Read Online Shadow's Awakening: The Shadow Warder Series, Book One (An Urban Fantasy Romance Series) by Molle McGregor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Molle McGregor
Tags: paranormal romance
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body looked like under her worn, baggy clothes.
In all of his long life, Conner had never come across another being with this kind of energy signature. She was sweet, wrapping him in a cocoon of warmth. Like bathing in sunlight. How could she feel so warm, so alive, and still tremble in shock? Conner drew her tighter to his chest, wishing he had time to find a blanket. Feet echoed behind him on the stairs. He whirled, ready to defend his charge.
“Whoa, it’s just me,” Kiernan said, holding his hands before him, palms out in a placating gesture. “What’s the deal? Is she okay?” Kiernan peered over Conner’s shoulder and got a good look at the Shadow’s face. “I was expecting a kid,” he said.
Conner smiled at the growl that rumbled against his chest. His Shadow might be half in shock, but she wasn’t taking any shit.
“They beat the hell out of her. Her jaw is broken and she can’t talk. She also has a knife, so I wouldn’t piss her off.”
Kiernan gave the Shadow another look, this one assessing. Then he turned and jogged down the steps. Conner followed. On the first floor, the scent of smoke overwhelmed his lungs. It stank of gas, rubber and burning flesh. Ducking the Shadow’s head closer into his chest, Conner tried to shield her from the polluted air and the sight of bodies on the floor. A minute later they were both clear of the house, heading across the open field at a brisk pace.
A few hundred feet away, both Conner and Kiernan stopped and turned for a look. Flames licked up the side of the house near the smoldering SUV. A thin line of fire ate at the second floor. Smoke poured through the open front door, escaping the doomed house like a cloudy refugee.
“Any bodies outside?” Conner asked.
“Not any more. I dragged the two we killed first back inside,” Kiernan said. They continued to study the pace of the fire.
“Usually, I’d think about cleanup,” Conner said, keeping his voice low. “But this should take care of things. We’re pretty isolated here. Probably going to be a while before anyone calls it in.”
“Exactly my thought,” Kiernan said. He turned to look at the woman held tightly in Conner’s arms. Conner had dropped his face into her hair and was stroking his chin against the top of her head. “What are you going to do with her?”
“Hmm?” Conner asked. Now that they had the Shadow out of immediate danger, he found it hard to focus on anything but the feel of her in his arms.
“You should get out of here for a few days and take her with you.”
“I can’t do that,” Conner said, but his normally strong voice lacked conviction. The Shadow tensed. She was listening, but holding her own counsel.
“The Oracle said she’d be in more danger if you brought her in,” Kiernan said. “What would it hurt to get away for a few days? She could use the time to heal. And didn’t Alexa tell you to take some time off? If she asks, I’ll tell her you left last night.”
Conner knew Kiernan had never seen him respond to a woman with such absorption. Conner’s general M.O. was to find a woman who didn’t mind a no-strings night or two, have some fun, and take off. He liked women well enough. He respected them, protected those weaker than himself, and got hit by lust when he saw a nice rack just like any other man. But standing in the middle of a field cradling a woman in his arms while he smelled her hair? Not a chance.
“Conner?” Kiernan prompted.
“I’m thinking,” Conner said.
Lie. He wasn’t thinking at all. He was distracted by the Shadow’s pulsing hum of energy, breathing in her scent of sun and green grass.
“Don’t think,” Kiernan said. “Get cleaned up and take her out of here. You can drop me on the edge of the city and I’ll get a ride back in. Take her up to the cabins until you hear from the Oracle.”
Conner dragged his head up and forced himself to process the situation. They were still several hundred feet from the woods and
In all of his long life, Conner had never come across another being with this kind of energy signature. She was sweet, wrapping him in a cocoon of warmth. Like bathing in sunlight. How could she feel so warm, so alive, and still tremble in shock? Conner drew her tighter to his chest, wishing he had time to find a blanket. Feet echoed behind him on the stairs. He whirled, ready to defend his charge.
“Whoa, it’s just me,” Kiernan said, holding his hands before him, palms out in a placating gesture. “What’s the deal? Is she okay?” Kiernan peered over Conner’s shoulder and got a good look at the Shadow’s face. “I was expecting a kid,” he said.
Conner smiled at the growl that rumbled against his chest. His Shadow might be half in shock, but she wasn’t taking any shit.
“They beat the hell out of her. Her jaw is broken and she can’t talk. She also has a knife, so I wouldn’t piss her off.”
Kiernan gave the Shadow another look, this one assessing. Then he turned and jogged down the steps. Conner followed. On the first floor, the scent of smoke overwhelmed his lungs. It stank of gas, rubber and burning flesh. Ducking the Shadow’s head closer into his chest, Conner tried to shield her from the polluted air and the sight of bodies on the floor. A minute later they were both clear of the house, heading across the open field at a brisk pace.
A few hundred feet away, both Conner and Kiernan stopped and turned for a look. Flames licked up the side of the house near the smoldering SUV. A thin line of fire ate at the second floor. Smoke poured through the open front door, escaping the doomed house like a cloudy refugee.
“Any bodies outside?” Conner asked.
“Not any more. I dragged the two we killed first back inside,” Kiernan said. They continued to study the pace of the fire.
“Usually, I’d think about cleanup,” Conner said, keeping his voice low. “But this should take care of things. We’re pretty isolated here. Probably going to be a while before anyone calls it in.”
“Exactly my thought,” Kiernan said. He turned to look at the woman held tightly in Conner’s arms. Conner had dropped his face into her hair and was stroking his chin against the top of her head. “What are you going to do with her?”
“Hmm?” Conner asked. Now that they had the Shadow out of immediate danger, he found it hard to focus on anything but the feel of her in his arms.
“You should get out of here for a few days and take her with you.”
“I can’t do that,” Conner said, but his normally strong voice lacked conviction. The Shadow tensed. She was listening, but holding her own counsel.
“The Oracle said she’d be in more danger if you brought her in,” Kiernan said. “What would it hurt to get away for a few days? She could use the time to heal. And didn’t Alexa tell you to take some time off? If she asks, I’ll tell her you left last night.”
Conner knew Kiernan had never seen him respond to a woman with such absorption. Conner’s general M.O. was to find a woman who didn’t mind a no-strings night or two, have some fun, and take off. He liked women well enough. He respected them, protected those weaker than himself, and got hit by lust when he saw a nice rack just like any other man. But standing in the middle of a field cradling a woman in his arms while he smelled her hair? Not a chance.
“Conner?” Kiernan prompted.
“I’m thinking,” Conner said.
Lie. He wasn’t thinking at all. He was distracted by the Shadow’s pulsing hum of energy, breathing in her scent of sun and green grass.
“Don’t think,” Kiernan said. “Get cleaned up and take her out of here. You can drop me on the edge of the city and I’ll get a ride back in. Take her up to the cabins until you hear from the Oracle.”
Conner dragged his head up and forced himself to process the situation. They were still several hundred feet from the woods and
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