Read Online Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole - Free Book Online Page A

you and the Priestess tussle?”
    Tussle? “I have no idea. Three minutes? Thirty?”
    â€œI’m giving us eleven minutes total.” Selena clicked the timer on. “Which tent is J.D. in? Without Gabriel—”
    â€œI know which one.”
    â€œWe don’t have disguises!”
    â€œNo soldiers are out.” I led Selena into the ghost-town camp.
    When we passed the hobbled woman, I pressed my forefinger to my lips. After a heartbeat’s hesitation, she nodded.
    Selena and I continued on, picking up speed as we turned the corner.
    â€œThat’s the tent.”
    She slowed. “The one heavily guarded by guys in gas masks?”
    â€œJust keep running!” I passed her.
    â€œThis is suicide!” But she sped up.
    â€œDo you want to save Jack or not?” I asked when we were side by side.
    â€œDamn it, Evie!”
    â€œTake off your sling and go all-out Arcana. Even without your bow, you can still look weird. Like you once told me: sell it, sister, or we are dead.” I acted on that advice, calling forth my body vine.
    It budded from the shimmering glyph over my nape. No more delicate ivy; this time I made it into a thornless rose stalk. Recalling Matthew’s mention of a crown, I let it coil around my head, oversize leaves pointing up like arches. In lieu of a dozen stars, I fashioned twelve blooms to garnish it.
    Roses were the red witch’s flower.
    My flower.
    Selena tore off her sling and tossed it away. Her every footfall jostled that arm, but she gritted her teeth and withstood the agony.
    For Jack, Selena Lua could do anything .
    She began to glow, her skin the luminous red of a hunter’s moon. Her silvery hair danced all around her head like gossamer moonbeams, an awing sight.
    â€œOkay, Archer, how about hammering these guys with some doubt?” One of her powers as the Moon Card.
    â€œIt’s not that easy.” Her eyes darted. “I can’t laser-focus it.”
    Another power secret? “Oh, that reminds me. I think the twins can teleport.”
    â€œSon of a bitch!” She glanced at my face. “Your glyphs are dim. Can you fumigate their tent?”
    â€œI might’ve blown my wad against the Priestess.” So much for conserving.
    Selena scowled. “I’m going forward, even against teleporters.”
    â€œLike I’m not?”
    When the soldiers caught sight of us, they aimed their guns, eyes going wide at Selena’s appearance, not to mention mine.
    We stopped in front of the detail. Selena had once told me that the Empress of Old was “slithery and creepy and sexy.” I took a precious instant to catch my breath. “We’re here to deliver you from the twins,”I said in a throaty voice as petals wafted down from my wild reddened hair. “Step aside, and I’ll rip their heads from their bodies. Your army will be freed.”
    The men gazed from me to Selena. We both wore expressions of otherworldly malice.
    â€œIt takes creatures like us—to destroy creatures like them. Let us do our jobs, soldiers. Just walk away.”
    They remained frozen in shock.
    The tent behind them was large enough to house a small circus. Jack was somewhere within! So close . . .
    I raised my hideous dripping claws. In a tone that might give even Death chills, I said, “If Jack Deveaux loses his eyes, I will slice your flesh to ribbons and choke your lungs with vine. Am—I—clear, Franklin?”
    Finally, one man lost control of his bladder. Franklin startled when I said his name. A risk.
    Then, with a swallow, he waved his handpicked men away.
    We were on.
    Selena checked her watch. “Nine minutes. Smash and grab, and watch for teleporting freaks. Let’s bring J.D. home.”

11
    At the tent flap, Selena pulled her gun and mouthed, One . . . two . . . three. We charged in.
    The stench . The air reeked of smoke—and rot.
    Randomly placed