Read Online DH 05 Kiss Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
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her to make it past her birthday.
Ultimately, though, she didn’t know, and she’d never been able to find anyone who knew more about her
“condition” than she did.
Cassandra didn’t want to die. Not now when there was so much living she had left. She wanted what most everyone else did. A husband. A family.
Most of al , a future.
“Maybe this Dark-Hunter knows something about my mixed blood. Maybe he—”
“Your mother would fly into a panic if their name ever came up,” he said as he stroked her cheek. “I know very little about the Apol ites, but I know they al hate the Dark-Hunters. Your mother cal ed them evil, soul ess kil ers that no one could reason with.”
“They’re not the Terminator, Daddy.”
“The way your mother spoke of them, they are.”
Wel , that was true. Her mother had spent hours warning her and her sisters to stay away from three things: Dark-Hunters, Daimons, and Apol ites—in that order.
“Mom never even met one. Al she knew was what her parents had told her and I’l wager they never met one either. Besides, what if this Dark-Hunter is the key to helping me find a way to live longer?” His grip tightened on her hand. “What if he was sent to kil you just like the Daimons and Apol ites who kil ed your mother? You know what the myth says. Kil you, and the curse is lifted from them.” She thought about that for a second. “What if they’re right? What if my death would al ow al the other Apol ites to live normal y? Maybe I should die.”
His face flushed with rage. His gaze burned into hers as he tightened his grip on her hand. “Cassandra Elaine Peters, I better never hear you say that again. Do you understand me?” Cassandra nodded, contrite for having raised his blood pressure when that was the last thing she wanted to do. “I know, Daddy. I’m just upset.”
He kissed her forehead. “I know, baby. I know.”
She saw the torment on his face as he got up and returned to his chair.
He didn’t say what they both thought. Long ago he’d entrusted a smal group of researchers with the duty of finding a “cure” for her rare disease only to learn modern science was helpless before the wrath of an ancient god.
Maybe he was right, maybe Wulf was as dangerous to her as everyone else. She knew the Dark-Hunters were sworn to kil Daimons, but she didn’t know how they would deal with Apol ites.
Her mother had said to trust no one, most especial y not the ones who made their living by kil ing their people.
Stil , her gut told her that a race that had spent eternity hunting hers would know everything about them.
Then again, why would a Dark-Hunter ever help an Apol ite when they were sworn enemies?
“It was a stupid idea, wasn’t it?”
“No, Cassie,” her father said gently. “It wasn’t stupid at al . I just don’t want to see you hurt.” She got up and went to hug and kiss him. “I’l go on to class and forget about it.”
“I stil wish you’d think about leaving for a while. If those Daimons saw you, they might have told someone else you were here.”
“Trust me, Daddy, they didn’t have time. No one knows I’m here and I don’t want to leave.” Ever.
The word hung unspoken between them. She saw her father’s lips quiver as they both thought about the fact that the clock was ticking for her.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” her father asked. “I’l leave work early and—”
“I promised Michel e we could do something. Catch you tomorrow?” He nodded and gave her a squeeze so strong that she winced from the pressure of his arms around her waist. “You be careful.”
“I wil .”
By the look on his face, she could tel he didn’t want her to go any more than she wanted to leave. “I love you, Cassandra.”
“I know. I love you too, Daddy.” She offered him a smile and left him to his work.
Cassandra made her way from his office and out of the building, while her thoughts drifted back toward her dreams of
Ultimately, though, she didn’t know, and she’d never been able to find anyone who knew more about her
“condition” than she did.
Cassandra didn’t want to die. Not now when there was so much living she had left. She wanted what most everyone else did. A husband. A family.
Most of al , a future.
“Maybe this Dark-Hunter knows something about my mixed blood. Maybe he—”
“Your mother would fly into a panic if their name ever came up,” he said as he stroked her cheek. “I know very little about the Apol ites, but I know they al hate the Dark-Hunters. Your mother cal ed them evil, soul ess kil ers that no one could reason with.”
“They’re not the Terminator, Daddy.”
“The way your mother spoke of them, they are.”
Wel , that was true. Her mother had spent hours warning her and her sisters to stay away from three things: Dark-Hunters, Daimons, and Apol ites—in that order.
“Mom never even met one. Al she knew was what her parents had told her and I’l wager they never met one either. Besides, what if this Dark-Hunter is the key to helping me find a way to live longer?” His grip tightened on her hand. “What if he was sent to kil you just like the Daimons and Apol ites who kil ed your mother? You know what the myth says. Kil you, and the curse is lifted from them.” She thought about that for a second. “What if they’re right? What if my death would al ow al the other Apol ites to live normal y? Maybe I should die.”
His face flushed with rage. His gaze burned into hers as he tightened his grip on her hand. “Cassandra Elaine Peters, I better never hear you say that again. Do you understand me?” Cassandra nodded, contrite for having raised his blood pressure when that was the last thing she wanted to do. “I know, Daddy. I’m just upset.”
He kissed her forehead. “I know, baby. I know.”
She saw the torment on his face as he got up and returned to his chair.
He didn’t say what they both thought. Long ago he’d entrusted a smal group of researchers with the duty of finding a “cure” for her rare disease only to learn modern science was helpless before the wrath of an ancient god.
Maybe he was right, maybe Wulf was as dangerous to her as everyone else. She knew the Dark-Hunters were sworn to kil Daimons, but she didn’t know how they would deal with Apol ites.
Her mother had said to trust no one, most especial y not the ones who made their living by kil ing their people.
Stil , her gut told her that a race that had spent eternity hunting hers would know everything about them.
Then again, why would a Dark-Hunter ever help an Apol ite when they were sworn enemies?
“It was a stupid idea, wasn’t it?”
“No, Cassie,” her father said gently. “It wasn’t stupid at al . I just don’t want to see you hurt.” She got up and went to hug and kiss him. “I’l go on to class and forget about it.”
“I stil wish you’d think about leaving for a while. If those Daimons saw you, they might have told someone else you were here.”
“Trust me, Daddy, they didn’t have time. No one knows I’m here and I don’t want to leave.” Ever.
The word hung unspoken between them. She saw her father’s lips quiver as they both thought about the fact that the clock was ticking for her.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” her father asked. “I’l leave work early and—”
“I promised Michel e we could do something. Catch you tomorrow?” He nodded and gave her a squeeze so strong that she winced from the pressure of his arms around her waist. “You be careful.”
“I wil .”
By the look on his face, she could tel he didn’t want her to go any more than she wanted to leave. “I love you, Cassandra.”
“I know. I love you too, Daddy.” She offered him a smile and left him to his work.
Cassandra made her way from his office and out of the building, while her thoughts drifted back toward her dreams of
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