Read Online Prince of Air and Darkness by Jenna Black - Free Book Online Page A

gingerly from Bane’s hand, not wanting to brush against the creature’s filthy skin. He’d have to sterilize the device in alcohol after Bane left.
    “Happy hunting, Prince,” Bane said, nodding briefly before heading for the door.
    “Bane.” The goblin turned toward him and raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think we’ll ever be able to have it out without the Queen making the winner wish he’d lost?”
    The look Bane gave him was strangely thoughtful, and he didn’t answer immediately. Then he shrugged, as if coming to some internal agreement. “I’m a goblin, Boyo. Fate ’n me are like this.” He held up his crossed fingers. “The Queen foretold that you would kill me someday. She may punish you when you do, or you may do it with her blessing, but either way, I know we will have our chance to fight.”
    Hunter gaped in surprise. He hadn’t expected a real answer, certainly hadn’t expected this answer. “You can’t possibly know that.” Just because the Queen said something didn’t make it true. “And neither does she. She has many powers, but seeing the future isn’t one of them.” Thank the heavens. She was bad enough already!
    Bane shook his head. “She doesn’t have to. We are both her creatures, you ’n me. We are hers to command, and if she intends for you to be the instrument of my death, then it’ll happen just that way, whatever we do.” The goblin licked one of his fangs. “I intend to get as many pounds of flesh as possible from you before that day comes.”
    “Ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?”
    “Ever wonder why you’re the only member of the Unseelie Court who has to have this shit explained to him?”
    Bane didn’t wait for an answer, instead slipping out the door and leaving Hunter to shake his head in confusion.
    ****
    Cradling the bag of groceries against her chest, Kiera gave the doorman her usual smile and thanks as she headed toward the elevators. She noticed the sexy bay-leaf-and-sandalwood scent she’d come to associate with Hunter even before she turned the corner and saw him.
    He was watching the lights that indicated the progress of the elevators. The light hit his upturned face in a way that highlighted his clean, masculine lines. If Kiera hadn’t known better, she would have sworn he was posing for her.
    At the rustle of her grocery bag, he dragged his attention away from the lights and focused on her. The regard of those blue eyes chilled and warmed her simultaneously. Then he smiled, and the chill disappeared.
    “Why hello there!” he said. “Here, let me get that for you.”
    Before she had a chance to protest, he had taken the grocery bag out of her arms.
    “You don’t have to do that,” she said, reaching for the bag.
    Hunter turned his body so she couldn’t reach the bag. “Come on, accept a little chivalry. I promise to give it back.”
    She shook her head, but she didn’t want to make a scene. “All right, all right.”
    The elevator finally arrived. Hunter held the heavy grocery bag easily in one arm and trapped the elevator door open. “Ladies first.”
    She stifled a sigh, her insides cringing at the thought of sharing so small a space with him. Here we go again, she thought, exasperated with herself. She stepped into the tiny elevator, Hunter right behind her. When the doors slid closed, the elevator suddenly seemed even smaller, as though Hunter took up more than his fair share of the available air and space. She pressed the button for the tenth floor, then pressed nine as well at Hunter’s request.
    The elevator groaned piteously, then started to ascend. Hunter was watching the progress of the glowing numbers over the door. Kiera tried to do so as well, but her eyes kept straying. The small space was filled with the scent of his cologne and the even more masculine scent of his leather coat. His lips wore a Mona Lisa smile. He held the grocery bag in one arm, his other hand resting inside his coat pocket. Kiera’s pulse