Read Online Claimed by Light by Reese Monroe - Free Book Online Page A

parents weren’t in the picture, and he had a younger sister to contend with. No wonder the guy did what he did.
    A tear skated down Mae’s cheek. “Do you know where Slade is? It’s not like him to leave like this. And then those pictures…”
    Halena’s gut wrenched. She couldn’t really say, “Oh, he’s a demon. Sorry. Just try to remember him how he was.”
    “Halena?”
    “Sorry. No—wait, how’d you know my name?”
    “You said it earlier. Do you know where Slade is?” she asked again, her voice a little more forceful.
    Her intense stare made Halena, an eight-century-old Gatekeeper to Hades, crumble. And Halena didn’t crumble. Ever! But right now, she wanted to curl up in a ball and tell Mae everything. How much she cared for Slade despite what he’d done to her. How the one night they’d had together, before he drugged and kidnapped her, had rocked her world. She’d never felt a connection stronger than that and, at the time, The Great One hadn’t even marked him yet.
    Even now, despite Slade’s betrayal, she still thought of him. Was racking her brain for a way to save him.
    She tried to blame her feelings for him on the Ahavah, but the more she learned about Slade… He was honorable.
    But she would never admit that to anyone, let alone a stranger…who just happened to be Slade’s grandmother.
    And, someone who knew Halena’s name when she was certain she hadn’t offered it.

Chapter Nine
    “Oh, Jace. You’re so strong!” Addison slapped the demon’s bulging biceps, and Halena nearly puked. How could this girl be so clueless?
    Sure, he was easy on the eyes, with his thick black hair and fair skin, but still.
    The demon steadied her with his big hand on her shoulder as she slid out of the booth.
    “I’ll be right back.” Addison gave a cute one-finger wave and blew a kiss at the demon.
    Halena focused on Addison stumbling toward the ladies’ room. Damn girl couldn’t be more than sixteen at the most, and she was wasted in a bar filled with demons.
    Okay, not filled , but there was at least one massively strong demon here. If Halena had to guess, that Jace loser was a few centuries old. And for how young Addison looked, he more than likely had connections at this bar to get her in the place.
    Halena might have her work cut out for her getting that little brat out of here.
    None of this made sense, though. What was that demon doing with Addison? Or with Slade, for that matter? So much time and energy had been spent on these two, Halena couldn’t look the other way. She had to figure out what was going on.
    She patted both sides of her legs, confirming her Mavets were in place. If she couldn’t work some mind mojo on Addison and get her out of here quietly, she’d have to fight their way out.
    The tipsy teen passed by, leaving a wake of strong, spicy perfume that stung Halena’s eyes.
    Lovely .
    Halena hugged the walls, dodging two women making their way from the hallway, and sneaked into the bathroom before the door closed.
    There were three stalls to her left. Straight ahead was a full-length mirror and a stand with a myriad of beauty supplies to keep the women fresh…and smelly. Halena bit back a sneeze.
    She’d never been the kind to wear a lot of perfume. It messed with her sense of smell.
    Shuffling to her right drew Halena’s attention. Addison patted her lips as she leaned into the mirror.
    “Busy out there tonight.” Halena approached the young girl.
    Addison stopped and clutched something in her free hand, then brought it to her side. Weapon maybe? How’d she hide one in that skimpy skirt and tight shirt? Maybe in her tiny purse.
    “You okay?” Halena took another step.
    “Fine. Um. I just need to use the bathroom.” She laughed. “One too many beers for me tonight.”
    Funny, though, she navigated around Halena with no stumbling, and there wasn’t much of a scent of alcohol wafting off the girl. Not drunk. Interesting.
    Addison shifted whatever she held to her