Read Online Raven (Legends Saga Book 2) by Stacey Rourke - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stacey Rourke
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seat. A smug smile curled across her lips. As predicted, the Hessian sneered and grumbled his retreat into the dark oblivion of her mind. Unfortunately, after his departure she could blame no one’s interest but her own for her gaze wandering back across the aisle. For a moment she noticed Ridley’s agitated stare managed to focus. A bit of his former swagger reappeared as he ogled the ample terrain of the hussy’s curves. An appreciative smirk tugged back one corner of his mouth.
“ I’ve always wanted to learn to play tennis.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, the mass transit floozy forced her chest out farther still. A move that was asking an awful lot of her already strained buttons. “But for any sport like that, you really need an expert … teacher .”
“She’s like a walking cautionary tale against VD,” Ireland tsked.
Switching the grip on his racquet to the other hand, Ridley ’s free arm slid across the back of her chair with skillful grace. His head dipped ever so slightly, allowing him to gaze up at her from under his lashes.
“There is no topic in the world more tragically poetic,” the smooth words poured from his lips like warm molasses, “than the death of a beautiful woman.”
Every single person within earshot, Ridley and F loozy included, froze.
“I … uh,” her mouth falling slack, Floozy rose from her seat, “… think my stop is coming up. I should just— ”
Without another word she scurried to the front of the bus, took a seat right behind the driver, and didn’t risk a look back.
Ridley’s face crumpled as though the incident hurt more than just his pride. “Your words, not mine,” he hissed at the floor. “In my head. Muttering. Whispering .”
“Ya, know .” Noah cocked his head, his hand rubbing over his chin, “I really expected him to have mad game with the ladies. But if that’s the right way to pick up chicks, I’ve been doing it wrong.”
“The can of pepper spray she just pulled from her purse says it’s not,” Ireland pointed out.
“We cannot leave him like this.” Rip’s lower jaw worked, chewing on the matter at hand. “Ireland was never this bad. It would be cruel to leave him to face this alone. For the time being at least, it seems our little family has a new member.”
Ireland filled her lungs and forced the breath out through pursed lips. “I just wanted to know the origins of my tattoo. Maybe get a little insight into who made me the Horseman’s bitch—”
“ Heehee , bitch,” Rip giggled, despite the suddenly somber mood.
Purposely, she chose to ignore his amusement over his new favorite word. “But, you’re right. We need to keep an eye on him. Find out if he’s going to end up caught in some crazy poltergeist time loop like I did. Even if it means following him to what has to be a pretty friggin’ crucial tennis match to interrupt his current cloud-o-crazy.”
“Uh …” Pinching her chin between his thumb and forefinger, Noah pivoted Ireland’s head toward the window. “I don’t think we’re headed to any kind of country club.”
Outside, high rises had been replaced by dilapidated housing. Shiny town cars and taxis had switched out for lowered rides and pounding base.
“It could still be a country club,” Ireland argued weakly. “Maybe the membership dues are just insanely reasonable.”
A scraggly beard wedged itself into the conversation, Rip craning around Noah with his watery eyes widened to goose eggs. “You know all of those horrible stories depicting New York as a terribly scary place? I fear we have found ourselves in the birthplace of that particular reputation.”
Brakes squeaked as the bus slowed to yet another stop , and the door hissed open.
“This is it!” Ridley instantly brightened. Bolting from his seat, he flipped his covered racquet over his shoulder.
“Of course it is .” Rip yawned, reluctantly rising to his feet to follow his troop from the bus. “The upside is if
“ I’ve always wanted to learn to play tennis.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, the mass transit floozy forced her chest out farther still. A move that was asking an awful lot of her already strained buttons. “But for any sport like that, you really need an expert … teacher .”
“She’s like a walking cautionary tale against VD,” Ireland tsked.
Switching the grip on his racquet to the other hand, Ridley ’s free arm slid across the back of her chair with skillful grace. His head dipped ever so slightly, allowing him to gaze up at her from under his lashes.
“There is no topic in the world more tragically poetic,” the smooth words poured from his lips like warm molasses, “than the death of a beautiful woman.”
Every single person within earshot, Ridley and F loozy included, froze.
“I … uh,” her mouth falling slack, Floozy rose from her seat, “… think my stop is coming up. I should just— ”
Without another word she scurried to the front of the bus, took a seat right behind the driver, and didn’t risk a look back.
Ridley’s face crumpled as though the incident hurt more than just his pride. “Your words, not mine,” he hissed at the floor. “In my head. Muttering. Whispering .”
“Ya, know .” Noah cocked his head, his hand rubbing over his chin, “I really expected him to have mad game with the ladies. But if that’s the right way to pick up chicks, I’ve been doing it wrong.”
“The can of pepper spray she just pulled from her purse says it’s not,” Ireland pointed out.
“We cannot leave him like this.” Rip’s lower jaw worked, chewing on the matter at hand. “Ireland was never this bad. It would be cruel to leave him to face this alone. For the time being at least, it seems our little family has a new member.”
Ireland filled her lungs and forced the breath out through pursed lips. “I just wanted to know the origins of my tattoo. Maybe get a little insight into who made me the Horseman’s bitch—”
“ Heehee , bitch,” Rip giggled, despite the suddenly somber mood.
Purposely, she chose to ignore his amusement over his new favorite word. “But, you’re right. We need to keep an eye on him. Find out if he’s going to end up caught in some crazy poltergeist time loop like I did. Even if it means following him to what has to be a pretty friggin’ crucial tennis match to interrupt his current cloud-o-crazy.”
“Uh …” Pinching her chin between his thumb and forefinger, Noah pivoted Ireland’s head toward the window. “I don’t think we’re headed to any kind of country club.”
Outside, high rises had been replaced by dilapidated housing. Shiny town cars and taxis had switched out for lowered rides and pounding base.
“It could still be a country club,” Ireland argued weakly. “Maybe the membership dues are just insanely reasonable.”
A scraggly beard wedged itself into the conversation, Rip craning around Noah with his watery eyes widened to goose eggs. “You know all of those horrible stories depicting New York as a terribly scary place? I fear we have found ourselves in the birthplace of that particular reputation.”
Brakes squeaked as the bus slowed to yet another stop , and the door hissed open.
“This is it!” Ridley instantly brightened. Bolting from his seat, he flipped his covered racquet over his shoulder.
“Of course it is .” Rip yawned, reluctantly rising to his feet to follow his troop from the bus. “The upside is if
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