Green Flame Assassin (Demon Lord series, book 2) Read Online Free

experience, and weariness beyond reason, as if his soul had been stretched thin across the blade of too many centuries.
“Caine,” Old Man gestured to Kimberley, “she’s human, but born with the sight, and adopted into the Dream Court of the fey.  That’s why she has a fey bodyguard.”
A seer, that explains amethyst eyes .
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Caine,” the Fenris said.  “Lau’s told me much about you during our games.”
“Would you like your drink in a bowl, on the floor?” I responded.
Eyes wide, Kimberly swung her face toward the Fenris.  She might have been seeing imminent violence as a seer, or she might just have expected it, knowing wolves.
Old Man’s eyes—now blue-green fireballs—were on me.  “Caine we talked about this.  The wolves don’t owe you tribute for being in our territory.  Achill is my friend.  He and his people get a free pass.”
Kimberly’s bodyguard seized her shoulders, a heartbeat away from pulling her away from trouble.  The fey warrior knew his job.
But Achill just laughed, as I knew he would.  You don’t get to be dominant over a country full of Alpha pack leaders by jumping on every little insult.  You’d be fighting all the time. 
He said, “I take my drinks in a glass like everyone else.”
“Caine,” Old Man said, “behave?”
“Then I wouldn’t be me.”
Achill said, “It’s okay, old friend.  Your son has balls.  You raised him right”
Old Man relaxed.  “One does not survive long in the true night without guts … and a lot of firepower.”
“Yeah, I’m all that and a bag of chips.” I said.  “What’s so important I can’t get a few days off?”
Old Man finally took a seat.  “For one, the Witch Courts have asked our clan to fix the mess in Sacramento.”
I shock of surprise jazzed through me.  “The Witch Courts agree on something?”
“Black, White, and Gray,” Old Man said.  “Though preternatural, they are also fully human, and care most about the balance of things since their power is rooted in nature.”
“What you mean is, they want to rule the humans from the shadows, and not be tied in with us should naturals and preternaturals wage war.”
Old Man shrugged.  “War in Sacramento won’t help any of us.  The wolves used to dominate the various were-communities there, but their grip’s gone shaky since their Alpha was uh, ripped to pieces.  The shifters are in a panic.  The city’s day-walkers and fey are agitating for control of the city.  If conflict breaks out, the preternatural communities could be exposed to human scrutiny.  I don’t know about you, but I’m fond of being thought an imaginary creature.”
I thought of the Feds.  The Preternatural Response Teams had their own way of keeping supernaturals secret—killing them.  There’s no reason for me to run to Sacramento and become a target.
“We should police our own,” Achill spoke as if scenting my thoughts.  “If the PRT get too used to taking us out, they might not stop with just the problem element.”
“The circle must hold for all of us,” Kimberly said.  “You can’t let things fall apart.”
I put a drink in front of her and waited for more.
Old Man grabbed his drink and threw it back.
Achill did the same.
I reached for my glass and found it replaced by an obsidian bottle.  The switch had happened without anyone appearing to notice, but me.  I opened the bottle and smelled the liquor inside.  Crown and Coke, heavy on the Crown, just how I like it .  The red pearl that hung around my neck climbed up out of my shirt and swung on its chain.  The pearl tapped the bottle—a sign of approval?—and fell back against my shirt, inert once more. 
I understood.   A gift of the Red Lady.
A silent lull fell that no one wanted to break. 
I pulled out a glass and poured from the bottle which stayed completely full.  I smiled and touched the red pearl around my neck.  Old Man saw what I did, but said nothing.  He