Read Online Eve of Warefare by Sylvia Day - Free Book Online

an angel presiding over the ceremony, was all any girl could ask for . . .
    . . . except for maybe a bit of closure with the guy she was walking away from before they ever really got started.
    But Reed was ignoring her. Whatever it was they had, it deserved a farewell and an attempt at separating with no hard feelings. He was her handler, the mal’akh responsible for assigning her to hunts. They’d be working together indefinitely, as well as sharing thoughts and emotions for many years to come.
    Through the open bedroom window overlooking the back patio, she heard Alec and Muriel laugh over something. He’d looked so boyish and carefree when she accepted his ring, and she felt a soul-deep surety that this was exactly what she was supposed to do. There were no doubts left, which gave her a sense of freedom the likes of which she hadn’t experienced since becoming Marked.
    Since they had the house for another few weeks, she intended to live all of her old dreams in that limited time span, making the most of every moment.
    Then she and Alec would create new dreams to go with her new life.
    Turning around, Eve took one last look at her appearance in the cheval mirror. When she saw the man reflected in the glass, she very nearly jumped out of her skin.
    “You scared the crap out of me!” she cried, her hand lifting to shelter her racing heart.
    Reed didn’t smile. He sat on the edge of the mattress with legs spread wide and his elbows resting on his knees. Dressed in a black shirt and slacks, he looked like he was in mourning. His gaze was hard and lacked any emotion.
    “You make a beautiful bride,” he said without inflection.
    Eve faced him directly. It was easy to say there was nothing permanent between them when they were apart. When she was faced with his presence, however, the attraction was undeniable. “Thank you. I suddenly feel like shit.”
    “Don’t,” he said tightly. “Fuck the doubts and guilt and all the other crap I feel stirring around in you and give this marriage everything you’ve got. You wanted Cain and now he’s yours. You better damn well enjoy it.”
    She intended to, but that wasn’t the issue. “Don’t be sarcastic. It stings.”
    “I’m not.” He shifted to a spot right in front of her. “I mean it. I’m not going to have what I want from you until you’ve reached the end of the road with him. I’ve got all the time in the world. I can wait ’til you get there.”
    “We’re getting married, Reed.”
    The look he gave her was both scathing and mocking. “You have to. I didn’t realize that until last night.”
    “Reed—”
    He grabbed her right hand and pushed the pink diamond engagement ring over the knuckle of her fourth finger. “Cain gave it back to me, but it’s yours.”
    The fit was snugger on her dominant hand. Not uncomfortably so, but enough to make her very aware of the ring’s presence.
    Dropping her hand as if it burned him, he stepped back. “Marriage isn’t an unbreakable contract, Eve. Cain’s been married before.”
    Her hand fisted, testing the weight of the massive stone.
    “I have something you need and want,” Reed bit out. “I’m damned if I know what it is between us, but I do know it’s not going away, and neither am I. You and I are unfinished business, and you won’t be able to live with that forever. You’ll come back to me some day. And when you do, we’ll both know you’re ready.”
    She opened her mouth to reply, but he shifted away. There one second, gone the next. As ephemeral as smoke, just as he’d always been. She sucked in a deep, shaky breath and felt a huge weight slip from her shoulders. He had given her a blessing of sorts, something she hadn’t realized she wanted until she had it. And Alec was right; Reed wasn’t putting up a fight. That spoke louder than words.
    Eve left the bedroom in her bare feet and hurried down the stairs towards her future.