Prince of Shadows by Tes Hilaire Read Free Book Online Page B

with the null named Annie or her training. And the discussion hadn’t even made it as far as relocating her or the dozens of other gifted here in need of training. The cafeteria was practically brimming with power. He could tell because he was getting a bleeding headache trying to keep his shields strong and steady, and even then emotions were slipping in right and left. Unease, distrust, curiosity, anger, and fear—it was all there. The one person who wasn’t there was their leader, Jacob. Six minutes ago, and maybe, what, three after Valin’s own disappearance, another soldier had shown up, whispered something in the scarred man’s ear that had his face turning purple, and sent him bolting out of the room. Bennett just hoped it didn’t have anything to do with Valin.
    Bloody prat. He was part of the reason this mission was going down the shite-twirler. Valin obviously had other plans than making contact. Or rather, he’d only planned to make contact with one person. The question was why?
    Only one way to find out.
    Bennett eased up on his shields, trying to pinpoint the exact emotions of the handful of guards who’d been left to monitor him. Most of them, along with their mix of curiosity and annoyance, were actually edging on bored after almost ten minutes of tense inaction. And Aaron, the bloke Jacob had left in charge, was distinctly distracted—had been since Valin left with the mysterious Gabriella, actually. Gabriella the vampire, who, oh, was part-succubus too. WTF?
    â€œMind if we take a gander? Find my mate?” Bennett asked.
    Aaron drew his gaze away from the door, blinking at him. “What?”
    â€œValin, my mate. I’d like to try and find him if it’s not too much trouble.” You know, so I can wring the bastard’s neck. He didn’t add that. United we stand, divided we fall, and all that bloody crap.
    Aaron hesitated, then meeting the gaze of an African American soldier, he jerked his head toward the door. “Keon, come with us. The rest of you, why don’t you go help my brother track down Annie?”
    The other soldiers immediately took off, leaving Bennett reeling at the ease of getting rid of most of his guards. Aaron didn’t look old enough to elicit such obedience—early twenties maybe?—nor did he have the same calm confidence his older brother did. So either sharing DNA held a lot of weight here or this Aaron was simply off his stride today.
    Probably the whole Gabriella bit. He definitely didn’t shine to the fact that she went off with Valin…alone.
    At least Bennett knew why Jacob had gone running now. Bennett would pity the null, Annie, but he suspected the hard-ass warrior had a soft spot for family. And if he was any good judge of genetic expression, both Jacob and Aaron here were blood relations to the null. Tall as giants, whiskey-brown eyes, high cheekbones, stubborn jawlines and all.
    Aaron turned to Keon. “Shoot him if he so much as twitches wrong.”
    Keon nodded solemnly, then gestured with his rifle for Bennett to follow Aaron.
    â€œAren’t you buggers so bleeding sweet,” Bennett muttered and fell into line. What was it his mate Logan would say about this? Oh, right, what a major FUBAR: fucked up beyond all recognition. Or was that repair? He guessed it didn’t matter; it amounted to the same thing. Of course, it couldn’t be a total loss. So far they weren’t dead.
    His hopes of staying that way ended, though, when they rounded the next corner. At the far end of the narrow hall, a naked Valin was facing off with the missing Annie. The look on Valin’s face did not bode well; neither did the redhead’s cocky pose.
    â€œGet the fuck out of my way,” Valin warned.
    She smiled, cracking her knuckles. “No.”
    Bloody fucking hell. That wasn’t going to go over well, and sure enough, Valin decided to make her. Valin spun, sweeping out his leg,