Read Online Bonedust by Xoe Xanders - Free Book Online Page A

I’ll have the chance again. I’m her father, for Halcion’s sake.” His own voice was a rumble. “I won’t stay long. I have to--”
    “Leave. Oh, believe me Urban, I know. You always end up leaving.” She shook her head, sending blond bangs flying, and stormed back into the house. “The mutt doesn’t come in. I just had the carpets cleaned.”
    Urban held up a finger to his hound before following her in. The kitchen was brightly lit, the table set with bowls of steaming stew. His stomach knotted at the scent—like coming back to a family reunion you really didn’t wanna be at—but he stopped breathing for a moment when he saw her.
    Annabelle sat up at the table, her legs swinging off the edge of the chair. Her hair had been cut and curled cutely around her chin and she looked at Urban with curious eyes. No fear. Never fear. She truly was his daughter. You didn’t need to see the shimmer of scales across her cheeks to see that. “Annabelle…”
    Annabelle looked to Cinthi, who went to her daughter’s side. Kneeling down, she murmured something too low for Urban to hear, and the little girl peered up at him with a shy smile. “Hiya.”
    “Hey.” Words lodged in his throat. He stood there, feeling awkward. “You’ve grown up, little Belle.” Cinthi snapped her gaze to his, but he cut her off without a word. There was no way Annabelle remembered him—she had been less than a year when he’d seen her last. It was a miracle Cinthi even sent him updated pictures.
    “This is your Uncle Urban,” Cinthi said quickly, squeezing the girl’s hand and shooting Urban a warning glance. Play along, or suffer the consequences. “He’s in town and thought he’d drop in. Would you like to stay for dinner, Urban?” She offered a thin-lipped smile, just a show for her daughter. Like a hound protecting her pups.
    Urban slowly shook his head, dropping to one knee on the scuffed carpet. “Can I have a hug, or am I too much of a stranger?”
    The girl wavered, glancing between him and Cinthi for a moment, as if gauging her mother’s reaction. Please, just… One hug, that’s all he asked. Something to remember her by before she grew up and turned against the father who’d left her all alone. His heart clenched in relief as she scooted off the chair and shyly wrapped her arms around his neck.
    He couldn’t help himself. His arms wrapped around her thin frame, holding her close. He took a deep breath, her hair smelling of berries, and he pulled away to look into her face. A smile spread across his lips as he traced the line of pearly scales across her cheek. Her too-blue eyes locked into his and she mirrored his grin, looking quite impish.
    “You have scales too, Uncle Urban?” She reached out and pressed one finger to his cheek.
    Cinthi stepped forward, clearing her throat. “Anna, can you be a big girl and finish your dinner?”
    Annabelle nodded, turned, then peered over her shoulder at him. “Bye,” she said, then hopped back over to her chair.
    “I should be going, anyway. I’ll see you again soon, Annabelle,” he said, turning away from Cinthi. He made his way back to the door and his hand rested on the knob. “Just…take care of her. You might be a bitch, but you’re the only mom she has.”
    Cinthi said nothing as he shut the door behind him. He took three deep breaths as he walked down the driveway, whistling for Pandora. She jogged to his side, looking up curiously, and he reached down to fondle an ear. “Good girl.”
    He went to Cavanaugh’s Speedi Station and bought an extra large coffee—sans cream, two sugars—and a quick lottery ticket estimating that the winner could receive up to 250,000 zaels. He could use that. Settle down in a cozy little house off the beaten path and be able to live comfortably, pay child support, and dance whenever he wanted to. No more late night hunts, no more dealing with homicidal werewolves. Just him and Pandora and…
    He paused mid-thought. Gabriel. His