Dark Rival Read Free Page B

back. She was the shyest person Allie knew. She was also the smartest, a true techno-geek. Their gazes locked as Brianna hurried to her.
    “Why did you cruise alone?” Brie whispered her pretty green eyes clearly visible in spite of the serious spectacles she wore, which only enhanced her nerdy appearance. “I saw what happened!”
    “I’m okay.” Allie whispered. Brie had the Sight. She was also highly empathic. Of course she'd have rushed to Allie’s side after she'd made herself so sick. “Aren't you late for work?”
    “It's six in the morning,” Brie returned. “They brought you in at
3.00am
. I’m sorry! I was at HCU all night—I was so engrossed in a case—or I'd have known sooner. Sam and Tabby are outside. C'mon. Let's get you out of here before CDA gets wind of this.”
    Allie seized her hands. “Brie, I just saw my mom.”
    Brianna hesitated.   “We'll talk later," she said after a significant pause.
    ALLIE STUDIED HERSELF critically in the mirror. Her father was holding a political fundraiser and she had to be downstairs in a few moments. Concealer hid the dark circles that remained under her eyes. While she was feeling better, she was not herself and she knew it.   She had gone too far, trying to raise the dead.
    The sea-foam chiffon evening gown floated sensually down her body and made her olive complexion and dark eyes glow. Allie had used some serious teal eye shadow, dark liner and now she added pale gloss to her lips. For someone who'd awoken in the hospital that morning, she looked okay.
    “Alison Monroe, you are late!” Her other best friend. Tabby, sailed into the room, looking drop-dead gorgeous in a bronze evening gown. She'd recently divorced and Allie knew the smile was fake—she'd been dumped for a younger woman and her heart was badly broken.
    “You look awesome,” Allie smiled.
    “Thanks. I almost feel pretty again,” Tabby said closing the door. Tabby was of medium height, slim and blond; when she wasn't practicing spells and scrying for evil, she was practicing yoga. She was a first-grade teacher and her ex was a Wall Street high roller. It had been a Cinderella story—or so they'd both thought. “I'm giving yon a beads-up. Brian wants to know why you walked out on him last night.”
    Allie grimaced. “I guess I got caught.”
    “Not for the first time,” Tabby said softly. “I hate it when you cruise alone! You could get hurt! You did get hurt. Thank the gods Brie felt it so we could rescue you from the clutches of the police.”
    Tabby no longer smiled. Tabby, Sam and Brianna knew her secret—they'd known she could heal since they'd become friends as children. But Allie knew their secrets, too. As Rose women, they all had powers, which they used to fight evil. Tabby and Sam were sisters, and Brie was their cousin. Although Brie worked in CDA, no one knew her ability to see the future, and they all kept the lowest profile imaginable. “I guess another one bites the dust,” Tabby remarked.
    Allie glanced away. Brian had stalled to act like he was really interested in her, and that was not a good thing. Men had always swarmed to her like bees to honey. Yet she'd never been able to do more than go through the motions of being in love. She was twenty-five and she'd never been in love, not even a schoolgirl crush.
    And she was always getting caught sneaking out in the middle of the night—and it was still just as hard trying to make up excuses. That behavior ended every relationship, sooner or later. Allie knew she didn't have time for love. In fact, love would probably interfere with her destiny as a Healer.
    “I'm so tired of lying—and hiding who I really am.” Allie said, sitting down on the bed. “But of course I’ll tell him you called with a broken heart and I had to come right over.”
    “At least you’re not in love,” Tabby said significantly, referring to her own broken heart.
    Before Allie could answer, Sam came in without knocking. While Tabby