Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) by Angela Dennis Read Free Book Online Page A

across the chair at his side. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, holding the twin to her coffee cup. Both read, “Bloodsuckers Rock.”
    Staring down into the thick black syrup Marissa generously called coffee, Brenna tried to gather her words.
    Gray saved her the trouble. “What’s on the agenda today, partner?” Startled by the sound of his voice, she looked up. Humor danced in his violet eyes, as if he knew he did nothing but frustrate her. Cursing him under her breath, she looked around to see who else had heard.
    “He’s Taskforce to boot? Bloody hell.” Mira slipped into the room. She winced when Marissa slammed a wooden spoon against the ceramic stove. “I suppose it’s too late to kill him.”
    “Of course he’s IRT. He’s a freaking Shadow Bearer. The powers that be would never let him out without a leash.” Sam rose from his perch on the window seat. “I don’t see that it matters, as long as he’s loyal to us.”
    Brenna stared at him in amazement. Sam hated rules, regulations and curfews. Most of all he hated cops, especially supernatural ones. She was the exception of course. She liked to think it was her charm, but more likely it was her substantial breasts, which he tended to stare at a great deal.
    As Brenna stood, puzzled by Sam’s easy acceptance of Gray, Hilda coalesced in the middle of the room. Brenna imagined she had overheard everything.
    “Another cop?” Hilda said with glee in her eyes. “Hope you’re as hardcore as Brenna. I love field trips.” She let her feet touch the floor and walked to the counter.
    Brenna watched her stuff a whole sweet roll in her mouth. For a dead girl she could eat a hell of a lot.
    Mira grabbed the plate before Hilda could take another. Sticking her tongue out, Hilda disappeared again.
    Mira sat the plate back down only to have it hover above the counter then disappear, along with everything on it. “That ghost is a menace. She’s an overgrown child.” She took a long sip of her drink. “So are we killing Gray or aren’t we? I have places to be.”
    “I gave him a key,” Marissa said from the stove. “If you kill him, be sure to get it back.”
    “I say he stays,” said Sam. “Anyone oppose?”
    If indifference were applause, the roar would have been deafening. It appeared Gray was staying.
    Brenna reached into the side pocket of her duster and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She slid it toward him.
    “Two demons, then several stacks of paperwork,” she said as he scanned the assignments. “The first is a manticore. That could be a bitch to exorcise.”
    He chuckled then pushed the paper back. “I think we can handle it.”
    She drained the rest of her coffee. “Let’s roll.” She blew a kiss to Sam who had settled back down in the window seat. He flipped her off.
    Out in the vehicle she kept parked behind the house for emergencies, Brenna tried to ignore the pounding in her head from the sunlight. She was about to ask Gray how he was holding up when her phone broke in like a fog horn.
    “How do you stand that?” Gray glared at the offending piece of metal as she handed it to him. “And when did we get cell phone towers working out here?”
    “We didn’t. The witches in the Arcana Techna lab found a way to imprint a magic user’s personal signature on phones and use them like they do out east. All the Taskforce agents do it. Better than radios, better range. She grinned. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Seraph will give you one.”
    “I hope not. It’s annoying.”
    “Answer and it will stop. I’m driving.” Brenna started the engine and pulled out onto the broken road.
    He frowned, but took the phone. “Yeah?” Maybe it was something in the carriage of his body, or the look in his eyes, but she knew it was not good news. Dread settled in her stomach as he set the phone down.
    “We need to get to headquarters.” He didn’t look at her. “Something’s happened.”
    Her hands tightened around the wheel. Silent she