Sparks of Blue (Dark Light Book 2) Read Free Page A

weaker.”
    Finally, some new information. Frowning, Kai crossed his arms and took up a position in the one unoccupied corner. “Cursed how?”
    Belle perched on the edge of the bed across from Gwen, seemingly willing to wait for the answer to his question. For once.
    At this Gwen sighed and her shoulders sagged. “I don’t know,” she said. “There was something in my parents’ will. They said they were ‘so sorry, but it was the only way to save your brother,’ and that my soul ‘belongs to the demons’.” She paused, swallowed her obviously building emotions, and looked up. “They said ‘you’ll have a heart attack when you turn thirty’.”
    “That’s horrible,” Belle murmured, sadness weighing down her usually breathy voice.
    Kai knew his eyes were narrowed in thought when he asked, “They sold their daughter to a demon in order to save their son? Where is he now?”
    “And your parents,” Belle interrupted. “You said this was in their will?”
    Gwen nodded. “They committed joint suicide about five years ago.” Bitterness filled her voice as she explained, “They couldn’t bear the guilt any longer, apparently.” She released another breath and looked back to Kai. “My brother, Ben, was born sick. He nearly died before leaving the hospital and chances of him surviving the week were small. All our childhood lives we heard it as ‘a miracle’ that he grew healthier instead.” Gwen swallowed her emotion again. “But I guess they actually just traded his life for mine.” She shook her head, her gaze falling to the ground, and mumbled, “I wish they’d told me sooner, you know? Or asked… He’s my little brother, I’d happily die for him, but … but I didn’t live the way I would’ve if I’d known how limited my time was.”
    Belle moved and sat beside Gwen, draping a slender arm around her shoulders. “I’m so sorry,” she said gently. “I can’t imagine knowing my sister was the reason I was dying.”
    Something twisted in Kai’s gut at her choice of words, and he lifted his gaze to the ceiling. Her words shouldn’t have bothered him. Sure, he knew she had a sister and he knew just as well that the sisters were as close as could be. Madelyne was one of the few who knew the past between him and Belle and for as flighty as she could be, he trusted her to keep that secret. More importantly, Belle’s words were hypothetical. Her sister wasn’t in any danger and she sure as hell wasn’t dying for any reason. The problem was him.
    Nearly a full century since the last night he’d spent in Belle’s arms and his heart hadn’t moved on. He wasn’t so sure anymore that it ever would.
    ****
    Belle glared at the closed hotel room door for long seconds after Kai left. She couldn’t say she was surprised that he wanted a little space from them—from her—but it hurt, dammit. She was the one who should’ve been needing space, and here she was feeling oddly abandoned as he walked away. Again. This assignment is going to be a disaster. Why had she insisted on making something of herself in the angels’ eyes after Kai had left her? Had she really thought it was some kind of revenge?
    “Man, he’s a downer,” Gwen mumbled. “Does he seriously have the male version of resting bitch face?”
    The words pulled Belle back into the moment, and she laughed. “That is the best description I’ve ever heard,” she said with a grin. Sobering herself, Belle asked, “What I’d like to know is, if the demons have a lock on your soul in two months, why are they actively pursuing you now?”
    Gwen’s grin faltered, and she shrugged. “I’m not sure. I mean, I really wish I knew.”
    Guess I should’ve figured she doesn’t have the answers. How much easier would the assignment be, after all, if their patient had the solution to the external problem.
    “So,” Gwen began, swinging around to sit sideways on the mattress and pulling one leg up. “You said you’re a healer? What’s