The Black God (#2, Damian Eternal Series) by Lizzy Ford Read Free Book Online

world.
    I’m exhausted. That’s
it, he told himself. Nocturnal or not, he
still needed more sleep. It didn’t look like his life was about to
get any easier soon, though, and he had the talisman he needed. He
banished the thought of Ashley from his mind without being able to
completely suppress the interest his discovery created.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Ashley danced long and hard to the throbbing
techno in one of the local clubs. She always felt best when she was
working out, fighting or doing something else physical like dancing
for hours to the quick beat. Sweat dampened the back of her neck
from the activity and crowded club, and she grinned at her latest
partner. Guys and girls rotated in and out as her dance partners.
None were ever able to keep up with her for long, and she closed
her eyes, not caring who was present when she opened them.
    She let the music sweep her away instead and
worked out the anxiety that often came with fighting vamps. There
were moments every time when she truly feared for her life and
others when she didn’t think anything in the world could touch her.
She’d been fighting vamps for a few months and was growing more
confident in her skills. But sometimes, like when she tried
something new such as facing down four vamps, she became a little
intimidated, a little uncertain about her training and
preparation.
    At the four hour mark, she finally left the
dance floor and sidled up to the busy bar. She was a regular at the
club, and the bartender brought her a glass of ice water. She
squeezed through the crowded space to grab it.
    “Thanks,” she panted with a smile and
shifted away.
    “Buy you a drink?” someone asked from behind
her.
    “No, thanks.” She didn’t bother turning.
Facing vamps was becoming second nature. Dealing with guys? She
still didn’t understand what held her back, aside from memories of
how she’d almost lost her family by trusting the wrong guy. She
trusted her ability to fight more than her judgment.
    “You come here every Friday and every Friday
I ask you if you want a drink.”
    Her brow furrowed. Unless he was a vamp, he
wasn’t worth remembering. She turned to face the speaker. The blond
haired guy with dark eyes gave a toothy smile filled with perfectly
white, square teeth that glowed in his tan face. He was built like
a quarterback and handsome.
    Realizing she was staring, she blinked. “I
don’t drink,” she said and lifted her water. “Just this.”
    “Thank god! She finally speaks to me,” he
said with a wider smile.
    “You really ask me every Friday?”
    “The fact you haven’t notice doesn’t bode
well for me.”
    She started to smile. “Sorry. I just come to
dance.”
    “You must be used to guys asking you
out.”
    “No,” she snorted. “Why would you think
that?” She sipped her water.
    It was his turn to appear confused. “That’s
different. But okay. Since you’re giving me the time of day … I’m
Shane.”
    “Ashley.”
    “You, uh, wanna dance?”
    “Nah. I’m done dancing for tonight.”
    “Okay. No drinks, no dancing. How about a
walk?”
    She hesitated.
    “Public place so you know I’m not a
creeper,” he added.
    If she could handle a vamp, she could handle
him if he tried anything. It wasn’t the potential for a physical
confrontation she feared but the knowledge she knew nothing about
the boy before her, like if he were secretly a god who would put
her family in danger.
    Four years later, and
Jonny is still in my head. She hated the
reminder. This ends now.
    “Yes,” she decided. “Let’s go for a
walk.”
    He stretched back to reach the bar and
placed his drink on the counter then held out his hand for hers.
She returned it to him.
    Ashley led him out of the teeming bar and
into the street, where the ocean breeze began cooling her at once.
“What year are you?” she asked and looked up at the stranger beside
her.
    “Masters program. You?”
    “Senior.” Again, she added
silently. School wasn’t her