Read Online No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kresley Cole
Ads: Link
merciless rival, and so
had earned Kaderin’s respect. They customarily used each other to advance until it was
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com ) only the two of them in the finals.
Then all bets were off.
At last count, Cindey had broken dozens of Kaderin’s bones. But then, Kaderin had
snapped at least twice as many of hers, cracked her brain bucket, and, rumor had it,
ruptured the siren’s spleen.
To the adorable-looking kobolds, a type of ground-dwelling gnome, Kaderin reached to
her sword sheath at her back. She grasped the hilt, not even needing to draw it for the
largest male—still standing only four feet tall—to swallow and swiftly lower his gaze. The
kobolds only appeared wholesome and kindly—until they turned ravening.
Kaderin was one of the few beings alive who’d seen them as they really were, reptilian
predators who sprang from the ground as they hunted in packs. She still did not find the
term killer gnome hysterically funny as her sisters all did.
The crowd of entrants consisted of all makes and models in the Lore: trolls, witches, and
the noble fey. Demons from many of the Demonarchies were present.
Kaderin noted the veterans who were out to win the grand prize—whatever priceless
good was offered this Hie. She identified the scavengers who only wanted to snag the
individual talismans allotted for each task.
And then there were the newbies. She could make them out in an instant, because they
would dare to stare at her.
As a competitor—and the reigning champion for more than a millennium—Kaderin had
become more high-profile in the Lore than many of her sisters. She’d garnered power and
respect for her covens—and for herself. Had she been a feeler, she would have been
prideful of her reputation. She couldn’t believe she’d so easily risked it with her recent
indiscretion.
Relative to her sisters, her fall from grace would be a nosedive—
Suddenly, her ears twitched. Sensing something in the shadows at the back of the balcony,
she turned and spied a massive male, eyes glowing in the darkness. A Lykae? Now, that
was unusual. The werewolves and the vampires never entered this contest.
The Horde vampires found it beneath them, and the mysterious Forbearers didn’t know of
its existence. The Lore found it both amusing and shrewd to keep those turned humans in
the dark about their world.
Historically, the Lykae couldn’t be troubled to care.
In the past, this set of circumstances had been fortuitous. The Lykae—for all their wild,
seething good looks—were single-minded and brutal. And the vampires? With their ability
to trace, they would be nigh undefeatable.
The werewolf moved from the shadows, approaching her, and she recognized him as
Bowen MacRieve, best friend and cousin to Emmaline’s new werewolf husband. He’d lost
weight over the last millennium, but other than that, she sensed that he’d changed little—
which meant he was still gorgeous.
“Kaderin.” His golden eyes were vivid, his dark hair thick and long. He didn’t address her
as “Lady Kaderin,” as the rest of the Lore did, but then, he didn’t fear her.
“Bowen.” She briefly inclined her head.
“I dinna see you at the wedding. Quite nice affair.”
He’d been at Emma’s wedding, and she’d missed it. “I’m curious about why you are
here.”
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com )
“I’m entering.” His voice was a rumbling Scottish brogue.
Deep voices were attractive. An unbidden memory arose of the vampire’s gravelly voice
breaking between kisses. She shook herself. “You’ll be the first Lykae to do so. Ever.”
He leaned his tall frame against the wall, utterly nonchalant. He was as tall as the vampire,
but rangier. Both were rugged, but Bowen probably would be considered more classically
handsome.
Comparing him to the
had earned Kaderin’s respect. They customarily used each other to advance until it was
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com ) only the two of them in the finals.
Then all bets were off.
At last count, Cindey had broken dozens of Kaderin’s bones. But then, Kaderin had
snapped at least twice as many of hers, cracked her brain bucket, and, rumor had it,
ruptured the siren’s spleen.
To the adorable-looking kobolds, a type of ground-dwelling gnome, Kaderin reached to
her sword sheath at her back. She grasped the hilt, not even needing to draw it for the
largest male—still standing only four feet tall—to swallow and swiftly lower his gaze. The
kobolds only appeared wholesome and kindly—until they turned ravening.
Kaderin was one of the few beings alive who’d seen them as they really were, reptilian
predators who sprang from the ground as they hunted in packs. She still did not find the
term killer gnome hysterically funny as her sisters all did.
The crowd of entrants consisted of all makes and models in the Lore: trolls, witches, and
the noble fey. Demons from many of the Demonarchies were present.
Kaderin noted the veterans who were out to win the grand prize—whatever priceless
good was offered this Hie. She identified the scavengers who only wanted to snag the
individual talismans allotted for each task.
And then there were the newbies. She could make them out in an instant, because they
would dare to stare at her.
As a competitor—and the reigning champion for more than a millennium—Kaderin had
become more high-profile in the Lore than many of her sisters. She’d garnered power and
respect for her covens—and for herself. Had she been a feeler, she would have been
prideful of her reputation. She couldn’t believe she’d so easily risked it with her recent
indiscretion.
Relative to her sisters, her fall from grace would be a nosedive—
Suddenly, her ears twitched. Sensing something in the shadows at the back of the balcony,
she turned and spied a massive male, eyes glowing in the darkness. A Lykae? Now, that
was unusual. The werewolves and the vampires never entered this contest.
The Horde vampires found it beneath them, and the mysterious Forbearers didn’t know of
its existence. The Lore found it both amusing and shrewd to keep those turned humans in
the dark about their world.
Historically, the Lykae couldn’t be troubled to care.
In the past, this set of circumstances had been fortuitous. The Lykae—for all their wild,
seething good looks—were single-minded and brutal. And the vampires? With their ability
to trace, they would be nigh undefeatable.
The werewolf moved from the shadows, approaching her, and she recognized him as
Bowen MacRieve, best friend and cousin to Emmaline’s new werewolf husband. He’d lost
weight over the last millennium, but other than that, she sensed that he’d changed little—
which meant he was still gorgeous.
“Kaderin.” His golden eyes were vivid, his dark hair thick and long. He didn’t address her
as “Lady Kaderin,” as the rest of the Lore did, but then, he didn’t fear her.
“Bowen.” She briefly inclined her head.
“I dinna see you at the wedding. Quite nice affair.”
He’d been at Emma’s wedding, and she’d missed it. “I’m curious about why you are
here.”
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com )
“I’m entering.” His voice was a rumbling Scottish brogue.
Deep voices were attractive. An unbidden memory arose of the vampire’s gravelly voice
breaking between kisses. She shook herself. “You’ll be the first Lykae to do so. Ever.”
He leaned his tall frame against the wall, utterly nonchalant. He was as tall as the vampire,
but rangier. Both were rugged, but Bowen probably would be considered more classically
handsome.
Comparing him to the
Similar Books
