Read Online The Brotherhood of the Snake (Return of the Ancients Book 2) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler - Free Book Online
Authors: Carmen Caine, Madison Adler
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lines entangled with mine, too? How do you know you're reading this right?" By the time I'd analyzed where that idea might lead him, it was too late to take the words back.
Rafael caught his breath and glanced away. "It can't be me, Sydney, if that's what you're asking. If I were to love a human, I would risk the destruction of the Tree of Life itself. That is a risk I'd never take. It appears my fate is the opposite of yours … mine is not to love."
I swallowed, experiencing a multitude of emotions, embarrassment and profound disappointment mostly, but I didn't want to wallow in any of it. "Well, this whole thing's a bit absurd," I said finally. "I mean, standing around discussing who I might fall in love with, especially since it hasn't happened, and I don't think it will. I don't feel that way about anyone !"
There was a strained silence. I searched for something to steer away from this awkward and confusing talk of love, so I seized upon what he'd just said. "Uh, what's this Tree of Life, anyway?"
His answer was short, clipped, and distracted. "It anchors the dimensions together."
We just stood there.
He held very still, looking at me through his dark, long lashes, and then I wasn't thinking about anything other than how intriguing his eyes were as he raised a finger and lightly touched my cheek.
Butterflies flittered in my stomach. I'd never felt anything like it, but then Ajax chose that moment to push himself between us and the timeless moment shattered.
I took a guilty step back.
What was I doing?
This whole thing hadn't gone nearly like I'd planned. My crush wasn't going away at all, and I certainly hadn't taken the first step on a path of love.
Undoubtedly, I'd taken the first step on the path of disaster.
I was in serious danger of falling for a guy who'd just told me up front that he wasn't the one, and if he did fall for me something really bad was going to happen and not just to me, but to the entire universe.
I'd apparently inherited my mother's knack for heartache.
Rafael averted his gaze and pointed to the hardware store. "My car's over there. I should probably get you home now."
“Ok,” I agreed in a small voice, feeling self-conscious. P utting my hands in my pockets, I tried to look casual and followed him across the parking lot to the side street.
In the shadows under a tree, I saw his black Bentley surrounded by small clouds of rapidly melting mist. Beads of water rolled down its windows.
Astounded, I gasped, "Did you just shift your car ?"
"It makes no difference how much an object weighs, but it does make it a little tricky to avoid getting caught," he explained matter-of-factly as he opened the driver's door with a flourish. "You can drive."
I eyed the expensive car and shook my head. "That's a bad idea."
Ajax twitched his ears in apparent agreement.
Rafael studied me a moment. "Things are likely to get complicated with the Mesmers returning. I'd feel better if you knew how to drive." He tossed me the keys.
I caught them instinctively and then reluctantly slid into the driver's seat.
If Ajax's tail had been longer, I'm sure he would have tucked it between his legs. As it was, he pointed his four-inch stub straight down, flattened his ears, and climbed into the back seat with as much enthusiasm as if he'd just been condemned to death row.
"I'm not that bad, Ajax," I muttered, adjusting the mirror as Rafael elegantly slipped into the passenger seat.
Suddenly, everything felt incredibly intimate. His presence was overpowering, and it made me nervous. Hurriedly, I started the car and pulled away from the curb in a series of jerks.
Rafael didn't say anything but from the corner of my eye, I saw him wince.
Ajax made a sound suspiciously close to a mocking laugh.
I glared at the Doberman in the mirror and then hit the gas pedal.
The Bentley was far more responsive than Al's old truck. It lurched forward, sending loose gravel shooting out behind the wheels, as around the bend in
Rafael caught his breath and glanced away. "It can't be me, Sydney, if that's what you're asking. If I were to love a human, I would risk the destruction of the Tree of Life itself. That is a risk I'd never take. It appears my fate is the opposite of yours … mine is not to love."
I swallowed, experiencing a multitude of emotions, embarrassment and profound disappointment mostly, but I didn't want to wallow in any of it. "Well, this whole thing's a bit absurd," I said finally. "I mean, standing around discussing who I might fall in love with, especially since it hasn't happened, and I don't think it will. I don't feel that way about anyone !"
There was a strained silence. I searched for something to steer away from this awkward and confusing talk of love, so I seized upon what he'd just said. "Uh, what's this Tree of Life, anyway?"
His answer was short, clipped, and distracted. "It anchors the dimensions together."
We just stood there.
He held very still, looking at me through his dark, long lashes, and then I wasn't thinking about anything other than how intriguing his eyes were as he raised a finger and lightly touched my cheek.
Butterflies flittered in my stomach. I'd never felt anything like it, but then Ajax chose that moment to push himself between us and the timeless moment shattered.
I took a guilty step back.
What was I doing?
This whole thing hadn't gone nearly like I'd planned. My crush wasn't going away at all, and I certainly hadn't taken the first step on a path of love.
Undoubtedly, I'd taken the first step on the path of disaster.
I was in serious danger of falling for a guy who'd just told me up front that he wasn't the one, and if he did fall for me something really bad was going to happen and not just to me, but to the entire universe.
I'd apparently inherited my mother's knack for heartache.
Rafael averted his gaze and pointed to the hardware store. "My car's over there. I should probably get you home now."
“Ok,” I agreed in a small voice, feeling self-conscious. P utting my hands in my pockets, I tried to look casual and followed him across the parking lot to the side street.
In the shadows under a tree, I saw his black Bentley surrounded by small clouds of rapidly melting mist. Beads of water rolled down its windows.
Astounded, I gasped, "Did you just shift your car ?"
"It makes no difference how much an object weighs, but it does make it a little tricky to avoid getting caught," he explained matter-of-factly as he opened the driver's door with a flourish. "You can drive."
I eyed the expensive car and shook my head. "That's a bad idea."
Ajax twitched his ears in apparent agreement.
Rafael studied me a moment. "Things are likely to get complicated with the Mesmers returning. I'd feel better if you knew how to drive." He tossed me the keys.
I caught them instinctively and then reluctantly slid into the driver's seat.
If Ajax's tail had been longer, I'm sure he would have tucked it between his legs. As it was, he pointed his four-inch stub straight down, flattened his ears, and climbed into the back seat with as much enthusiasm as if he'd just been condemned to death row.
"I'm not that bad, Ajax," I muttered, adjusting the mirror as Rafael elegantly slipped into the passenger seat.
Suddenly, everything felt incredibly intimate. His presence was overpowering, and it made me nervous. Hurriedly, I started the car and pulled away from the curb in a series of jerks.
Rafael didn't say anything but from the corner of my eye, I saw him wince.
Ajax made a sound suspiciously close to a mocking laugh.
I glared at the Doberman in the mirror and then hit the gas pedal.
The Bentley was far more responsive than Al's old truck. It lurched forward, sending loose gravel shooting out behind the wheels, as around the bend in
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