Read Online Elven Blood (Imp Book 3) by Debra Dunbar - Free Book Online Page B

knows you’re partial to that gate and he has it watched constantly. Your only chance would be to dash through and into Li before they nab you.”
    “That high lord hates my guts.”
    “You could come in by Klee,” Dar suggested. “I don’t think Haagenti has anyone watching that gate.”
    “Uh, no. That’s through four different elf kingdoms, and every single one of them would be happy to see me dead. Haagenti’s torture would be like a spa day by comparison.” Besides, to get to that gate, I’d need to fly to Mogadishu, and I didn’t think there was quick and easy air travel there right now.
    “There’s no way you’ll make it past the Seattle gate either, the one that comes out in Dis. No way. That gate is wall–to–wall demons. You’ll just need to find another entrance.”
    I sighed. There was another gate: the elf gate on the C&O canal towpath. But that came out into another high lord’s lands, and even though we were on decent terms, elves didn’t take kindly to trespass. There was always a cost if you were caught on their lands. I was going to have to risk it though. Just as soon as I was sure Wyatt was safe.
    Mulling over the best way to go through three elven kingdoms without offending anyone or being snatched up by demons, I ended my call and headed out to meet Candy. Korean food and the company of a good friend would put everything in perspective. And if that didn’t do it, hot wings and a night curled up in Wyatt’s arms would.

5
    M ichelle’s aunt appeared to be in her sixties, a voluminous woman in a voluminous bright–blue dress. She glared at me, clearly disappointed.
    “This is no Satan,” she announced. I felt rather ashamed, as if I’d defrauded her. “This is not even a Loa. She is a minor servant of Eshu of the Yoruba. She is of no use to me.”
    She’d insisted that her wall needed to be constructed at night, and had raced up from Ellicott City in her sporty little BMW convertible. I’d had to interrupt my girlfriend time with Candy and hot–foot it back to meet her at Wyatt’s house. I probably didn’t look too impressive, standing beside Wyatt’s old truck holding a bag of hot wings.
    “I am the Ha–satan, the Iblis,” I assured her weakly. “I can show you the sword.”
    She scowled. “I care not for your weapons. That horse you have mounted is not even an initiate. Why would you choose her?”
    I glanced over at Michelle, silently beseeching her for clarification. I wasn’t on a horse at the moment, and I wasn’t sure exactly who this initiate was that the woman referred to. Did she mean Piper or Diablo? And who was this “her”? All my horses were male.
    “She means the human whose form you are in. Your “horse”. She is wondering why you would possess someone who is not a worshipper. Normally a spirit only possesses those who are initiated into the religion and who are willing vessels.”
    I turned back to the aunt. “I can Own anyone I choose. Anyone I find interesting. I don’t need their permission, and they don’t need to worship me.” Although that would be really cool. I’d never had anyone worship me before.
    Her dark eyes were uncomfortably intense. “But you do not Own this horse you ride. A symbiosis such as this is only possible with permission.”
    “Can you build this wall, or not?” I asked. I wasn’t about to get into a discussion of the terms and conditions surrounding my Owning the human known as Samantha Martin. It was complicated, and strange, not something I discussed with anyone, let alone some unknown priestess.
    Wyatt had come out at this point, and the aunt turned her attention to him, her face clearly approving.
    “Is this the young man seeking protection?” she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Michelle. “I will do this for you and your young man. Not for this servant of Eshu.”
    Michelle shot me an uncomfortable glance. “He’s not my young man, Auntie. He’s Sam’s boyfriend.”
    The