Read Online Quinn's Revenge by Amanda Ashley - Free Book Online

every sense of the word.”
    “Who told you that?”
    “Alexxa, of course,” she said, her face crinkling in a grin. “We are sisters.”
    * * *
    “Sisters.” Quinn shook his head as they left Melinna’s house. “How do we know she isn’t sending us into a trap?”
    “I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Seleena said, her voice laced with a hint of jealousy. “She seemed awfully fond of you.”
    “Must be my natural vampire charm,” Quinn said, grinning.
    Nardik snorted, then tried to cover it with a cough.
    “Where are we going now?” Seleena asked.
    Quinn handed her the sheet of paper Melinna had given him.
    Seleena glanced at it, brows arching when she saw the address.
    “Would you mind sharing?” Nardik asked with some asperity.
    Seleena passed the directions to the wizard.
    “Ironntown,” Nardik murmured as he scanned the address. “She has been on Brynn Tor the whole time.”
    Quinn shook his head. “What the hell is she doing in Ironntown?” It was a dismal place, with little to recommend it. To his knowledge, the only people who lived there were those who had no family, no resources, and no hope. He seemed to remember Seleena telling him awhile back that Marri, on the run from the brother who was trying to kill her, had met Gryff in Ironntown. A lucky encounter for both of them, he thought.
    A bit of Nardik’s magic carried the three of them back to the place where they were to meet Dixx.
    But there was no sign of the pilot, or of the Airship, either on the ground or in the air.
    “He promised to come back.” Seleena moved closer to Quinn. The last thing she wanted was to be stranded out here after dark. She shivered as she heard a rustling in the underbrush. Was it another of those monstrous cat-like creatures? Or something even worse?
    Beside her, she heard Nardik murmuring under his breath, knew he was weaving a protective spell around them.
    Quinn sniffed the air. “Dixx isn’t coming.”
    Seleena looked at him. “How can you be so sure?”
    “He’s dead.” There was no mistaking the smell of bloodshed and death.
    “What?” She glanced around, but saw nothing to confirm Quinn’s words.
    “Trust me.”
    “Where is the Airship?” Nardik wondered aloud.
    “I’m guessing whoever killed him took it and hid it somewhere,” Quinn said. “Or they destroyed it.”
    Seleena took Quinn’s arm. “What do we do now?”
    Night had fallen an hour ago. Low cloud cover hid the moon and stars. Something -- a bird, perhaps -- let out a screech the likes of which she had never heard. It sent chills down her spine and made her stomach churn.
    Quinn listened to the animals stirring just a few yards away. From the scent, he knew at least one of them was like the beast that had attacked him earlier. “I suggest we go back to Melinna’s and ask her to put us up for the night.”
    Seleena wasn’t about to argue. She was certain that Nardik and Quinn could protect her, and themselves, but the thought of spending the night in the open, surrounded by carnivores and bugs the size of bats was not at all appealing.
    “Are we agreed that returning to Melinna’s is our best option?” Nardik asked.
    “Yes,” Seleena exclaimed. “Get us out of here!”

Chapter 10
     
    If Melinna was surprised to find them back on her front porch, it didn’t show on her face. Opening the door wide, the witch waved them inside. As it had before, the bird squawked and flapped its wings as they crossed the threshold.
    A quick glance told Quinn the witch had been expecting them. Food and drink awaited them on the coffee table in the living room.
    “Help yourselves,” Melinna invited. Her brows arched in surprise when Quinn filled a plate with meat and cheese. “How is this possible?” she asked.
    “A little of Seleena’s magic,” he replied.
    Melinna frowned. “You no longer need blood?”
    Quinn grunted softly. “I’m afraid there isn’t enough magic in the universe -- white or black -- to