Read Online Dangerous Lovers by Jamie Magee, A. M. Hargrove, Becca Vincenza - Free Book Online Page B
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, sexy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Vampires, Anthologies, Collections & Anthologies, shifters, Anthologies & Short Stories, Aliens, lovers, dangerous
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emerged from the hallway connected to the living room. She walked slowly over to the recliner and sat down facing Nelly, Jackson and me on the couch. As she studied us, I studied her.
Her clothes were typical: dark blue slacks and a floral, blue, button-down shirt. Her shoes followed suit: dark-blue penny loafers with shiny pennies in them. She bore a slightly amused expression on her gravity-dominated face. Though the skin around her eyes was spotted with age, the vessels themselves were sharp as fishhooks. They seemed to snag me in much the same way.
I cleared my throat, feeling more than mildly uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound stupid, so I said, “Hi, I’m Alexa, and this is my sister, Nelly, and my friend, Jack. It’s nice to meet you.”
I’m sure she already knew who we were, so much for not sounding stupid. Maybe I should have just gone with my usual “What’s up?”
The old lady smiled, long-lost beauty flashing briefly across her face, and sat back in the recliner. “Hello, Alexa.” Her sharp gaze fell on the others and she nodded to them in greeting. Beside me, Jackson shifted. The woman just smiled and then turned her attention back to me.
I swallowed. “We were hoping you could help us. My mother left your number on a letter.” I had explained this over the phone, but I didn’t know what else to say to fill the silence that seemed to be suffocating me and my companions.
When she continued simply staring, I opened my mouth to try again, but she beat me to the punch. Her eyes locked on me and I had to work to hold her gaze. “So much pain… You carry so much pain.”
My tongue felt thick in my throat. It was obvious whom she was talking to.
“Yet, you don’t show it,” she continued. “That’s the Warrior in you. You carry a fire inside, even though it burns you. You refuse to let it out in fear that it may destroy others.” Her eyes flicked to Nelly, then returned to me. “You fear it may destroy you in doing so because you can’t seem to control it. Still, you try. Why, Alexa? Do you know why?”
I dropped my gaze and studied my hands, a million thoughts flying through my mind. Was this woman crazy? What was she even talking about? But as I replayed her words it occurred to me that maybe she wasn’t really that far off.
I spoke before I really knew what I was going to say. “Because… if it were up to me, I’d never let her get burned. I’d keep it as close to me as I could.”
She nodded in understanding, as if she had known what I would say even before I did. I wondered if she was some kind of witch. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised if there was a unicorn tied up in the back yard.
“I’ve been called worse,” she said, as if replying to my thoughts. I must have looked shocked and embarrassed, because she waved her hand in dismissal. “But, no, I’m not a witch. I’m just good at Searching people. Not unlike our Nelliana.” She gestured toward Nelly. “Though I’m afraid her gifts surpass my own. I’m Olivia, and I believe you’ve already met my granddaughter, Akira.”
Akira’s head jerked up; she smiled and gave a shy wave. Again, my lips curved up and I waved back. Then, she hopped up off the floor and ran over to me, pulling herself into my lap. I was startled, but I repositioned myself so she could sit on my knees.
I tilted my head so that I could see Olivia. She was smiling. “I believe you have some questions for me,” she said.
That was an understatement. I didn’t know where to start. I thought for a moment, and picked the question that had been bothering me since all of this began.
“What am I?” My voice came out in a whisper, so I was surprised when Olivia answered.
“You are of ancient blood. A perfect mixture of all the physical strengths of all the races. What we once knew as Warriors. That’s what you are, the last one who carries the physiology to be called a true Warrior.”
She
Her clothes were typical: dark blue slacks and a floral, blue, button-down shirt. Her shoes followed suit: dark-blue penny loafers with shiny pennies in them. She bore a slightly amused expression on her gravity-dominated face. Though the skin around her eyes was spotted with age, the vessels themselves were sharp as fishhooks. They seemed to snag me in much the same way.
I cleared my throat, feeling more than mildly uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound stupid, so I said, “Hi, I’m Alexa, and this is my sister, Nelly, and my friend, Jack. It’s nice to meet you.”
I’m sure she already knew who we were, so much for not sounding stupid. Maybe I should have just gone with my usual “What’s up?”
The old lady smiled, long-lost beauty flashing briefly across her face, and sat back in the recliner. “Hello, Alexa.” Her sharp gaze fell on the others and she nodded to them in greeting. Beside me, Jackson shifted. The woman just smiled and then turned her attention back to me.
I swallowed. “We were hoping you could help us. My mother left your number on a letter.” I had explained this over the phone, but I didn’t know what else to say to fill the silence that seemed to be suffocating me and my companions.
When she continued simply staring, I opened my mouth to try again, but she beat me to the punch. Her eyes locked on me and I had to work to hold her gaze. “So much pain… You carry so much pain.”
My tongue felt thick in my throat. It was obvious whom she was talking to.
“Yet, you don’t show it,” she continued. “That’s the Warrior in you. You carry a fire inside, even though it burns you. You refuse to let it out in fear that it may destroy others.” Her eyes flicked to Nelly, then returned to me. “You fear it may destroy you in doing so because you can’t seem to control it. Still, you try. Why, Alexa? Do you know why?”
I dropped my gaze and studied my hands, a million thoughts flying through my mind. Was this woman crazy? What was she even talking about? But as I replayed her words it occurred to me that maybe she wasn’t really that far off.
I spoke before I really knew what I was going to say. “Because… if it were up to me, I’d never let her get burned. I’d keep it as close to me as I could.”
She nodded in understanding, as if she had known what I would say even before I did. I wondered if she was some kind of witch. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised if there was a unicorn tied up in the back yard.
“I’ve been called worse,” she said, as if replying to my thoughts. I must have looked shocked and embarrassed, because she waved her hand in dismissal. “But, no, I’m not a witch. I’m just good at Searching people. Not unlike our Nelliana.” She gestured toward Nelly. “Though I’m afraid her gifts surpass my own. I’m Olivia, and I believe you’ve already met my granddaughter, Akira.”
Akira’s head jerked up; she smiled and gave a shy wave. Again, my lips curved up and I waved back. Then, she hopped up off the floor and ran over to me, pulling herself into my lap. I was startled, but I repositioned myself so she could sit on my knees.
I tilted my head so that I could see Olivia. She was smiling. “I believe you have some questions for me,” she said.
That was an understatement. I didn’t know where to start. I thought for a moment, and picked the question that had been bothering me since all of this began.
“What am I?” My voice came out in a whisper, so I was surprised when Olivia answered.
“You are of ancient blood. A perfect mixture of all the physical strengths of all the races. What we once knew as Warriors. That’s what you are, the last one who carries the physiology to be called a true Warrior.”
She
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