Winter's Night Read Free Page A

didn’t see much of himself or Rosalie in the girl, but he felt the bond of kinship deep in his heart.
    She was his family. And he could never tell her. Just as he had never been able to tell her father or her grandfather.
    Gallagher had bartered his soul for vengeance and then been forced to step back into the shadows and surrender the care of his family over to strangers. But at least the Squire Council had been there. After Gallagher had become a Dark-Hunter, they had sent in people to make sure his family survived.
    The government had taken everything from Rosalie. Confiscated even his legitimate assets and left her destitute. The Squires had given her a job, and after a few years, they had sent in suitable beaux to date his wife and one of them had finally married her.
    While Harris had lived, he had sent Gallagher updated photos and news about Gallagher’s son and grandchildren. The Squire’s Council had ensured the safety and well-being of his family while he had gone about his business of hunting and killing Daimons.
    Ash had warned him how hard it would be.
    â€œSo long as you have direct descendants still living, it will haunt you. But it does get easier … in time.”
    Other Hunters had told him the same thing, but right now with his great-granddaughter standing before him, he didn’t believe it. God, it was so unfair.
    Or maybe this was his atonement for living the violent life he had chosen.
    Always an outsider. A part of the world, but not in it. He winced at the truth.
    Weary and hurt, he excused himself from the girls and made his way out of the hospital. The street outside was virtually empty. The late hour had sent everyone home seeking warmth. Comfort.
    He doubted if he would ever feel either again.
    When he pulled into the private garage that was across the street from Sanctuary, Elizar Peltier came out of the back door and stopped. The man’s long, curly blond hair was pulled back from his face. He wore a pair of black chinos and a baggy black sweater.
    â€œJamie Gallagher,” he said slowly. “I’ll be damned.” He turned and called into the open door, “Kyle, go tell Maman to put on a plate of corned beef and cabbage. We have a Dark-Hunter in need of food.”
    Gallagher nodded his thanks. “Hi Zar, it’s been awhile.”
    â€œAbout thirty or so years, I think, since we last had the pleasure of your company.”
    Time was truly fleeting to an immortal. “Yet you still remember my favorite food.”
    Zar shrugged. “I never forget a friend.”
    Neither did Gallagher. They were too few and far between.
    Zar led him to the building next door to the Sanctuary bar. Built at the turn of the century, Peltier House was the home of the Katagaria family and their hodgepodge group of refugees. The house connected to the bar through a downstairs door that was guarded at all times by one of the eleven Peltier sons.
    In the Hunter world, they were legendary because they greeted everyone as friends: Were-Hunters, Dream-Hunters, Dark-Hunters or others. It mattered not. So long as you minded your manners and kept your weapons concealed, they let you enter and leave in peace. Those who broke the one house rule of “No Spill Blood” quickly found themselves leaving in pieces.
    The elegant Victorian mansion was quiet now except for the muffled sound of the Howlers playing on the stage next door in the bar. It was furnished in expensive turn-of-the-century antiques that had been in the house since they were new. The bear clan didn’t like change. Gallagher was glad for that. It felt strangely like coming home again.
    â€œHow long are you staying?” Zar asked as he led him up the hand-carved mahogany stairs.
    â€œUntil the New Year.”
    Zar nodded. “ Maman will be glad to hear that.” He showed Gallagher to a room at the end of the hallway.
    Gallagher stepped inside and found a warm, cozy bedroom. The windows were