Read Online Dangerous Lovers by Jamie Magee, A. M. Hargrove, Becca Vincenza - Free Book Online Page A

all around it. They hung from the porch, sat on window sills, lined the walkway and sat at the base of a lone tree in the yard. Not exactly what I’d been expecting, but then, I wasn’t sure what I had been expecting.
    Jackson double-checked the address. “You sure this is the right place?” he asked.
    I shrugged. “Guess so.”
    “It’s the right place,” Nelly said.
    I looked over at her and drew a deep breath. “Let’s go find out.”
    We got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Nelly rang the doorbell. I wasn’t sure why, but my heart was racing and I had to wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. I suddenly felt self-conscious. I was about to discover things that might change the world as I knew it, things about myself that I had never even known.
    Looking down at my attire, I was glad that I had at least been able to change clothes. I hadn’t showered because I hadn’t wanted to spend any longer in my house than I had to. Gathering clothes and supplies had taken long enough. I was now wearing clean jeans and a light purple, long-sleeved shirt. I had pulled my hair back into a loose ponytail and brushed my teeth at a rest stop—could be worse.
    Glancing over at my companions, I saw Jackson wore his usual flannel shirt and jeans, and Nelly looked beautiful, as always. Still, they appeared as nervous as I was. And tired. We all looked tired.
    The door creaked open and a cute little girl poked her head out. If I had to guess, I would say that she was about five, but then, I didn’t really know much about little kids. She had big brown eyes and long, wavy brown hair, and she was wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. I smiled involuntarily, the first time in the last two days that I had really smiled. She reminded me of a little me.
    She tilted her little head to the side and studied us, concentration covering her adorable features. Her eyes passed over all three of us with the astuteness of an adult. I cleared my throat, feeling a little like I was being examined. “Um, hi. My name is—”
    “Shh.” She interrupted. “I mean, sorry, just need silence for a second, okay?”
    I shut my mouth and tried to hide my smile. I glanced uneasily at the rapidly sinking sun as she studied us for several more seconds. Finally, she nodded and pointed her tiny finger at Jackson. “Jackson Kane,” she proclaimed. “Jackson Kane, Wolf Son.” She swung her finger toward Nelly. “Nelliana, Omnipotent Life-Drinker.” She stumbled on omnipotent and I found myself still smiling, even though this was absolutely strange.
    Her finger landed on me and I couldn’t help but hold my breath, “And Alexa… hmm… well… that’s… interesting.” She stared into my eyes and I got the strange sensation that she was staring straight through to my soul. Once again, I felt a little self-conscious.
    Then, she closed her eyes and lowered her head in what looked like a bow. I shot looks at Jackson and Nelly. They just shrugged, looking just as confused as I was. Good, at least I wasn’t the only one.
    A woman’s voice drifted out from inside the house. “Let them in, Akira. Don’t scare them away.”
    Akira rolled her eyes and swung the door open, then gestured for us to follow her inside. We filed into the house, and she informed us that we could “sit down if we wanted.” We promptly complied. Akira plopped herself down by a large toy box in the corner of the room and began digging through toys and scattering them over the floor. She didn’t say anything else to us, all her attention on the tea party she was setting up for her stuffed animals.
    As we waited, I took note of our surroundings. The front door had opened up into a cozy living room containing a beige couch and matching recliner. There were pictures and more flowers placed strategically around the room, and a tiny piano with a tiny stool sat near the toy box. It was cute and homey. Strangely, it made me miss my mother.
    A few minutes later, an old-as-dirt lady