tracking down your missing contacts?”
    Chris shook his head. “No. There’s no trace of them at all, or of their families. Nothing to tell me where they may have gone or where they were taken or if they’re dead or alive. Or that they ever were . It’s as if they never existed.”
    Bastien may frequently think about dismembering Chris, but he couldn’t help but sympathize with him over this. Reordon had spent years cultivating contacts in the