Read Online Banewolf (Dark Siren Book 2) by Eden Ashley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Eden Ashley
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writhed anxiously as the immense shadows settled.
His hackles were still raised, but Bailen had stopped growling. His teeth glimmered in the flashes of lightning.
“No price is too high,” Rhane said.
Bone and flesh reshaped, crunching and squishing wetly as Ian returned to his truer form. Rhane wondered if the transformation was anywhere near as painful as it sounded. Before Ian’s mouth disappeared, the alpha uttered a few parting words. “Perhaps the rumors are true.” And then as silently as they had appeared, the shadows disappeared and were reclaimed by the night.
Rhane gathered Kalista into his arms. Her eyes were wide open but reacting to nothing around her. He pressed her body close, hoping his warmth would plug some of the chill that seeped from her pores. She started to stir, her arms hugging about him reflexively.
Though the forest and across the miles beyond it, he carried her. Back in the relative safety of civilization and in the shelter of a deserted alley, he lowered Kalista to the pavement. Or at least he tried to. Her hold tightened and sharp claws dug into his neck and back. He winced.
“Kalista, it’s alright. I just need to make a phone call.”
But her arms did not loosen. Rhane shifted her weight to his knee and managed to free one arm. Finding his cell, he made the call. “I have her. But we’re going to need a ride.”
Chapter 14
Rhane was starting to get concerned. For over an hour, there had been no change in Kalista’s vacant demeanor. She sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the floor with water from her hair dripping onto the hardwood. She didn’t blink. She didn’t cry. She didn’t tremble. Kalista was frozen. Rhane would have preferred anything over this—even hysterics.
He pulled a chair from the sitting area and took a seat directly in front of her. When he called her name softly, she didn’t look up. Rhane tried touching her ag ain, brushing his thumb across her cheek. She didn’t flinch away. “It’s time for you to come back.”
Her eyelashes fluttered. Lips that were ashen parted but no sound came out. A shiver visibly traveled across her skin, and Rhane decided he’d waited long enough.
“I need to get you out of those clothes. Please nod if you understand me.”
Slowly, her head lifted and she looked at him. The pupils of both eyes had expanded to encompass all of the white corneas, reminding Rhane of a shark.
He removed her shoes and socks, keeping his movements slow and careful as if handling a dangerous wild animal. Grasping her shoulders, Rhane pulled Kalista to him. She came willingly. But the blank stare remained, fixated on some point just over his shoulder. He undid the buttons of her blouse, eased the sleeves over arms that dangled limply at her sides, and cautiously avoided the claws that still extended from her fingertips.
Under different circumstances, the lacy red bra she wore would have sent his thoughts scattering in one direction with singled-minded purpose. But only a total jerk could have gotten stirred at a time like this. Rhane tossed the bra on top of the discarded shirt and started on Kalista’s lower half. Removing waterlogged jeans was never easy. Taking a size two off of a catatonic, sized-four teenager was nearly friggin ’ impossible.
Finally managing to work the jeans down past Kalista’s hips and thighs, the rest came easy…until he looked up. Rhane got a face full of sheer, string, and thong. He exhaled slowly. Okay. I’m a jerk.
Letting the panties be, he started to recite the Pinyin alphabet, pausing only to tell Kalista what he was about to do before lifting her into his arms. Maybe hot water would bring more warmth to her cold skin. Kicking his shoes off, he stepped into a shower big enough for four people.
As the heat and steam soaked in, Kalista started to shiver as her body fought to return to a normal temperature. Rhane pressed her closer. She was standing on her own now but still leaning heavily
His hackles were still raised, but Bailen had stopped growling. His teeth glimmered in the flashes of lightning.
“No price is too high,” Rhane said.
Bone and flesh reshaped, crunching and squishing wetly as Ian returned to his truer form. Rhane wondered if the transformation was anywhere near as painful as it sounded. Before Ian’s mouth disappeared, the alpha uttered a few parting words. “Perhaps the rumors are true.” And then as silently as they had appeared, the shadows disappeared and were reclaimed by the night.
Rhane gathered Kalista into his arms. Her eyes were wide open but reacting to nothing around her. He pressed her body close, hoping his warmth would plug some of the chill that seeped from her pores. She started to stir, her arms hugging about him reflexively.
Though the forest and across the miles beyond it, he carried her. Back in the relative safety of civilization and in the shelter of a deserted alley, he lowered Kalista to the pavement. Or at least he tried to. Her hold tightened and sharp claws dug into his neck and back. He winced.
“Kalista, it’s alright. I just need to make a phone call.”
But her arms did not loosen. Rhane shifted her weight to his knee and managed to free one arm. Finding his cell, he made the call. “I have her. But we’re going to need a ride.”
Chapter 14
Rhane was starting to get concerned. For over an hour, there had been no change in Kalista’s vacant demeanor. She sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the floor with water from her hair dripping onto the hardwood. She didn’t blink. She didn’t cry. She didn’t tremble. Kalista was frozen. Rhane would have preferred anything over this—even hysterics.
He pulled a chair from the sitting area and took a seat directly in front of her. When he called her name softly, she didn’t look up. Rhane tried touching her ag ain, brushing his thumb across her cheek. She didn’t flinch away. “It’s time for you to come back.”
Her eyelashes fluttered. Lips that were ashen parted but no sound came out. A shiver visibly traveled across her skin, and Rhane decided he’d waited long enough.
“I need to get you out of those clothes. Please nod if you understand me.”
Slowly, her head lifted and she looked at him. The pupils of both eyes had expanded to encompass all of the white corneas, reminding Rhane of a shark.
He removed her shoes and socks, keeping his movements slow and careful as if handling a dangerous wild animal. Grasping her shoulders, Rhane pulled Kalista to him. She came willingly. But the blank stare remained, fixated on some point just over his shoulder. He undid the buttons of her blouse, eased the sleeves over arms that dangled limply at her sides, and cautiously avoided the claws that still extended from her fingertips.
Under different circumstances, the lacy red bra she wore would have sent his thoughts scattering in one direction with singled-minded purpose. But only a total jerk could have gotten stirred at a time like this. Rhane tossed the bra on top of the discarded shirt and started on Kalista’s lower half. Removing waterlogged jeans was never easy. Taking a size two off of a catatonic, sized-four teenager was nearly friggin ’ impossible.
Finally managing to work the jeans down past Kalista’s hips and thighs, the rest came easy…until he looked up. Rhane got a face full of sheer, string, and thong. He exhaled slowly. Okay. I’m a jerk.
Letting the panties be, he started to recite the Pinyin alphabet, pausing only to tell Kalista what he was about to do before lifting her into his arms. Maybe hot water would bring more warmth to her cold skin. Kicking his shoes off, he stepped into a shower big enough for four people.
As the heat and steam soaked in, Kalista started to shiver as her body fought to return to a normal temperature. Rhane pressed her closer. She was standing on her own now but still leaning heavily
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