Stone Cold Lover by Christine Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

cast a spell at you? And it touched you? What was it? What did he say?”
    Fil raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips like she’d tasted something sour. “Um, yeah, sorry, but I was too busy trying to get the hell out of there to take notes on the ravings of a certifiable basket case. I’ll do better next time.”
    “As you can see, it is too dangerous to involve her,” Spar cut in before the other warrior could respond to that sarcastic taunt. Now was not the time for squabbling. “I will leave Felicity and come to you, Kees. We will make a plan to deal with this threat together.”
    The other Guardian jerked his head. “I understand your reaction, Spar, but you must pause and think. What if the minion the Hierophant sent survived the explosion? You know there are spells that can shield a human from such things. If the nocturnis lives, he will undoubtedly report back to his sect that a human woman witnessed the attack, as well as your awakening.”
    “And,” Ella cut in, “if they even suspect that Fil has powers of her own, they’ll come after her, Spar. Believe me when I tell you, the Order isn’t kidding around about destroying the Guild. Whether Fil is a member or not, they’ll want her dead. They don’t want new recruits replacing the members they’ve already destroyed. They want to salt the proverbial earth the Guild stands on.”
    Kees sighed. “I am afraid she is already at risk, my friend, whether we draw her deeper into our confidence or not.”
    “Then I will send her to you. If she is not safe here, she must go elsewhere,” Spar insisted. “You will guard her while I determine if the nocturnis still lives. If he does, it will not be for long.”
    “Spar, you are reacting without logic. You must stop and think. Vancouver is no safer for Felicity than Montreal. In fact, the Order has more reason to be wary of Ella and me, since we already destroyed several of their number here. It is only a matter of time before they come after us again. We must concentrate on more important matters. Our first priority is to locate the rest of our brethren. We must all be awoken and warned of the enemy’s plans.”
    A shrill beeping sound punctuated the statement Spar had not wanted to hear. With a sigh, Felicity reached past him and tapped the phone’s screen.
    “Um, not that I’m disagreeing about the world needing saving, and all,” she said, “but my phone is about to run out of battery. Could we maybe continue our kaffeeklatsch later? Like, near an outlet?”
    Ella forced a smile that dragged with weariness. Spar could read it in the dark circles under her eyes and the drooping of her shoulders.
    “Of course,” the other woman said. “We’ve thrown an entire encyclopedia of information at you—”
    “Felt more like you dropped an Acme anvil on my head,” Felicity muttered.
    “—and it’s already getting close to morning. You need to get some rest. And, you know, wash some of the gravel and stuff out of your hair.” Ella smiled and gestured to her face. “Maybe wipe off the smears of charcoal.”
    “We can meet again tomorrow to discuss what must be done.” Kees’s nod was all masculine meaning and aimed squarely at Spar. “I will admit that while I would not have wished another human female to be dragged into this war, I will be glad to have you stand at my shoulder, brother. I fear it will require the strength of all our brethren to cast the Darkness back into the abyss this time.”
    His gaze flickered to Felicity, and Spar nodded grimly. “Whatever must be done, we will do,” he vowed. “By my honor as a Guardian, I swear this. The Light will lead us to triumph.”
    “Yeah, that’s just great,” his small human said beside him, her tone dry and acid. “But since you flew us here without so much as letting me pick up my bike first, and since I’m not entirely sure exactly where ‘here’ is anyway, Mr. Tall, Gray, and Invincible, the real question is: Is the Light going to