Wasteland by Lynn Rush Read Free Book Online Page A

tugged at the corners of Gage’s eyes and mouth.
    “My last chaperone didn’t handle me, Gage.” My chest burned. “You’d do well to remember that.”
    I had no patience for him tonight. Beka had rattled my soul, but she was a Guardian. Not only were romantic relations forbidden for me—lest I wanted to become full demon—never could I be with someone so pure. Only Angels were more pure than Guardians.
    And she thought me to be special.
    “I’d like to see you try and handle me, David.” Gage fastened his narrow-eyed stare on me.
    The animal within me awakened. My human side didn’t want to fight. I needed to get the girl and leave. Beka’s appearance complicated things, teasing me with her elegance.
    “Did you mean to challenge me, babysitter? ” I allowed the evil closer to the surface. The pointy tips of my elongated canine teeth pricked my bottom lip. My eyesight sharpened.
    The quiver of his chin told me he hoped I wouldn’t call his challenge.
    “Why push me, Gage? You know the contractual bonds around my neck and wrist prevent any being from killing me.”
    He paced, keeping his eyes trained on me. His mouth clamped shut, firing a ring of muscles along his jaw.
    Having been in solitude for so long sharpened my senses. The rush of power flowing through my veins was intoxicating. My fingernails grew long, inching me toward transformation.
    I bit at the air, tasting Gage’s acrid fear. But it wasn’t only fear of me. “What aren’t you telling me about this mission?”
    He resumed pacing but said nothing.
    Gage was lucky I was in such control. Had this happened last night, there would have been bloodshed. His blood.
    “Be careful the next time you issue a challenge.” I marched toward the car. “My last babysitter would tell you the same—if he was still alive.”
    Gage backed away. “Half-breed.”
    Wait . If Jessica Hanks was so valuable to merit two Guardians and a heightened interest from Master, then maybe if I got to her first, I could negotiate my contract.
     

CHAPTER 7
    “Okay, hon.” The waitress set the coffee cup on the table. “Your food will be up in a few minutes.”
    I dipped my chin to her and poured in the creamer. My spoon dinged against the sides as the cream lightened the dark pool of steaming caffeine to a caramel color.
    My phone vibrated against the Formica table and Gage’s face filled the screen. More checking up. I pressed answer and propped the phone between my shoulder and ear to keep my coffee going.
    “Where are you?”
    “Eating.”
    He huffed, evidently not appreciating my three days of evading him. “What have you discovered?”
    “I must not have your charm because I was unable to gleam any information from social services.” I sipped the coffee and reveled in its bitter yet creamy taste. “You would think my demon side would come with some mind-altering abilities to enable us to get information.”
    “This is taking too much time.”
    I relaxed into the stiff, red leather booth and brushed away the crumbs from the black topped table while Gage moaned on about my lack of progress. Clanks of silverware hitting plates echoed around me. The scent of frying grease and sweet pastries triggered a roar in my stomach I was sure the people sitting behind me would hear.
    “David.”
    “What, Gage? If Master’s Seers were a bit more effective, I might have found her by now.” I glanced around the café and lowered my voice. “I will scour the schools and malls after my meal. Goodbye.”
    I tapped end in the middle of his sentence and tossed the phone to the side. My search for Jessica Hanks had revealed nothing, and I refused to experience another quarter millennia in punishment for missing a Mark. I smoothed my fingers over my chest, remembering the flame.
    Beka’s image dashed into my brain. When I’d first seen her, I’d flippantly teased she might be worth another stint in solitary, but I was wrong. The only thing worth punishment would be finding a