Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity) Read Free Page A

tops. “Now, let’s choose a few sensible outfits before we move on.”
    Within an hour they had a reasonable pile of clothes for both of them and a bill that would make most men shudder in horror.
    Caine, however, didn’t so much as flinch as he gathered the packages and headed out of the store. They had left Missouri with nothing more than the clothes on their backs after Cassie had offered her warning to Laylah. Tonight he intended to enjoy a hot shower, clean clothes, good food, and a soft bed. In that order.
    In silence they wandered down the wide passageway, occasionally halting for Cassie to peer into the windows. For the moment, Caine was content to allow her to behave as a normal female. It was all too rare that she was able to put aside the burden of her visions.
    And as long as he didn’t detect any danger lurking . . .
    His brain closed down as his searching gaze was snared by the sight of lace and ribbons and feminine temptation spread in front of a shop window.
    Instinct alone had him herding Cassie through the door and into the hushed atmosphere of the exclusive store.
    “What are you doing?” she asked in confusion.
    “We did your shopping, now it’s my turn,” he informed her, moving toward a table that held a pile of satin teddies with matching thongs.
    Oh . . . hell.
    Cassie halted at his side, her expression puzzled. “Here?”
    “Absolutely.” Dropping his packages, Caine reached for a scarlet teddy, holding up the fragile garment for her inspection. “What do you think?”
    “Tiny.” There was a faint hint of dimples. “I don’t think it will fit you.”
    Heat blasted through him at the vivid image of Cassie wearing the lacy lingerie and spread across his bed, that same almost-smile teasing at her lips.
    “We’ll take one of each color,” he croaked toward the saleswoman.
    “They’re not very practical,” Cassie protested.
    “Practical is the last thing you should be when you’re wearing fine lingerie.”
    Expecting an argument, Caine was caught off guard when she reached to gently stroke a finger over the shimmering fabric.
    “I suppose they will be comfortable to sleep in.”
    Sleep?
    Caine’s fantasy abruptly altered to reality—a reality in which Cassie slept like a baby in one bed while he tossed and turned in another.
    Did he really need to add in a skimpy bit of lace to add to his torture?
    “For one of us,” he wryly admitted.
    Predictably, she didn’t have a clue why he was suddenly questioning his own sanity. “What?”
    He headed toward the discreet sales desk at the back of the store, pulling his wallet from his pocket.
    “I’m an idiot.”

Chapter 2
    Cassie wandered through the casino, watching the humans as they stood mesmerized by the flashing lights and spinning wheels of the slot machines. The air was filled with their tangled emotions—the hope, the greed, the rare jolt of joy, and the far more common desperation.
    She was fascinated, even as she was saddened by their frantic attempts to grasp . . . something.
    Money? Sex? Happiness?
    Without thought, she reached to grab Caine’s hand, needing the steady sense of security he offered. He squeezed her fingers, tugging her closer to his hard body as a group of drunken revelers stumbled past.
    “As much as I enjoy civilization, are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?” he murmured, the scent of soap and shampoo from his recent shower doing nothing to disguise the warm, wicked tang of his wolf.
    For reasons that Cassie didn’t understand, a rash of excitement prickled over her skin, making her want to strip off her new sundress and rub against the male at her side.
    Of course she didn’t give in to the impulse.
    She was slowly learning that there were all sorts of stupid rules and regulations that had to be followed when surrounded by mortals. And taking off her clothing seemed to be at the top of the list.
    Instead she turned her thoughts to his question, heaving a faint sigh. “I’ll tell