Read Online Let the Night Begin by Kathryn Smith - Free Book Online

wanted it too much. It hardly mattered. There would be no pressing her into the mattress this night, and dawn would soon be upon them.
    â€œThey knew I’d go to the church. They’re watching me,” Olivia remarked as she put some distance between them. “Without my knowing. How is that possible?”
    Reign remained silent. She didn’t need him to answer. It was possible because like most preternatural creatures, Olivia fancied herself superior to all others. It wasn’t that she held no regard for human life, but rather she thought she was above human intelligence. She was now learning how wrong that assumption was.
    â€œIf they’re watching you it means they are not entirely certain you will do what they ask.” It also meant that they knew about him but not, perhaps, what he was. Still he knew to be on guard. He wiped at a spot of dried blood on thetop of his hand. It was from the priest. It didn’t want to budge, a fact that annoyed him to no end. Finally he licked it. “We can use that to our advantage.”
    â€œHow?” She scowled at him—at what he was doing. “How can I save James if they’re watching my every move?”
    Reign wiped the back of his hand on his trousers. It was a wonder he wasn’t covered in the priest’s blood, there had been so much of it. “Where there is an inability to predict the enemy there is fear. They’re afraid of you, Olivia.”
    She made a scoffing noise. “They know I’ll do whatever they want to free James.”
    â€œThey know you’ll do anything to free James. That’s what scares them.” It should scare him too, but he stopped caring for his own safety a long time ago. About thirty years ago, to be exact.
    She nodded warily, not believing him—and he knew there would be no convincing her. Olivia would rather slit her own throat than admit that he might know something she didn’t.
    â€œIt will be dawn soon,” she reminded him needlessly. “You should go.”
    Reign laughed—a short, clipped bark. “Don’t pretend concern for my person, Liv. Just tell me to get out.”
    A ghost of a smile danced on her wide lips. She looked sad and tired, and worst of all, resigned. “Get out.”
    â€œThat’s my girl.” He continued to grin even as her smile faded. She didn’t argue, however. She probably knew she couldn’t change how he thought of her. “I will come for you tomorrow evening. We can hunt together.” It was more than an excuse to be with her, it was a way to keep an eye on her.
    â€œHunt?” One dark eyebrow rose haughtily. “Are humans prey now?”
    He backed toward the door of the room, not quite prepared to turn his back on her just yet. “They always have been, Darling. Always will be. That’s why I always feed from strangers.”
    Her expression darkened. “Not always.”
    He might have smiled at the storm brewing in her gaze, were he not so conscious of the pain behind it. He did love baiting her. “There’s an exception to every rule.”
    â€œIs that what I was?” Her hands fisted on her hips, the universal stance for the indignant female. “An exception to your rule?”
    â€œYou are my wife,” he remarked, finally allowing himself that smile as he opened the door. “Rules don’t apply.”
    Â 
    Glib-tongued, deceitful, smirking bastard .
    One thing Olivia had never liked about Reign—and unfortunately it had been just about the only thing she never liked about him—was the way he liked to pick at her, goad her until her temperreared its head. He called it teasing. She called it torment, but that didn’t stop him. He seemed to like getting under her skin, and thirty years and an assassination attempt hadn’t changed that.
    He only did it to people he liked. People he loved. That he continued to do it to her was even more