Read Online Demon Marked by Meljean Brook - Free Book Online

control of her own body. Hell, Rosalia had healed from the worst of it, when Taylor, possessed by Michael, had stabbed the other Guardian through the chest.
    Strange how that incident had resulted in a bond of friendship between them. But then, since becoming a Guardian, a whole lot of Taylor’s life had become strange.
    Strange was her new normal.
    Though now that she thought about it, Rosalia being in Caelum wasn’t normal, either. The Guardian didn’t visit the realm very often, and usually only when meeting her friends. Neither Radha nor Mariko was here now, so that meant she’d probably come looking for Taylor. If so, now Rosalia was probably wondering if she’d come at a bad time.
    “Did you need me for anything? It’s not that bad of a day, if you are.”
    Smiling faintly, Rosalia stepped close enough to adjust Taylor’s white shirt collar, then smooth her hands over Taylor’s shoulders. Though she might have punched anyone else, Taylor allowed Rosalia this, too. The poor woman couldn’t stand seeing someone that she cared about looking untidy—and in any case, Rosalia wasn’t really paying attention to what her hands were doing. She’d gotten that look in her eyes that said: A demon would be dying soon .
    “Do you remember Nicholas St. Croix?”
    Taylor frowned. Did she? The name was familiar, but she couldn’t recall a face.
    Rosalia helped her out. “The dungeon in Rome.”
    Ah, yes. No wonder Taylor couldn’t immediately remember. She’d spent half of her time in the dungeon watching a few hundred demons being slaughtered, and waiting for Michael to take over her body and save the humans stuck in the center of the massacre.
    St. Croix had watched the massacre, too. He’d made being present for it a condition before allowing Rosalia use of the dungeon.
    “Let me see if I remember,” Taylor said. “Caucasian. Sixtwo, one-seventy, black-brown hair, and blue eyes that remind me of ice chips from the frozen field in Hell. A handsome devil of the GQ variety, and if I’m not mistaken, you thought he actually was a demon for a while.”
    “You’re not mistaken. He’s a straight-up bastard.”
    “Who you helped anyway.”
    “Yes, well. He was useful.” Rosalia stepped back, and seemed satisfied with the straight line she’d made of Taylor’s button-up front. “I think he’s found his mother.”
    “Oh.” Yes, Taylor recalled part of that, too. He’d bought the dungeon because he’d been searching for a demon who’d posed as his mother. Maybe after he’d had his revenge, he’d be less of a bastard. Taylor doubted it, though. “So is he headed to Rome, intending to lock her up and slay her?”
    “I don’t know. I lost him in London.”
    “Ah.” Now the reason for Rosalia’s journey to Caelum became clear. The Guardians’ base of operations on Earth, Special Investigations, could help her locate St. Croix. “So you were looking for me, or you were headed to San Francisco?”
    “I was headed to SI, but you might be able to make it all easier. Can you teleport to him?”
    Taylor should have been able to. In the dungeon six months ago, his mind hadn’t been well shielded, and she’d been able to sense his emotions. That made his psyche familiar to her, and she could teleport directly to anyone with a familiar, unshielded mind.
    But apparently not St. Croix.
    Rosalia grimaced. “I taught him how to block.”
    “And you taught him very well, apparently, because I can’t go to him. I’ll save you the trip to SI, though.” Not much of a save, since “the trip” was only a single step through a Gate. “I’m headed there now. I’ll let them know to start looking for him.”
    “I’m grateful, thank you. That will allow me to return to Rome. Hopefully he’ll show up there.”
    “Do you think he will?”
    “No. Partially because he trusts no one, but also because he knows that I’ll look there for him.” Rosalia smiled. “But he also knows that I know that he probably