Read Online Nightwalker by Connie Hall - Free Book Online

Nowhere in sight. Had she escaped?
    Takala lured a demon from Katalinga, protecting her, while Striker and Brawn fought the other foe.
    Striker could hardly keep his mind on dispatching his adversary for worrying about Takala’s safety. But Katalinga wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing, and she shifted into a lynx and leaped up on the demon’s back, hanging on the robe by her claws. It was the distraction Takala needed, and she grabbed the scythe and drove the handle back into the demon’s midsection. It screamed and gusted into a green cloud.
    Katalinga fell to the sidewalk, landing on her feet.
    While Brawn distracted the demon with his fireballs, Striker seized the handle of the scythe and used the demon’s own hand as he propelled the scythe into the hover’s side. It shrieked at its own death; then its gel-like soul warped upward.
    When they were done, and everyone save Striker wascatching their breath, Brawn said, “That was close. What a bunch of devil spawn.”
    Striker and Takala shared a private look. She fluttered her brows at him as if to say, “Told you so.”
    Striker found himself grinning. He’d smiled more since meeting Takala Rainwater than he had in decades. He didn’t like this influence she had over him, and he forced his mouth back into a stern line. He noticed that the magic spell that had kept the area clear of humans had dissipated, and people were gawking at them through the glass doors. Striker pushed a button on his phone and thought of where he was; then the cleaners appeared.
    They looked like normal businesswomen and men in black suits. They held what looked like tiny cell phones but were in reality devices that erased human minds. Striker nodded toward the humans behind the glass. The cleaners began zapping them with a white crystal ray.
    â€œNifty,” Takala said. “My people clear human minds, but with magic.”
    â€œThis is easier and more efficient,” Striker said. “And doesn’t harm humans.”
    â€œOur white magic doesn’t hurt them.” She looked offended.
    Striker found himself wanting to run his tongue along her lips and taste them as he said, “Yes, but at B.O.S.P. we don’t need to cast spells. We’ve moved past spells, hex bags, and the stone ages.”
    â€œStone ages!” She snarled at him. “I’ll have you know our magic is timeless. And it’s environmentally friendly. We don’t need to mine or grow crystals.”
    He’d give her that one concession. “There you have us.”
    Takala hadn’t heard his reply, for she had seen Katalinga down on the sidewalk and she was already hurrying to help her. The agent was still in lynx form, lying on her side. Blood smeared her chest and paw from a gash on her shoulder. Takala had taken off her jacket and was about to throw it over the cat, when Brawn stopped her.
    â€œPardon me, but she’s my partner. I’ll help her.” He shot Takala a proprietary look.
    Takala stepped back and waved to Katalinga. “Sorry, just trying to help.”
    â€œThanks, but I got it.” Brawn’s brows narrowed in concern as he gently scooped Katalinga up in his arms, her lynx form growling in pain. He addressed Striker. “We lost Culler.”
    Striker had his gaze on Takala. He could see the cogs behind her eyes turning as she blurted, “Wait one doggone minute. Lilly Smith has another alias?”
    â€œCuller is her code name,” Striker said.
    â€œSo she told the truth when she said she worked for the same agency as you?”
    Striker swept his hand toward Brawn and Katalinga. “We all work for B.O.S.P.”
    â€œWell, isn’t that cozy.” One of Takala’s brows shot up; then she spoke to Striker. “And are all of you trying to kill Lilly Smith—I mean, Culler?”
    Striker said in an unnervingly calm voice, “If that were the case, she would already be