Read Online Against a Brightening Sky by Jaime Lee Moyer - Free Book Online Page A

answering. “No, nothing yet. I’d hoped someone here would know.”
    Rapid footfalls sounded on the stairs, reaching the top so fast, Dora must have taken the steps two at a time. She hurried down the hallway just as quickly.
    I glanced at the princess ghost to see how she’d react to Isadora’s arrival, wondering if she’d vanish or her expression would change. Instead of reacting as I’d imagined, the spirit had turned to watch the door, calm and seemingly unconcerned.
    That puzzled me and added another layer of worry, not that I needed more. Most ghosts had the self-preservation and good sense to avoid Dora. I’d learned a great deal about the spirit realm and the occult world from Isadora Bobet over the last four years, but her abilities still far outstripped mine. Spirits feared what she could do in terms of driving them from the world of the living.
    They had good reason to be afraid. No spirit had ever stood for long against the force of Dora’s will.
    I didn’t think for an instant the princess was ignorant of Dora’s power. The question was whether her willingness to face Dora came from arrogance or some arcane knowledge that nothing could touch her. Gazing at the spirit’s serene expression, I wasn’t sure it mattered. The princess ghost meant to stand firm.
    Dora appeared in the doorway, flushed and uncharacteristically teary eyed. She hurried across the room and pulled me up out of the chair, folding me into a fierce hug. “I’ve never been so glad to see you, Dee. I drove Randy over to the Palace Hotel. I couldn’t get very near the square or the fountain. They … they were still uncovering bodies in the rubble. Are you all right? And Gabe? I haven’t heard a word from anyone about him.”
    â€œI’m shaken and a bit frightened, but otherwise fine. Gabe admits to being sore and bruised, but he’s not letting that stop him from working. He refused to go to the hospital with Jack. Sam’s looking after him for me.” I hugged Dora in return and stepped back to see her face. “Sadie and the children, and Sam and his friend Libby all escaped unhurt. It was a near thing for all of us, but we made it home in one piece.”
    â€œI was half-frantic when I first heard what happened, and after seeing the wreckage … I was beside myself. Noah Baxter told me you were all right, but I needed to see for myself. But your husband is the most stubborn, obstinate creature I’ve ever known, and I plan to tell him so. Gabe should have seen the doctor.” Dora gripped my hand tight, steeling herself for the next question. “I know Sadie went with Jack to the hospital. How much should I worry?”
    â€œJack was terribly pale and quiet, but he managed to walk to the Palace lobby before he collapsed. Scott Jodes is taking care of him, so I’m not so worried as I’d be otherwise. Sadie promised to call as soon as she knew anything. All we can do is wait.” Connor stirred in his sleep, stretching and kicking at the blanket, but didn’t wake. I patted his back and went on. “I’m just as glad to see you, maybe more so. This has been a very strange and trying day, and a lot of what happened baffles me. I’m hoping you might know what to make of things. Men tossing bombs off a roof and shooting into the parade crowd aren’t near half of it.”
    â€œReally … I thought escaping bombs and rifles was more than enough. I should have learned by now to set my standards higher.” Dora sat on the end of Connor’s bed, leaning back on her hands. “Start at the beginning and tell me everything. My guess is that at least part of this involves Connor, or you wouldn’t be hovering over him.”
    â€œA great deal of it involves Connor. We were right about him being able to see ghosts, but his sensitivity goes far beyond that. I can’t put off speaking to Sadie another