Read Online Magic Graves by Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost
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the book:
Two of the hottest names in paranormal romance team up for the first time to offer this holiday treat-an anthology of brand new stories featuring familiar faces from the Argeneau and Night Huntress series. In Lynsay Sands' "The Gift," Katricia Argeneau knows grey-eyed cop Teddy Brunswick is her life mate. She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget.
It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.
Available everywhere, October 25 th , 2011.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Chapter 1
I glanced at my watch. Ten minutes to midnight. The vampire would be back soon, and despite hours of careful preparation, I wasn't ready for him.
A ghost's head popped through the wall, the rest of his body concealed by the wood barrier. He took one look around the room and a frown appeared on his filmy visage.
"You're not going to make it."
I yanked the wire through the hole I'd drilled into the ceiling's rafter, careful not to shift my weight too far or I'd fall off the ladder I was balanced on. Fabian was right, but I wasn't ready to concede defeat.
"When he pulls up, stall him."
"How am I supposed to do that?" he asked.
Good question. Unlike humans, vampires could see ghosts, but tended to ignore them as a general rule. While this vampire showed more respect to the corporeal-impaired, he still wouldn't stop to have a lengthy chat with one before entering his home.
"Can't you improvise? You know, make some loud pounding noises or cause the outer walls to bleed?"
The ghost shot me a look that said my witticism wasn't appreciated. "You watch too many movies, Cat."
Then Fabian vanished from sight, but not before I heard him muttering about unfair stereotypes.
I finished twisting together the wires along the ceiling. If all went well, as soon as the vampire came through that door, I'd use my remote transmitter to unload a surprise onto his head. Now, to set up the last of the contraptions I'd planned -
The unmistakable sound of a car approaching almost startled me into falling off the ladder. Damn it, the vampire was back! No time to rig any other devices. I barely had enough time to conceal myself.
I leapt off the ladder and carried it as noiselessly as I could to the closet. The last thing I needed was a bunch of metallic clanging to announce that something unusual was going on. Then I swept up the silver knives I'd left on the floor. It wouldn't do for the vampire to see those right off.
I'd just crouched behind one of the living room chairs when I heard a car door shut and then Fabian's voice.
"You won't believe what I found around the edge of your property," the ghost announced. "A cave with prehistoric paintings inside it!"
I rolled my eyes. That was the best tactic Fabian could come up with? This was a vampire he was trying to stall. Not a paleontologist.
"Good on you," an English voice replied, sounding utterly disinterested. Booted footsteps came to the door, but then paused before going further. I sucked in a breath I no longer needed. No cars were in the driveway, but did the vampire sense that several people lurked out of sight, waiting to pounce on him as soon as he crossed that threshold?
"Fabian," that cultured voice said next. "Are you sure there isn't anything else you want to tell me?"
A hint of menace colored the vampire's tone. I could almost picture my friend quailing, but his reply was instant.
"No. Nothing else."
"All right," the vampire said after a pause. The knob turned. "Your exorcism if you're lying."
I stayed hidden behind the chair, a silver knife gripped in one hand and the remote transmitter in the other. When the sound of boots hit the wood floor inside the house, I pressed the button and
Two of the hottest names in paranormal romance team up for the first time to offer this holiday treat-an anthology of brand new stories featuring familiar faces from the Argeneau and Night Huntress series. In Lynsay Sands' "The Gift," Katricia Argeneau knows grey-eyed cop Teddy Brunswick is her life mate. She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget.
It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.
Available everywhere, October 25 th , 2011.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Chapter 1
I glanced at my watch. Ten minutes to midnight. The vampire would be back soon, and despite hours of careful preparation, I wasn't ready for him.
A ghost's head popped through the wall, the rest of his body concealed by the wood barrier. He took one look around the room and a frown appeared on his filmy visage.
"You're not going to make it."
I yanked the wire through the hole I'd drilled into the ceiling's rafter, careful not to shift my weight too far or I'd fall off the ladder I was balanced on. Fabian was right, but I wasn't ready to concede defeat.
"When he pulls up, stall him."
"How am I supposed to do that?" he asked.
Good question. Unlike humans, vampires could see ghosts, but tended to ignore them as a general rule. While this vampire showed more respect to the corporeal-impaired, he still wouldn't stop to have a lengthy chat with one before entering his home.
"Can't you improvise? You know, make some loud pounding noises or cause the outer walls to bleed?"
The ghost shot me a look that said my witticism wasn't appreciated. "You watch too many movies, Cat."
Then Fabian vanished from sight, but not before I heard him muttering about unfair stereotypes.
I finished twisting together the wires along the ceiling. If all went well, as soon as the vampire came through that door, I'd use my remote transmitter to unload a surprise onto his head. Now, to set up the last of the contraptions I'd planned -
The unmistakable sound of a car approaching almost startled me into falling off the ladder. Damn it, the vampire was back! No time to rig any other devices. I barely had enough time to conceal myself.
I leapt off the ladder and carried it as noiselessly as I could to the closet. The last thing I needed was a bunch of metallic clanging to announce that something unusual was going on. Then I swept up the silver knives I'd left on the floor. It wouldn't do for the vampire to see those right off.
I'd just crouched behind one of the living room chairs when I heard a car door shut and then Fabian's voice.
"You won't believe what I found around the edge of your property," the ghost announced. "A cave with prehistoric paintings inside it!"
I rolled my eyes. That was the best tactic Fabian could come up with? This was a vampire he was trying to stall. Not a paleontologist.
"Good on you," an English voice replied, sounding utterly disinterested. Booted footsteps came to the door, but then paused before going further. I sucked in a breath I no longer needed. No cars were in the driveway, but did the vampire sense that several people lurked out of sight, waiting to pounce on him as soon as he crossed that threshold?
"Fabian," that cultured voice said next. "Are you sure there isn't anything else you want to tell me?"
A hint of menace colored the vampire's tone. I could almost picture my friend quailing, but his reply was instant.
"No. Nothing else."
"All right," the vampire said after a pause. The knob turned. "Your exorcism if you're lying."
I stayed hidden behind the chair, a silver knife gripped in one hand and the remote transmitter in the other. When the sound of boots hit the wood floor inside the house, I pressed the button and
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