Demon Dark Read Free Page A

freckly hand. The melted skin went from blistered raw flesh, to a pink rash then became smooth alabaster skin as she healed.
     
    Breandan turned to walk away, and over his shoulder, I caught sight of the scorched vampire bodies. Tossed by the wind the blackened husks tumbled across the road and broke into smoldering ash.
     
    I felt nothing but misery for the crispy remains. Why couldn t they just let us go, give up?
     
    Daphne patted her healed face, her eyes fixed grimly on the lightening horizon.
     
    I m sorry about the burns,
    I mumbled.
    I did ask you to hide.
     
    She delivered me a lethal look and rubbed flaky skin off her peeling neck. She pulled her lips back revealing her fangs had retracted and a wide gap between her front two teeth. It was a smile or grimace; I wasn t entirely sure which.
    Next time, I ll listen if you will.
     
    Say-so.
    I grunted, and stubbornly glowered at her.
     
    Then I blacked out.

CHAPTER TWO
    Gasping for air, and bolting up before I d fully woken, I flung a hand out in front of me to ward off a blow. Sensing no actual threat, I cracked my eyes open and peered over the overgrown shrubs hiding me.
     
    It s okay,
    a voice soothed. Daphne.
    You re safe. You re in the forest.
     
    Still somewhat addled my nature flared and screamed Vampire! but when the last day or so came into focus, I disregarded the urge, remembering this vampire was not a threat to me. Well, at least not an immediate threat.
     
    I sought out Breandan through the bond, and slumped in relief when I sensed he wasn t far. Knowing he was close and could return in moments if I let out a goodly scream or spike of panic down the bond reassured me like nothing else, and the knowledge boosted my confidence to deal with Daphne, somebody who I still wasn t too sure about.
     
    I can see that,
    I replied tartly, a tad embarrassed by my panicked awakening.
     
    I leaned up to rest on my elbows. In truth, I felt better than I had in a while. My exhaustion had been so complete I d been claimed by a deadening sleep. I wiggled my toes in my boots and arched my back off the floor, letting my head drop back.
     
    Inhaling deeply, I let the familiar nutty scent of the trees calm me. The air was crisp, and the breeze rustling the leaves was pleasant, lulling.
     
    So & we d made it then. Gods. That last punch of magic had knocked me out cold. After Breandan s confrontation with Tomas and my downward spiral into grief, it had been near hopeless a number of times during our escape. I d slowed Breandan and Daphne down, but despite everything, they d gotten us out of there alive, and we had the grimoire too.
     
    I slept all day,
    I murmured, feeling rather than seeing the night was young. The sky was indigo towards the horizon, glimpsed through slim openings in the dense canopy.
     
    When I woke up Breandan was leaving to find food,
    Daphne explained.
    He s worried about you. If I m honest, so am I. First, you fall into some kind of sleepwalking bereavement that the fairy assures me will pass once you d worked your way through it. Then the brutal way you killed that vampire was & interesting if somewhat disturbing for me. And then the sunlight. The burning sunlight in the middle of the night.
     
    Wincing at thae visual of Daphne s burnt and blistered face, I moved to sit up fully. The popping of joints sounded worse than it felt, but the sound stopped me nonetheless. My body had taken a battering and would take time to ease out. Slowly, I extended my wing pinions, relieved when they were whole and painless. My tail flicked out behind me restlessly, so much a part of me now I often forgot it was there.
     
    Brushing the hair from my eyes, I rested back, deciding I was not ready to get up after all.
    You don t know me, Daphne. You d never met me before yesterday so what do you have to be worried about?
    I sent a frosted look her way, beginning to remember I was angry with her for being part of Tomas stupid plan to hide me at the Nest.
    Or is