Read Online Evermore, an Arotas Novella (The Arotas Series) by Amy Miles - Free Book Online Page A

These aren’t just his men dying. Some
of those who have fallen are friends that she has had for years.
Irreplaceable friendships. Good men and women who deserve better than
to be slaughtered in the night. “We have bases manned all over
the world. We can’t just pull everyone out now.”
    “Why
not?” William counters. He slips to the edge of the couch, his
face pensive as he looks to each of them. “What could possibly
be worse than losing an entire army?”
    “Losing
the rest of the world,” Roseline mutters. She blinks, realizing
that an awkward silence has fallen over the room. She looks to
Nicolae and Gabriel, and each nod in approval. She sighs and lets her
legs fall back over the edge of the couch, soaking in the cold from
the tile floor to help push away the stifling heat of the summer
night. She feels William waiting expectantly so she turns to face
him. “The only thing keeping the outside world from finding out
about us are the men and women in those bases. They cover up murders,
fight against rogue immortals, and keep the peace. If we pull them
back out of fear of losing a few, there could be mass chaos around
the world.”
    “So
you are willing to just sacrifice them?”
    Roseline
slowly nods, hating the way William’s expression hardens. She
knows all too well the trouble he has had adjusting to this new life.
Although there are plenty of humans living at Bran Castle, hardly any
of them can relate to him. William is not a skilled hunter; he does
not spend his hours training in the courtyard or across the castle
grounds. He has no real purpose here in the grand scheme of things
and he is painfully aware of that.
    “I
know it is hard to accept.” Roseline begins but realizes her
poor choice of words. William’s lips press into thin lines and
he draws away from Claudia.
    “I’m
not an idiot. I get it, okay?” He pushes up to his feet in a
huff. “Just because I’m not one of you doesn't mean that
I can’t comprehend battle tactics. I just think it sucks.”
    “Of
course it does, Will.” Sadie’s response is softer than
before. “If we could stop what is happening, you know we would,
but we don’t even have a clue where to start looking.”
    William
plunges his hands deep into his pockets. “Maybe that’s
your problem,” he mutters.
    “Excuse
me?” Gabriel sits forward.
    William
sighs, no doubt sure he’s about to be given a lecture. “I
said maybe that’s your problem.”
    “Yeah,
no, I heard that part,” Gabriel says, slowing rising to his
feet. “I’d like to know what you meant by it.”
    “Oh.”
William shrugs. “I just meant that maybe you shouldn’t be
looking but instead focus on drawing them out. You know, stop hiding
behind these walls and show whoever this is that you’re not
afraid of them.”
    “You
mean like meet them on the battlefield with a war cry?” Nicolae
snickers.
    “No.”
Sadie detangles herself from his side and rises, a small grin
spreading along her pale lips. “I think he might be on to
something. Maybe what we need to do is go out, a night on the town.
I, for one, could use some human interaction.”
    “Sadie,
I’m not really sure that’s such a good idea—”
Roseline begins, but Gabriel motions for her stop.
    “Let
Sadie finish.” He gives Roseline a soft look that takes the
sting out of his interruption. She plants her hands on her hips and
waits.
    Sadie
glances around the room before she continues. Her eyes seem brighter
than normal in the dim room. “I think it would do all of us
some good to get out and wind down. I think it is safe to assume we
are being watched, so if we leave the castle with only a minimal
guard, then maybe we can lure them into attacking. If we go to
Brasov, we are only a few miles away. At the first sign of attack, we
can be back here in a couple of minutes. It’s brilliant!”
    Roseline
can feel herself frowning. Sadie’s plan has merit, at least as
far as the idea of drawing out their enemy, but she is