The Chosen by Theresa Meyers Read Free Book Online Page B

ache started in her chest as Remington pushed past his little brother, purposely knocking him aside with his shoulder. He bowed slightly from the waist, never taking his eyes off the unnaturally green eyes of Miss Arliss, and lightly grasped her hand in his smooth one, brushing a warm kiss over her knuckles. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Arliss.”
    China bristled. He’d never done that with her, and he continued to hold Miss Arliss’s hand a moment longer than propriety demanded.
    Certainly the succubus was absolutely stunning. Tempting men was her job. That didn’t mean China had to like it. Or her. Tension crackled between the Jackson brothers.
    Miss Arliss blushed at Remington’s attentions, and Colt quickly wedged himself between them, breaking his brother’s hold on her hand. The jealous coil of tension in China’s gut twisted a little tighter. Colt clearly had enough feelings for the little Darkin to go head-to-head with his brother over her. China’s dislike of her increased another notch.
    “I didn’t haul us all over God’s creation to watch you kissing hands and sweet-talking ladies. Pa didn’t leave pages. He left a riddle . The kind of thing you’re so good at. Need you to solve it so I can go find what we’re looking for and not waste any more time.”
    China resisted the urge to snort. That was rich coming from Colt who flirted with ladies as naturally as he breathed.
    Remington turned to his brother. “You didn’t find his piece of the Book?”
    Colt shook his head slowly, his jaw tight. “Nothing in the damn box but a scrap of paper with a riddle written in Navaho.”
    “You don’t speak Navaho, let alone read it. For that matter, neither do I.”
    “Yeah. But Balmora apparently does.”
    “Balmora? You mean Marley’s analytical decoder machine? You saw it?”
    Colt’s lips twitched. “I think he’s going to have a hard time letting her go to the queen, when the time comes.”
    “Her?”
    “I’ll explain later. Right now, can you make heads or tails of what Pa meant?”

Chapter 4
    Colt fished a single piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it, handing it to Remington. In the light pouring through the office windows Remington scanned the page, his lips moving as he read to himself. He had nice lips, China thought, very close to the same sculpted shape as Colt’s. But did they kiss the same way? She bet they didn’t. Remington was more polished, and far more reserved, than his brother.
    Remington brushed his fingers back through his short dark hair. “Well, the first part is pretty straightforward. We’re going to need the whole damn Book of Legend to close the Gates of Nyx.”
    “I figured out that part myself, thanks,” Colt said sarcastically. Even as he leaned close to his brother looking at the cryptic message, China kept Miss Arliss in the corner of her vision. The woman stepped lightly around the office, running her fingers over the fine leather volumes in Remington’s library, and cast a cautious glance in China’s direction. The air in the room eddied with agitation between them. One Darkin in cahoots with Hunters was more than enough for China’s taste. Two was overkill.
    She and Colt shared the same wild, predatory nature, and she could hardly see this fancy little bit of skirt having the wherewithal to be able to keep up with bred-to-the-bone Hunters. She looked too damn dainty for that. China flipped her long hair over her shoulders and leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, feet braced wide apart like a man’s.
    Her gaze darted from Remington to Colt and back again, assessing, weighing them against one another. Colt was fire; Remington, ice, but they both had the potential to burn away her common sense. What was she doing attracted to another Hunter anyway? She should have learned her lesson the first go-around. Hunters and Darkin didn’t mix, at least not romantically. Physically . . . well, that could be a whole other matter.
    The two brothers,