Stone Angel by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online Page B

despite its
halting quietness. “This would be best discussed over dinner.”
    The Chosen Ones, all dedicated to the
importance of an excellent meal, followed Irving as Martha pushed
him into the dining room. Irving was wheeled to the head of the
table.
    Amanda sat at his right hand as she had since
her arrival in the house, in case he needed help cutting his meat
or dealing with other motor skills that were impeded by his shaky
hands.
    The Chosen and their mates exclaimed
appreciatively over the tapas arranged on a giant Lazy Susan in the
middle of the table. There were dates wrapped in bacon,
coriander-spiced almonds, spicy citrus olives, and slices of
Manchego and blue cheese paired with Serrano ham and sliced
pears.
    Amanda knew from experience that this was
only the first course. Since the Chosen Ones had moved into
Irving’s home, Sunday had become the day for tapas, and no one
prepared the Spanish delicacies better than Martha.
    Once all
the Chosen Ones were seated and had filled their plates, Samuel
spoke. “ Now can we know
what happened with the Other?”
    “Patience, Samuel, patience. Can’t you tell
Amanda needs a moment to collect herself?” Irving looked sternly
but affectionately at their most impatient and sarcastic Chosen.
True, Samuel was less caustic since he and Isabelle had fallen in
love (again), but he would always be the bluntest person in the
group.
    Amanda caught a glimpse of herself in one of
the gilded mirrors that lined the walls. No wonder Irving thought
she needed some food. She looked pale, almost ghostly, her
porcelain skin stretched too tight over her cheek bones.
    She made a conscious effort to relax. She
hadn’t even realized how wound up she still was. Making a tiny
sandwich with blue cheese and red pear on a sesame cracker, she
took a bite, savoring the flavors and forgetting for a moment about
the last two days.
    She stiffened instantly when she heard a
heavy booming knock on the front door.
    McKenna glided from the room, a talent which
always amazed Amanda considering what a stocky man he was. About a
minute later, he appeared in the doorway, looking cross, and
announced “Mr. Liam Gallagher.”
    Amanda instantly figured out what had McKenna
in such a tizzy. Liam had clearly refused to give up his soft
leather coat to the crotchety Scotsman. The fact Liam was Irish
probably wasn’t helping his estimation in McKenna’s eyes, either …
McKenna was Scottish to his very bones.
    The group around the table turned in unison,
eager to see the Other who had betrayed Amanda.
    Charisma murmured appreciatively, and Amanda
could see why.
    Liam looked like the handsome, dashing
son-of-a-bitch that he was. His blue jeans hugged his long legs and
muscular thighs, his black t-shirt fit tightly along his slim
torso, and his black leather jacket looked as smooth as butter and
broad across his shoulders. His black hair fell rakishly over one
brilliant blue eye. He looked incredibly handsome … and incredibly
uncomfortable.
    Good.
    Amanda let him sweat it a moment longer
before rising. “Liam, won’t you come in and sit down?” She pointed
to the seat on Irving’s left-hand side.
    Liam collected himself, nodding at the
assembled group, and sat in the proffered chair. Addressing the
curious faces around the table, Liam said, “I’m sorry I’m late. I
had to change into three different people to make sure that the
Others assigned to tail Amanda didn’t realize it was me coming to
the house.”
    “What was your final shape?” Jacqueline
asked.
    “A pizza delivery guy. Your butler collected
the empty pizza boxes when I came in the door.”
    McKenna harrumphed softly. He didn’t approve
of delivered foods.
    Liam continued, “But it took me a minute to
change back into myself.”
    Rosamund looked up from her plate curiously.
“Yours is a different power than I’ve researched. I wasn’t aware
that the change from form to form took any amount of time.”
    Liam seemed to consider whether