Shadow Walker (Neteru Academy Books) by L.A. Banks Read Free Book Online

nobody around her was going to move. She wiped at her tears quickly with dirty hands. She didn’t care if any of the adults overheard them or saw them out here, where they weren’t supposed to be after dark. Getting grounded was better than getting eaten.
    She also didn’t care that she was probably leaving mud streaks on her face. She didn’t care if they got busted by their parents. Right now none of that mattered. She just wanted to be inside where it was safe. “Can we just get out of here?”
    “We’re inside the barrier, honey. It’s gonna be all right,” Tami said, slinging an arm over Sarah’s shoulder.
    Al and Val shared a look.
    “You actually went down a demon hole?” Val said in awe. “Righteous.”
    “We only got as far as the outskirt of the battle,” Al said, still breathing hard, sweat pouring down him. “But T sent us a hard mental telepathy shot to the head with a screaming SOS message.”
    “That wasn’t me,” Tami said, looking at Sarah as they began a slow jog toward the compound. “I’m not that strong. Had to be you. I told the guys that one minute you were beside me, the next I got flung away and you were gone—and I saw a demon go down a black hole with you, and then get regurgitated up as flaming ash!”
    “What? Are you sure?” Sarah said, picking up the pace, driving the others harder until they reached a flat-out run.
    “We got back as soon as we could,” Val said, sucking in a huge gulp of air. Sweat still poured down his chest and dripped from his chin. “We got the SOS, but by then the team was already down a demon portal, which is why we were the only ones to head back.”
    As soon as they made it into what had once been the hotel lobby, the foursome collapsed on the overstuffed chairs and sofas. Sarah plopped down next to Tami, who hugged her again. That only made Sarah start crying all over again. It was purely a relief reflex. The fact that she’d been so scared and now was letting the guys see her cry really kicked her butt. But there was no way to hide it. Her entire body was shaking.
    “Seriously… You okay, sis?” Al asked again, as though he hadn’t believed her the first time. He got up and came over to inspect her for demon wounds and contagion.
    Sarah nodded but didn’t let go of Tami. “Yeah. I told you I’m okay,” she said with a sniff, wiping her dirty face with the backs of her hands. “It never had a chance to cut me.”
    With the overhead light as an added help, her brother checked her neck and her exposed arms again, making her realize how stupid it had been to go out in just a tank top and sweats. She didn’t even have a weapon!
    “Did you really off a demon?”
    For the first time in her life, she heard what sounded like awe in Alejandro’s voice.
    “I don’t know,” she told him honestly, not sure what had smoked the demon and really not caring, as long as it was dead.
    “Figures,” Al said, without disguising his disappointment. “We do the flight and get out on the actual battlefield, and then the girls get all the action on the hillside, just sitting in the dark.” Al flung down his t-shirt and stormed up the stairs, not waiting for the elevator.
    Sarah and Tami just stared after him.
    Val shrugged. “Don’t mind him…you know how Al is. The Guardians went down a demon hole and we couldn’t follow. He just wanted to get his first demon kill claim, you know?” He smiled, showing a little hint of fang that made his wild afro look even wilder. “Me, I’m good with just knowing we all got back in one piece. Besides, if we’d lost you ladies, your dads and mine would have had a cow.”
    But his expression became more serious as he stooped down in front of Sarah and took her hands. “For real…if anything had happened to you, none of us would have been right after that…especially me.” After a moment he released her hands and stood slowly. “I’m glad you’re okay.” Then he loped away.
    “My suggestion is that