The Beholder by Connie Hall Read Free Book Online

stopped her fall. The material ripped. A piece stuck inside his mouth. He spit out the wool, irritated at having to track her and chase her. Because of her, Ethan had cloaked himself and could only be found if he allowed it. Though the human had somehow followed Ethan until she lost his trail. What type of magic allowed her to track gleaners?
    He gazed down at the hole he’d left in the coat. He’d severed it, lining and all. She was lying on her belly, half her back exposed. Her baggy blue sweater had ridden up her spine, exposing a ten-inch expanse of what looked like two pairs of white long johns. Was she wearing long johns under her pants, too? If so, her legs were too slender, even with the layers of material around them. Her low-top hiking boots were caked with snow. She was small for a woman and fragile looking, way too thin to suit his taste. He could snap her bones with one good swipe of his paw.
    He tugged on the sleeve of her coat and rolled her over. Her long hair covered her face in jumbles of thick strands. He used an extended claw to gentlyswipe aside the thick jet-black hair, then stared down at her face. A large bruise was forming in the middle of her high forehead. He hadn’t noticed from their first encounter, but she had a girlish face and soft rosebud lips. Impossibly long dark lashes, too. Her features were delicate, almost ethereal, and there was an air of purity about her that grated against him. There was nothing innocent about her intentions. Something had brought her to the area, and she had foolishly followed Ethan. Most humans would have run in the opposite direction. Not this female.
    In animal form his senses were heightened, and he could hear her heart beating, every pulse point in her body drumming softly. Her mouth was open, and tiny clouds of her breath condensed in the air. He bent down, feeling the tips of his whiskers brushing her cheek. The sensation sent an awareness of her that made an eyebrow raise and his blood quicken.
    He wanted to pull back, but he found himself moving in closer to suck in her breath, absorb her essence. Her scent was far different than that of most human females. Sweet and tempting, fey to be sure. She definitely gave off a supernatural impression, an enchanted vibe he couldn’t figure out. Whatever it was, he found it fascinating and impossible to ignore. It was like being pulled by a leash, or feeling the hypnotizing tug of a full moon. It touched something primal in him, stirred a reckless yearning to fill himself with her. He hated being drawn to her, for he knew what might happen if he totally gave in to his urges.
    He broke her spell by shaking his head. She’dactually made him salivate, and droplets of saliva went flying from his lips. He licked his mouth and came to a decision.
    He knew he was stronger in shifter form and could cover more ground. He stretched out his legs, morphing his hips and shoulder joints. Skin stretched, tendons popped and muscles writhed as he stood upright. He bent and scooped her up into his arms. It surprised him how little she weighed. She hardly put a strain on his wounded shoulder and arm. He ran back up the mountain with ease, trying to ignore the small and helpless way she rocked in his arms. He wished she hadn’t come near him or Ethan.
    In frustration, he threw back his head and let out a roar. The sound echoed through the mountains and carried for miles. He hoped Ethan got the message: contact him in some way. Why hadn’t he trusted Kane enough to seek him out, rather than hide from him? Didn’t he know all Kane wanted to do was help? Kane felt that familiar emptiness in his heart when he thought of Ethan, and before he could stop himself he was bending down to sniff the human’s hair. Her scent was like a balm, and he let it wash over him.

 

    Chapter 4
     
    C harles Billingsly, Kane’s butler, held ice on the woman’s forehead while Kane searched through the belongings that he’d taken from her car.