Read Online Obsidian Son (The Temple Chronicles Book 1) by Shayne Silvers - Free Book Online Page B

smokes, stabbed one between my lips, and lit the tip with a thought. I pointed emphatically at the swarm of suits near the entrance, feet planted firmly, a maniacal scowl on my face. “Gunnar, sic ‘em !” Gunnar stared back at me as if I had finally lost what little sanity he thought I had been clinging to. With the perfect moment lost, I lowered my wounded arm and sighed. “I just need a moment. Stall them.” Gunnar glanced around warily, obviously reluctant to let me out of his sight after last night’s events, but finally complied.
    I ambled aimlessly, waiting until no one was looking my way, and then darted behind the tree where I had seen the hand. “Hello, wizard.” A gruff voice greeted me.
    I assessed the speaker, who was decked out in full-blown soldier gear, but it was a mixture of ancient leather armor and modern weapons belts. Very, very authentic. He looked as rough as his battle-hardened leather, creases marring his eyes in vicious crows feet. A crude scar cut across his jaw, and another ugly slash zippered the side of his neck. His eyes were a milky green, reminding me of absinthe. “Ah, hello, Sir LARPER. You are correct that this is a field of death, but not the one full of battles you no doubt seek. I’m afraid the field where your brethren await is over at the Park of Carondelet.”
    He studied me, measuring me up and down for a moment without amusement. “I’m from Brooklyn, idiot. We don’t participate in Live Action Role Playing games.” He had said we , even though he seemed alone. “Name’s Tomas. I’m here to tell you that you’re in danger. We’re looking for someone, and we believe he came to St. Louis.”
    “I did have an unexpected visitor last night.” His interest perked. “She was naked, pale skin, dark hair, and naked. Oh, and she had yellow eyes.” He frowned, but shook his head, not recognizing the description. “I guess I had to pay extra because of the eyes. Although she wasn’t worth the money.”
    “Yellow eyes… That doesn’t ring a bell, but be careful. Something big is going down here soon. Maybe real soon. Bookstore owners have been dying pretty nasty deaths. Watch your ass.”
    I nodded as he turned away, taking a pleasant pull from the cigarette as I watched him leave. “Oh, and she had horizontal pupils.” He stiffened, turning back to me.
    “What?” He asked quietly.
    “Judging by the arsenal at your hip, I think you know what she was. She mentioned having sisters before I killed her.” I let out a stream of smoke. “Tell me.”
    He blinked. “You killed her?”
    “Wasn’t all that hard, really. Kind of a breeze.” I lied.
    The man weighed me with his eyes. “She never shifted, did she?”
    Damn. “Well, she started to.” I answered defensively.
    The man began laughing, wheezing even. “Spoken like the pup that thinks he killed a mama bear, only to discover that it was just a cub.” He laughed even harder before my scowl silenced him.
    “She didn’t seem to appreciate a glacial liquor bottle to the heart very much, shifting or not. Now, what was she, and what is your stake in this?”
    He reeked of military, or perhaps mercenary training. “Dragons have been rumored in the city, but we came here only to find one in particular. A man. A very dangerous man. I guess he could possibly have a group of lady dragons at his beck and call. It would make things…interesting.”
    “Oh… like, real dragons?” I asked weakly.
    The man blinked as if I were daft. “Of course. But I guess they’re technically were-dragons. Able to switch between human and dragon form at will.”
    I inhaled my cigarette again, postulating. “I’ve never encountered one before last night.” I answered honestly. “So, what do they want?” Assessing his gear again, a new thought hit me. “Are you supposed to be some kind of dragon hunter?”
    The man grinned darkly as he slipped me a business card with a number on the front. “Why, yes. We are.” His eyes