Ashes (Book 2 The Kindred Series) Read Online Free Page B

deserved only happiness and light, not
misery. Unfortunately, fate had cast them both into roles where
darkness was their main reality.
    She stared at him with wide, wonder
filled eyes. The tips of her long dark lashes were matted with
tears; the ends of them shimmered with water. She searched his
face, seeming to savor in every detail. He was unable to resist the
tempting lure of her as he bent down and pressed a light kiss to
her rosebud mouth.
    His skin heated, his body tightened as
the feel of her burned into him. Hunger for her surged through him,
but he kept it tightly under control, along with his fierce urge to
deepen the kiss. Pulling reluctantly away, he stroked her face once
more before turning to meet the newcomers in the room.
    Luther, Chris, and Melissa stood just
inside the doorway. Chris’s mouth was slightly ajar, his sapphire
eyes wide in shock. Luther’s face was an impassive mask while
Melissa’s cheeks had colored and she looked slightly uncomfortable.
Rising slowly from the bed, he kept hold of Cassie’s hand as he
stood beside her. He had nearly lost her, he was not about to let
her go anytime soon.
    Cassie abashedly wiped the remaining
tears from her face, smiling shyly at them. “Hi guys.”
    Melissa was the first to recover her
usual aplomb. “It’s so good to see you awake!”
    She moved swiftly forward, shooting
Devon a confused look as she moved to Cassie’s grandmother’s side.
She bent to hug Cassie quickly, careful of the wires and tubes that
still ran from her. “It’s good to be awake.”
    Chris eyed Devon wearily, his eyes dark
and brooding as he joined Melissa. Stiffly he bent to hug Cassie,
his gaze never leaving Devon’s. Devon bristled slightly when he
touched Cassie; he hated the idea of another man touching her, even
if it was Chris. His hand tightened around hers until Chris
released her and stepped back.
    “What happened?” Chris asked his voice
tight and confused.
    Cassie glanced briefly at Devon.
Slowly, her hand clenching upon his as she spoke, she retold the
awful events of the night. Anger slowly built within Devon,
mounting to higher and higher levels as he sensed her rising
distress. Though he had only tasted a few drops of her blood, they
had been enough to forge a stronger connection between them. He
could sense her emotions more clearly, and though he could not read
her thoughts, he could almost feel them pounding against the edges
of his mind. Stroking her delicate skin, he tried to soothe the
anguish building within her. Her voice cracked slightly, her
anguish was evident as she finished her retelling.
    They all turned toward him, their gazes
fierce and inquisitive as they studied him intently. “I think we
have a lot to discuss,” Luther finally broke the long
silence.
    Devon nodded briskly. He supposed they
had a lot of questions, as did he. “After Cassie is feeling well
enough to go home, we can talk,” he assured him.
    “I feel fine now,” Cassie interjected
forcefully.
    He scanned her beautiful face, noting
the bright gleam in her inquisitive eyes. She had only been awake
for a little bit, but her color had already returned. The severe
blood loss had been traumatic, yet she appeared as if nothing had
happened. Apparently Hunters rebounded quickly when they were
injured.
    “You need to rest,” her grandmother
said softly.
    “I’m fine grandma, really.” She turned
back to Devon, smiling brightly. “I heal fast.”
    “Apparently,” he said softly, his thumb
briefly stroked over her skin as he studied her. She looked as
healthy as if nothing had happened to her. Her brief, intense sleep
seemed to have completely repaired the injuries that she had
sustained. It was amazing.
    “Cassie…”
    “I’m fine Luther, really. I feel much
better; I just want to get out of here now. I don’t like
hospitals.”
    “You’ve never been in one.”
    “And now it’s time to go.”
    Tossing aside her blankets, she swung
out of the bed. Devon blinked in