Read Online Shadow City by Diana Pharaoh Francis - Free Book Online

killer, and a good one at that. He carried two short swords on his hips and a wickedly hooked scythe in his left hand.
    He crouched and ran the long, tanned fingers of his right hand over the sandy bank. He lifted a handful and smelled it, then let it drain through his fingers. He pointed to the opposite side of the creek, and the Calopus leaped over, never touching the water. Their master did the same. He strode forward, following Max and Scooter’s trail unerringly to the base of the mounded boulders, the horned wolves weaving back and forth before him.
    The master stopped and looked up. Max eased herself onto her feet and met the ice blue of his gaze.
    “What are you waiting for?” she asked. “Come on up and get me.”

 
    A LEXANDER FOLLOWED G ISELLE THROUGH THE Keep. It was nearly four in the morning, and most everyone was asleep. He hoped to hell that Niko had managed to send Tory off to bed.
    Just inside the main entrance, they found Niko, Oz, and the two angels waiting. Oz eyed Alexander balefully and stepped between him and Giselle. Instantly, Alexander’s hackles went up.
    Niko made an annoyed sound and shepherded Giselle away. Tutresiel leaned one shoulder against the wall, his arms crossed, his silver wings folded. He watched Alexander from beneath hooded lids, his crimson eyes bleak and ruthless.
    Xaphan stood on the other side of the entry. His wings were black and iridescent. Blue and orange flames licked the edges. Like Tutresiel, he was about six and a half feet tall, and his body and face looked like they were chiseled from the same block of marble. His eyes were just as bloody red. He wore a pair of faded, torn jeans that hung low on his hips, and his feet were bare, as was his chest. His hair was pale white. He nodded a greeting to Alexander.
    “What’s going on?” Oz demanded. He was tall, with dirty-blond hair that fell over his forehead and ears, broad shoulders, and a thick, powerful body. He reminded Alexander of a bull. He probably weighed one and a half times what Alexander did. He was also Sun-spear Prime, which made him very dangerous.
    “That is what we are hoping to figure out,” Alexander said before Giselle could answer.
    Oz scowled. “What does that mean?”
    “Follow me.” Outside, Alexander hesitated. Something tickled at the edges of his perceptions. It was a presence—vast and alien. It was different from what he had felt from the column of smoke, and it was close. He jerked around to the others. “Can you feel that?
    “What is it?” Niko asked.
    “It’s powerful, like a Guardian,” Xaphan said slowly, his eyes flattening.
    “Guardians can’t remember we exist,” Giselle said. “Max made sure of that with the hailstone, and if it hadn’t worked, you wouldn’t be members of Horngate today. It has to be something else.”
    “What else is that strong?” Niko asked.
    “I don’t know,” Oz answered. “But taking Giselle out of the Keep with something like that hanging around is too dangerous. She needs to stay inside.” He reached for her arm and swung her around.
    Oz was right, as far as it went, but the column of smoke was a threat they had to deal with now. Giselle had to deal with it. “I do not think this can wait.” Alexander looked at Tutresiel, not caring whether Oz agreed or not. Nor did he ask for Giselle’s opinion. “Carry the witch, and keep to the air until I tell you to land.” To Xaphan. “Kill anything that attacks them. You other two, follow me.”
    He started off. Behind him, he heard Tutresiel and Xaphan launch into the air. Oz and Niko hurtled after Alexander. Oz came abreast of him, his Prime frothing with rage.
    “If she gets hurt, I’ll make sure you pay,” he growled from between clenched teeth. “I may teach you a lesson or two anyhow.”
    “You can try,” Alexander promised. “But I may do a little teaching of my own.”
    The feeling of the presence grew stronger as they approached the perimeter wards and the hidden