Hunter's Fall Read Free Page A

“Ah, Nessa . . . my beautiful, foolish, wonderful girl. I love you so much. I will come back . . . I will find you again.”
    He coughed and a sob wracked her body as she saw the blood trickle from his lips. “Promise me!” she choked. “You promise me! Promise me you’ll come back.”
    “Only God Himself could keep me from you, love,” Elias whispered. He sighed and his entire body trembled. She could feel the pain tearing through him and she forced herself in between, using her power to separate him from the pain as she filtered it away. She could not heal him, could not save him—but she could damn well stop him from hurting.
    The tension eased from his body and he breathed a little easier.
    “Elias . . .” she moaned, wrapping her arms around him.
    “Just hold me, Nessa,” he murmured. His voice was weaker. Lifting her head, she stared down at him, brushing his hair back from his battered face. “I do wish I had listened to you, my beautiful witch.”
    Closing her eyes, she whispered, “Just come back, Elias.”
    “My Nessa.”

CHAPTER 1
     
    PRESENT DAY
     
    T HERE was smoke.
    And there was blood.
    The air was thick, and he was going to choke on all the blood. Even if he didn’t have it pooling in his throat, he wouldn’t have been able to take a breath.
    The pain wouldn’t let him.
    It stole through him, turning everything to ice.
    She was crying. He could hear her. She cried and wept and pleaded with him not to leave her. But he had no choice. Death was coming, coming to rip him away from the one person who mattered.
    Even though he slept, he felt the sting of tears. Felt them well up under his eyes, felt them burn their way down his cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away. Wanted to wake from this awful dream.
    But he was helpless, locked in his slumber.
    Ah, Nessa . . . my beautiful, foolish, wonderful girl. I love you so much. I will come back . . . I will find you again . . .
     
    BROWNING, IDAHO
     
    “You’re too pretty.”
    “Am I?” he asked, a grin tugging at his lips. It was a mouth made for kissing.
    “Yes.”
    She was dreaming. Nessa knew she was dreaming. If she had any sense, she would lie back and just enjoy it.
    Well, I already did that. And she had—three, no, four times over.
    There was no way any red-blooded, straight woman could lie in bed with this man, dream or no dream, and not enjoy it. Not enjoy him .
    His eyes were dark, rich as melted chocolate, framed by thick, curly eyelashes. His skin gleamed a soft, mellow gold. In the sun, she imagined that smooth, sleek skin would deepen to a darker gold. His hair was black, blacker than onyx, and thick. It had just the slightest curl to it and when she ran her hands through it, the jet strands twined her fingers.
    She knew that from experience—she’d spent half the night with her hands buried in his hair.
    They hadn’t spent much time standing up, but she guessed he was about five ten. He had a long, lean build, and she sensed strength inside him. Massive strength, but when he touched her, he did it with gentleness. Reverence.
    As well a dream lover should, she supposed.
    He reached up and traced the line of her mouth with his fingertip. She shivered under that light touch and felt heat flicker through her. Catching his finger in her mouth, she bit lightly.
    Hunger blazed in his eyes.
    She felt a response and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. “Well, if I had to dream you, I must say, it turned out rather well,” she mused.
    He laughed against her mouth and asked, “How do you know I’m not the one who dreamed you up?”
    “Oh, believe me, I’m the one who is dreaming. There is no man out there pining for me.”
    No man waiting. No man longing. No man searching. No matter what was promised.
    I will come back . . . I will find you again . . .
    “You’re so sad,” he whispered. “Why are you so sad?”
    Nessa forced a smile. “Of course I’m not . . . well, I won’t be for long. That’s why you’re here,