Read Online Falling Blind: The Sentinel Wars by Shannon K. Butcher - Free Book Online Page A

since the battle. “So someone could be walking around with a magic ring or something that could fix me?”
    “It’s possible.”
    That would certainly solve the problem of how she was going to convince whoever blocked her visions to teach her how they did it, or, heaven forbid, stick by her side all of the time. She wanted a cure, not a conjoined twin. If that was a solution, she could pay Cain to hold her hand for the rest of her life. Which would never work. She needed freedom. Independence. She knew that was going to be an obstacle, but it wasn’t one she felt she could plan how to overcome until she knew who it was she would be dealing with.
    Logan came in toting a bowl of soup.
    “We’ll find a way to help you,” said Hope. “Logan and I have powerful friends. Like Cain.”
    Logan set the soup down on a desk near the door. “Are you hungry?”
    Rory wasn’t, but he’d gone to all the trouble. It seemed rude not to at least take a few bites. “Sure.”
    Hope let go of her hand, and Rory’s arm went cold. She looked at the steam curling up from the bowl and realized that she had no idea what might be in it. These people wanted her to stay. They wanted her secrets. They could have easily drugged the soup.
    She’d told Hope things she’d never told anyone but Mom and Nana. And she hadn’t even hesitated to spill her guts just now. That wasn’t something Rory did. Ever.
    She looked at her tingling hand. There was a pink blotch where Hope’s fingers had touched. Drugs? Magic? Rory had no idea, but something had definitely left that mark.
    The woman that Rory thought she could trust had done something to her—removed her suspicion somehow. And she hadn’t even known it was happening.
    Stupid. Careless. Infuriating. Rory knew better than to trust anyone that much.
    “I need to go.” She grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
    Logan sounded confused. “Aren’t you going to at least wait until Cain comes back to make sure there’s no sign of poison in the creature that stabbed you?”
    Cain was as much of a threat as Hope was. That man kept pulling her in, making her want to get closer to him. Touch him. Trust him. It had to be some kind of trick—some kind of magic or bizarre biochemistry she didn’t understand. Well, she wasn’t falling for it. Not this time.
    Rory stopped long enough to write her cell phone number on the wall. “Text me with the results. Don’t bother to call. I won’t answer.” In case they could do that hypnosis thing—or whatever it was—through the phone lines.
    “You’re scared,” said Hope. “I understand. When I thought I was alone, I was scared, too. But you’re not alone. We can help.”
    Hope’s voice was so kind, so full of genuine concern. The temptation to stay and soak it up was strong.
    “Thanks for fixing my knee,” Rory offered, then hurried out the way she’d come in. Sure, there were monsters out there, but she wasn’t entirely convinced that they weren’t in here, too. At least the monsters out there didn’t try to fool her into thinking they were anything but ravening beasts who wanted to eat her face.
    *   *   *
    Logan held Hope back from going after Rory. “Let her go. I’ve smelled her blood. If necessary, I can find her later. She needs some time.”
    Hope’s voice was bleak, making Logan’s heart weep for her. “She doesn’t have any clue how much danger she’s in, does she?”
    “She’s survived this long. I’d say that’s a good sign she does know.”
    Hope laid her head on his shoulder. “Do you think she’ll save Cain?”
    “Perhaps. Or she may lead us to someone who will.”
    Hope lifted her head to look at him. “You know something. What is it?”
    “Her blood smells familiar. I’m certain I’ve encountered one of her relatives. Perhaps a half sister.”
    “Wouldn’t you have known if you took blood from a Theronai?”
    “Not necessarily. I didn’t know with Helen. Her natural defenses masked her from