Darkness Seduced (Primal Heat Trilogy #2) (Order of the Blade) Read Free

during her sojourn in hell. She grabbed the metal rod that used to frame the underside of her cot, nearly dropping it as another crash exploded through the basement.
    Her ears ringing from the noise, she clutched the metal rod, making sure the end with the splintered spike and the two inch pieces of wire hanger was pointing away from her, and then ran back across the room.
    She almost whimpered when she saw a metal blade pierce the steel door. Then it was yanked back and slammed again, this time coming through further. Far enough for her to see the intricate design on the blade, a design typical of a Calydon warrior’s weapon.
    She stared at the shiny metal blade, her chest so tight she couldn’t breathe. She’d never be able to take down a Calydon. Never.
    The blade was wrenched out of the door and slammed into it again, this time coming through a good eight inches, nearly stabbing her in the chest. She leapt back and threw herself against the wall next to the door. She clutched her spear tightly, holding it at the correct angle to stab a six and a half foot tall warrior in the eye.
    One chance. She’d get one chance to blind him and run. She’d mapped out her escape route precisely, and she knew exactly how long it would take her to get to the kitchen to grab Nate’s car keys, and then make it to the garage.
    She knew the odds of her escaping were miniscule, which is why she’d never tried it before. But now it didn’t matter. She’d rather die trying to escape than let Frank take her. Staying alive was no longer her number one goal. Ever since Frank had fixed his sights on her, she’d known her options had changed. Ana had been her last hope...
    The door shook again, and Lily leaned her head back against the wall, her whole body trembling as she waited for the door to succumb to the assault. She didn’t have to kill the Calydon. She needed him out of commission for only three minutes. She’d run the calculations dozens of times, and she knew three minutes were all she needed for a head start. Three minutes, Lily. You can do this.
    She had to take him by surprise. Attack before he had a chance to consider defending himself. No warrior would ever think that the refined Professor Davenport would go on the offensive. He wouldn’t be ready. Please, God, don’t let him be ready.
    The next blow rattled the wall so badly she had to lift her head off it to keep her teeth from clattering. The door strained at its hinges, and Lily gripped her spear tighter, her heart pounding. This is it, Lily. Your chance.
    There was a brutal crash, and the door exploded out of the frame with violent force. It catapulted across the room and smashed into her cot, decimating it with the furious shriek of metal being ripped to pieces.
    She held her breath and tucked herself further out of sight, waiting for the Calydon to step through the doorway and into range so she could spring at him before he was ready.
    But he didn’t come in.
    He didn’t even take a step.
    Silence.
    Sweat trickled down between her shoulder blades, and she realized he’d be able to smell her sweat if he took the time to scent her—
    She felt a humming in the air, and she silently cursed, realizing that the Calydon was reaching out with his preternatural senses to find her. He would hear her heart pounding and know exactly where she was. Even holding her breath wouldn’t keep her silent enough, not with him this close.
    She had to act now .
    She tightened her grip on her spear, then lunged forward and jammed it around the doorframe, striking blind. Gauging where his head would be, she aimed upward and to the right, throwing her whole weight into the thrust. It slammed into something and thudded to a stop. Target!
    Elated, she jumped around the doorway, and her heart froze with terror.
    She’d missed.
    Her spear was harmlessly wedged in the shoulder of a dark-haired Calydon warrior, one who she’d seen with Frank. Blood was trickling down his shoulder, and he