Read Online Embrace the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy - Free Book Online Page B

she had only wanted to have a few surprises tucked away in case she would have the opportunity to use them.
    Now was the perfect opportunity.
    Dusk had painted a canvas of pinks and pale violet across the sky when she neared the auction house. Had she been free of the curse, she would have crawled atop one of the towering buildings to watch the wash of color spread over Lake Michigan. There was nothing quite so soothing as being near the water and allowing its power to spread through her.
    Her steps never halted, however, and it was still early enough that most of the trolls would be sleeping when she arrived at the auction house.
    Unfortunately, more than just trolls and vamps waited for full dark before rising and silently sneaking to the lower basement she discovered Levet still in statue form.
    â€œLevet, wake up,” she hissed, silently praying it was long enough past sunset for him to hear her. “Dammit, wake up.”
    For long moments there was nothing but the scrambling of mice to break the thick silence. Then, there was the faintest crack of rock and the thick stone encasing the gargoyle began to crumble away.
    The sight never failed to amaze Shay as the tiny statue shed its skin like a snake molting to reveal the demon beneath.
    A shower of dust briefly blinded the small gargoyle and Shay moved closer to the iron bars.
    â€œLevet.”
    â€œEeek.” With a loud shriek, Levet scurried to the dark corner of the cell.
    â€œFor God’s sake, be quiet,” Shay hissed.
    â€œShay?”
    â€œYes, it’s Shay.”
    Levet slowly crept from the shadows, as if half expecting her to be a figment of his imagination.
    â€œWhat are you doing here? Mon dieu, have you been returned already?”
    Shay reluctantly smiled. She didn’t blame the gargoyle for jumping to the conclusion her newest master had kicked her out after only a few hours.
    She was not exactly slave material.
    She hated taking orders. She was short-tempered. Overly proud. Skilled in the most deadly arts. And inclined to battle against fate rather than accept it with grace.
    There might be worse slaves than herself.
    But not many.
    â€œI told you that I would come back for you. I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”
    Levet stilled. As if he had returned to his statue form. “You came back? For…me?”
    â€œYes.”
    He slowly sank to his knees, his flippant manner lost in a surge of bone-deep relief.
    â€œOh, thank God.” His voice echoed through the empty cavern. “Thank God.”
    â€œSssh.” Shay gave an anxious wave of her hand as she glanced toward the nearby stairs. “We have to get you out of here before Evor awakens.”
    â€œHow? You can’t touch the bars and I’m not strong enough to bend them.”
    Shay reached beneath her cloak to pull out the small ceramic pot. With great care, she pulled out the stopper.
    â€œStand back.”
    Levet rose to his feet and slowly backed away. “What are you going to do?”
    The smoke was already beginning to rise from the pot. Never a good sign.
    â€œDammit, Levet, just get in the corner.”
    With a flap of his gossamer wings, he was scurrying to the back of the cell even as Shay tossed the pot directly at the iron bars.
    There was an evil hiss and an acrid cloud of mist as the liquid from the pot rapidly ate its way through the metal.
    â€œ Sacrebleu . What is that stuff?” Levet breathed in shock.
    â€œA potion I stole from the witches.”
    â€œYou stole it?”
    â€œYes.”
    The gargoyle delicately inched his way forward. “Um, Shay?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNext time you want to rescue me could you just steal the key?” He deliberately regarded the large, dripping hole in the center of the bars before his gaze lowered to the stones that were being slowly eaten away. “I’m not really certain you should be allowed to have potions.”
    Shay