Daniel Taylor Between Two Worlds Read Free

get the chance to become ruler of an entire kingdom.”
    In fact, Daniel had hesitated for a moment, but an inner voice had emphatically warned him not to make a mistake. In addition, he could hear the high lords’ whispers in his head: He’s not ready yet, he hasn’t truly decided …
    “Well, it’s not as bad here in Little Peak as I thought it was last week.”
    “Just because of that? Is that really all?” Nessa’s cinnamon-colored eyes were boring into him.
    “Well, I guess I’d miss the sun, even though I don’t tolerate light very well.”
    She frowned. “You’re kidding.”
    “I’d miss my computer a lot, too, of course,” he said, trying to keep a straight face, “but I thought I might be able to introduce a few improvements down there, if I became Overlord, so …”
    “DANNY!”
    He laughed out loud and hugged Vanessa tightly. “I renounced my claim to the throne just because of you , you sweet little nerd, because I can’t live without you. What did you think?”
    “Oh, Daniel, that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Beaming with joy, she kissed him. “I love you so much, Danny the Demon.”
    “ You’re the nicest, and I love you even more!” He grinned back at her.
    Nessa just managed to say the word “brownnoser” before their lips met again. He’d also missed her kisses. There was no way a demon could taste as nice as Vanessa.
    “Do you think they’ll leave you alone now?” she asked, once she had caught her breath again.
    “No, I don’t think so.” Through the mental link, he had received some strange vibrations that made him suspect that the last word had not yet been spoken on the matter. Daniel shuddered.
    The Council had promised to completely activate his demonic abilities and to train him in their use. That had interested him, he had to admit — but the price was too high. He would have had to give up the two people who were most important to him: Vanessa and his mom. Even though she wasn’t his real mother, she would always have a place in his heart. I don’t tell Mom how much I love her often enough. I need to fix that. Daniel wasn’t good at expressing his feelings to her, but he was sure that she knew how much she meant to him. He couldn’t leave her alone, so soon after his dad had abandoned her — except that Peter Taylor wasn’t even his real father. He anticipated that at some point, they would have a heated discussion over why he hadn’t been told about his adoption much sooner. I’m going to find my real father , he decided, and kissed Vanessa on the tip of her enchanting nose to seal the promise. He felt somehow that his new mission was to find out everything he could about James Carpenter.
    There was so much more, things that he had only realized when he looked into the sinister faces of the underworlders: That he didn’t want a life full of hate, violence, and scheming. But he was sure that this ordeal wasn’t over yet. The demons had reacted indignantly when he had rejected the throne — all except for Antheus. For a split second, the shadow of a smile had flitted across the surly man’s face.
    Daniel made up his mind to try to learn how to use his abilities on his own, even though he had no idea how to go about it. He had to be prepared when they came for him again.

    “Have we lost him, lord?” Antheus asked obsequiously, but Xandros could sense his feeling of triumph.
    Xandros was sitting on his throne in the great hall, observing the son who knelt before him. Antheus was no different from the others. They all wanted power, wanted to outmaneuver him.
    “Silvan has to truly want it. He’s not yet ready. If he doesn’t open himself to us completely, we won’t be able to manipulate him.”
    “And only the half-blood can give you what you desire, is that really true?”
    Xandros nodded. This was the only reason that Silvan was still alive. Other than Marla, he was the only bargaining chip they had. The young demoness had