Read Online The Demon Hunter by Kevin Emerson - Free Book Online Page A

stammer like an idiot.
    In Morosia, Lythia had been after Selene’s summoning charm, and she’d used Dean to get it. Her father, Malcolm, was a key member of Half-Light, but in Italy, Emalie had sensed that Lythia was up to something on her own. Strangely, if it hadn’t been for Bane, who stole the summoning charm from Dean before he could deliver it, Lythia might have succeeded in whatever it was that she was really up to.
    This time, well, Lythia’s eyes were still just as arresting— Stop it! Oliver shouted at himself—but more importantly: what was she doing here in Seattle?
    Lythia made a show of touching her finger to her chin pensively. “How about if Oliver says: Oh hi, Lythia, so lovely to see you!”
    â€œWhy would I say that?” Oliver managed to reply.
    â€œHa, obviously because you do think it’s lovely to see me—don’t you?” Lythia smiled, baring her perfect teeth. She’d applied glitter polish to them, a popular style among vampire girls, and so her teeth sparkled with flecks of gold. “Or he could say …” Lythia began speaking in a high-pitched child’s voice. “No, Lythia, please don’t kill my human girlfriend!”
    Oliver froze. “What—”
    â€œLeave her alone! She’s my special little blood bag!”
    Oliver’s arm thrust forward. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he knew it was a mistake, but he had already hurled the bag of tapeworms at Lythia. Her face didn’t even twitch, and her hand shot up and caught the bag. Then she burst into a snickering laugh.
    â€œWatch out for big bad Oliver!” she taunted. “Nice to see you, too, though I would have preferred a kiss.” Lythia smiled wickedly. “It would be the least you could do.”
    Oliver felt battered by each thing she said. Say something back! he thought desperately. Stop standing there like an idiot! It was horrible.
    â€œDon’t worry, Oliver, I know it’s hard to use your words,” Lythia continued as if he was a toddler. “I’m a busy girl these days anyway, what with controlling your minion friend and plotting to save you.”
    â€œWhat do you mean save me ?” he groaned.
    â€œLythia to the rescue!” She grinned. “Don’t worry, you’ll find out when the time is right. Poor thing, that’s how it always is for you, isn’t it? Never a clue what’s going to happen next.”
    Her hand flashed out, and the tapeworm bag hurtled back and smacked Oliver in the face, his hand arriving a second too late to deflect it. He stumbled backward.
    But then Lythia was being raised off the ground, an actual note of surprise crossing her face. “What—”
    A black misty presence had wrapped around her and lifted her two feet into the air. It looked like a girl, shrouded in veils.
    â€œYou don’t always have a clue what’ll happen next, either,” whispered Jenette in her ear. She dropped Lythia and raced to Oliver’s shoulder. “Hi, Oliver,” she said, her voice reverting to its mousy whisper.
    â€œUm, hey,” Oliver replied.
    Lythia staggered to keep her balance, a look of disgust on her face. “So this is your thing, eh, Oliver? Having little girls come to your rescue?” She glared at Jenette. “I’ll come for you, too, smoky.”
    â€œPlease, please do,” Jenette hissed.
    â€œOliver?” Phlox was walking down the aisle, peering at Lythia. They’d never met, and Oliver could see Phlox trying to figure out who Lythia was.
    â€œAnd Mommy, too!” Lythia clapped. “Oliver, you are the ultimate ladies’ man.”
    Oliver once again searched his suddenly empty brain for a response. There had to be something he could say that wouldn’t make him sound as lame as he looked. Something that would let Lythia know that she couldn’t mess with him and his friends.
    But once again, the