Relic (The Brethren Series) by Deena Remiel Read Free Book Online Page A

worse than it feels,” she stated quietly. “Really. Have you come to fix the TV? They told me someone would be coming by this afternoon to fix it.”
    “Uh…no,” Raphael croaked. “I, uh…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’ll be on my way.” I have to get out of here. Who the hell is she, some kind of witch ? Why is this happening now ? And where do I begin to process what I just experienced ?
    “But wait. Who are you? Why did you come to my room?”
    Now she doesn’t know who I am? What gives ? “I’m the one who found you and brought you here to the hospital, actually. I was checking to see how you were doing. Now I see you’re doing much better, so I’m going to leave you to your rest.” Raphael turned away and began walking out the door.
    “Wait! Please, before you go I’d like to say something.” He cursed under his breath, crossing back over the room’s threshold, and stood transfixed by her glittering emerald eyes. “Thank you. You saved my life, and I’m forever grateful.” She smiled, with tears threatening to escape.
    “Make no mistake,” he grumbled. “I didn’t save you. The doctors did. But you’re welcome for bringing you here. Now, I really must go.”
    “Hey,” Serena shouted as he walked out the door, “what did you say your name was?”
    He stopped in his tracks. “I didn’t.”
    Should I tell her ? Maybe it would prove to be a good test of what she knows . He hesitated, and then faced her.
    “It’s Raphael. My name is Raphael.” But there was no hint of recognition, just misplaced gratitude, in his opinion.
    “Well, thank you again, Raphael.” A couple of bats of her eyelashes and they closed. She had fallen asleep.
    Lost in thought and reeling from the explosive experience, he completely forgot why he’d come to see her in the first place. Mission not accomplished. Damn it. He’d walked as far as the elevator down the hall before he sensed trouble nearby. Moments later, he heard it.
    “Oh my God! What do you think you’re doing? Get away from her! Charlotte, call security! Oh, help! Anyone, everyone, help…. Grab him…. He’s trying to kill her!” Feet scrabbled across the floor while people shrieked and grunted their efforts to help. Instinct gripped Raphael as he ran back down the corridor to Serena’s corner room. In the distance he heard, with his superior pinpoint abilities, the faint taunting of the assailant, “Pretty goddess ain’t no more, doo-dah, doo-dah!”
    Reentering her room, all he saw was her bed surrounded by people, each shouting orders.
    He shoved his way through only to find they were trying to get a tightened noose free from around her neck, but it wouldn’t budge. Choking and thrashing about, it looked to him as if she only had mere moments to live. Raphael’s training kicked into high gear.
    “Move out of the way, now! I can save her.” He shoved his way through, whipped out his hunting knife, to the amazement of the nurses and doctors around her, and made quick work of cutting her free. Before anyone could utter an objection or try to remove the knife from him, he sheathed and concealed it. She coughed, sputtered, and gagged, but she was alive.
    A flurry of activity had doctors pushing him aside to check over Serena’s latest injuries. Rage built within him, threatening to explode. Where is security to make sure this kind of thing can’t happen ? It’s obvious someone wants her good and dead. And obvious that she won’t be well-protected in her hospital room . Clearly, this woman had a connection to him in the most bizarre way, and he felt compelled to watch over her until he knew what the hell was going on. But what should I do ?
    It was time for action, and although he wasn’t a Protector, he declared himself her bodyguard.
    He knew exactly what needed to be done. He would take Serena to a safe place while she healed and the Brethren would take care of whoever wanted her dead. The Brethren had a