Read Online Darkness Falls by A.C. Warneke - Free Book Online Page B

ragged breath, he opened his eyes, “Mal, even when I was a vampire you’re almost all I thought about. You have no idea how happy I am to have you back.”
    “Jesus,” she gasped, pulling away from him and taking a few steps back. “How did you even know where to find me?”
    “The other night I saw you standing in the window looking out over the empty streets,” he told her. A fierce scowl twisted his features as he added, “But you weren’t alone. I waited until I was sure your boyfriend was gone before I snuck in.”
    “He’s more than my boyfriend,” she told him. “He’s my mate.”
    “Malorie,” he implored.
    “I’m not exactly human, Jack,” she blurted, trying to make him understand that they no longer belonged together but her brain was so befuddled with everything she didn’t think she was doing a very good job of it. “And neither is our son.”
    “Toby.” He mouthed the name but no sound came out and an expression of despair darkened his face, as if he was just remembering he had a son. “My God, Toby! I want to see him. Where is he?”
    “Jack,” she pleaded, grabbing his arm as he headed towards her door. Using her body weight to keep him from leaving her bedroom, she hissed, “You can’t, Jack. Not like this. Besides, he’s sleeping and I’m not going to wake him up.”
    “He’s my son,” Jack returned, not fighting her but obviously eager to see the child he never met. “I deserve to be a part of his life.”
    “Jack,” she tried again.
    “Malorie, my sweet,” Jiro interrupted as he stepped from out of the darkness, from out of nowhere. He wore a smile as he leaned against her wall, his arms crossed across his broad chest, but his eyes were hard, observant as he took in the scene before him. “Who is this?”
    His hair was bleached blond once more and the diamonds were back and at that moment, Malorie wasn’t sure whether she was glad to see him or terrified. She should have known Feryn would never let her remain unprotected. “Jiro.”
    “Malorie?” Jiro repeated her name, arching the eyebrow that sported two hoops.
    How was she supposed to answer him? She looked at Jack, who was wearing a mulish expression as he almost dared her to introduce him. Subtly, she shook her head no but he smiled cruelly. Stepping towards Jiro, he held his hand out, “I’m Jack. I’m….”
    “No,” Malorie breathed, reaching for the proffered hand, as if she could stop the wreck from happening. Jack didn’t understand the danger of telling an Aradian he had been cured of his vampirism.
    Jack gave her a perturbed look before turning back to Jiro, “I’m her husband.”
    For what seemed the longest time but was probably only a few seconds, Jiro simply stared at Jack. Finally, he let out an incredulous laugh, wiping imaginary tears from his angry eyes. Swinging an arm around Malorie’s shoulders, he pulled her against his hard body and she knew he wasn’t offering protection. The strength of his hold indicated he thought she was going to run. He was a fool. It’s not like she could escape the time disruption. “That’s funny. I thought I heard you say you were Malorie’s husband.”
    “I am,” Jack ground out, eying Jiro’s hold on her with increasing anger.
    “Her dead, vampire husband,” Jiro bit out, the false humor abruptly gone.
    “I’m no longer dead,” Jack said through clenched teeth. “And I’m no longer a vampire.”
    “Apparently,” Jiro deadpanned. Turning to Malorie, he asked, “How is he not dead?”
    Her jaw dropped as she stared at Jiro as if he had gone mad. When he continued to look at her as if he actually expected her to have the answer, she threw her hands up in the air, which was difficult to do since he was holding her so tightly. With a low growl, she asked, “How the fuck should I know?”
    “I think we should discuss this with Feryn.”
    “I think now would not be the right time to discuss anything with Feryn,” she countered.