Assassin: Fall of the Golden Valefar (A Paranormal Romance—Book #6 in the Demon Kissed Series) Read Online Free

mother.
    Natalia was always on edge, waiting for things to explode
between them. To her, it seemed like Eric hated everyone and everything, but
there was one action that didn’t jive with that persona. She couldn’t
comprehend why he saved her. Natalia kept telling herself it was due to
ignorance, that if he knew who she was, he’d kill her without blinking, but
somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that wasn’t it. Eric was more
complicated than he let on.
    Before he had time to say anything, Eric looked over his
shoulder, sensing something—a stirring in the air. It was strange, but since
Ivy shoved his soul back into his body, he could sense things. He didn’t know
if it was Ivy, manipulating him, or that he could feel another Valefar effonate . Either way, trouble was coming
and he wanted her gone.
    “It’s nothing you have to worry about, Natalia.” Her pale
blue eyes met his, lost and haunted. He saw her as a frightened girl because
that was what she wanted him to see. Eric had no idea.
    “Go home,” he snapped. He didn’t like the weakness that
crept into her voice, so he bit off the last words, hoping she’d take them like
a slap in the face.
    Natalia’s gaze turned to steel, eyes narrowed. She leaned
closer to him, her hair falling over her shoulders. She breathed through
gritted teeth, “Go home? Seriously? The world’s going
to Hell and that’s all you have to say?” Before she could ask anything else,
Eric turned away, slid a few golden coins onto the bar—enough for his drink and
Natalia’s—and stood up.
    Where were they? His skin itched like
he was covered in ants. Last time that happened there were Valefar nearby, but
he didn’t hear voices outside and no one came in. Eric glanced around the girl
as her irritation turned to anger.
    He turned to walk away, but Natalia was on his heels. She
said, “What’s wrong with you? I’m talking to you and you zone out and walk
away. Eric, what the fuck is wrong with you?” She reached for his arm, jerking
him back. Every muscle in his body tensed as he looked at her. She was tall
enough to look him in the eye, and her icy eyes were pissed. Good.
    He shook her off, “Listen. The only reason you’re following
me is because I kept that thing from killing you.” That thing was a demon, and
it had the girl in its clutches years ago, ready to strip the flesh from her
bones. Eric reacted without thinking. He saw more horrors that night than he’d
seen in his lifetime, but seeing this girls’ flesh stripped from her bones
wasn’t something he wanted to add to the collection. He acted fast, decimating
the demons that were on her. His words now were cruel, intentionally cold,
“That was an accident. I should have let them have you. I’m no hero, so stop
following me around.”
    She stared at him while he spoke, anger burning in her
eyes. Eric wondered if she was even listening.
    He was so deranged . Why’d he have to bring that up? It was the only action she couldn’t
account for. It made no sense. Natalia’s head cocked to the side, “Whatever,
Eric. You lost everything, and so did I. How ...”
    Eric interrupted, leaning into her face, his voice low,
“Lost everything? You think I’m like you?” Not glancing away, she swallowed
hard. Part of her wanted to say yes, we
are the same , but she bit her tongue. Anger flashed in Eric’s eyes, “What
the fuck is wrong with you? Since then, you’ve seen who I am—what I am, but you
keep acting like there’s more. There is no more! This is it. I’m a deranged
fuck who revels in pain, and given the same opportunity to save your ass, I’d
stand by and watch them slowly skin you!” His voice echoed through the bar. No
one spoke. No one dared a glance at him. It was so quiet that the only sound he
could hear was Natalia’s angry breaths.
    Her eyes narrowed as he spoke, her lips opening slightly, ready to verbally accost him, her slender fingers
balled into fists. All eyes in the bar were