Scorched Fury: A SkinWalker Novel #5 (DarkWorld: SkinWalker) Read Online Free
Author: T.G. Ayer
his arms, drew me into a hug and when his lips touched the skin of my cheek, a traitorous shiver ran through me.
I wasn't naive. I knew I probably would never be rid of my feelings for the Cougar Alpha. Justin Lake had been my first love, my first kiss, the boy I'd harbored dreams of marrying and having the requisite 2.5 children and the perfect life with. But the weight of Alpha responsibility had been enough to nix those dreams.
"How are you, Kai?" asked Justin, smiling down at me, his expression tender, edged with concern. I could never accuse him of not caring.
I gave him a tight smile and moved to the seat beside the window. Somehow it felt wrong to have any sort of discussion with Justin while in Logan's presence, even when Logan himself had no idea what was going on around him.
But I didn't have anything to hide. Nor did I want Justin to think I did.
I took a seat and knew I should offer him something to drink, but I didn't. Justin took the seat beside me and shifted to face me, his legs taking more space than necessary.
I ignored the ripple of awareness that ran through me, and said "If you're here to see Iain, he's in New York."
Justin shook his head. "Actually, I'm here to see your father."
"He's somewhere around the house. Probably pottering around in his new lab."
I used the word lab as if it was a drop of poison on my tongue. Anything to do with biological research reminded me of my uncle Niko, and it still bugged me that my father had kept his own past from me.
Not that I was about to look a gift horse in the mouth. If he was able to save Logan, who was I to question him on one omission?
"Fine, I'll find him. But first, I want to know how you're doing." He tilted his head studying my face, concern in his eyes.
I offered a short nod. "I'm fine. I'm doing okay."
"The Elders keeping you busy?" he asked, giving a wry smile.
Another nod. "In fact they're keeping me far too busy."
Justin frowned. "You know you don't need to do everything by yourself, right?"
My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, bristling. He wasn't in my life. He didn't have the right to question me. Just because he'd proposed marriage, didn't give him any rights. But I tamped down my annoyance. No need to lash out at him just because he was concerned.
"There's a lot to do. I just wish that the things I need to facilitate my job would happen faster."
He laughed softly, his voice low, conspiratorial. "I know exactly what you mean"
Clearing my throat and straightening I asked, "Any news on the Walker Council issues?"
Justin nodded, although his expression clouded. "Ivy and Celeste were able to identify the Alphas who were feeding the council information. Gerald Bartlett and Sofia Morgan. There's a surveillance team on them twenty-four-seven in the hope that we can catch them in the act."
I shrugged. "Just because they're talking to someone on the council doesn't make them guilty of anything."
"We're well aware of that. Which is why we're just watching them for now. Our other leads have confirmed that the two newest members of the council have grown astronomically in their influence over the rest."
"Who?"
"Neil Trapper and Delia Wade. They joined the council two years ago. Seem to be the ones in charge despite Joseph Marsden's seniority."
"At least I know that Mom and Grams have been busy."
"No kidding." Justin laughed, his admiration obvious. "Those two seem to be the best investigators around."
"Just be thankful that they're actually on your side." I smiled.
Justin burst out laughing, the sound reverberating around the room and enveloping me. Reminding me of time spent on the back porch as the sun set and the fireflies came out. Long conversations with intertwined fingers, Justin's arms around me, keeping me warm and safe.
"Too bad they were needed elsewhere." He sounded regretful.
"I'm sure you'll all manage," I said as I pulled myself out of the past. I scooted forward on the seat and got to my feet. "I really have
I wasn't naive. I knew I probably would never be rid of my feelings for the Cougar Alpha. Justin Lake had been my first love, my first kiss, the boy I'd harbored dreams of marrying and having the requisite 2.5 children and the perfect life with. But the weight of Alpha responsibility had been enough to nix those dreams.
"How are you, Kai?" asked Justin, smiling down at me, his expression tender, edged with concern. I could never accuse him of not caring.
I gave him a tight smile and moved to the seat beside the window. Somehow it felt wrong to have any sort of discussion with Justin while in Logan's presence, even when Logan himself had no idea what was going on around him.
But I didn't have anything to hide. Nor did I want Justin to think I did.
I took a seat and knew I should offer him something to drink, but I didn't. Justin took the seat beside me and shifted to face me, his legs taking more space than necessary.
I ignored the ripple of awareness that ran through me, and said "If you're here to see Iain, he's in New York."
Justin shook his head. "Actually, I'm here to see your father."
"He's somewhere around the house. Probably pottering around in his new lab."
I used the word lab as if it was a drop of poison on my tongue. Anything to do with biological research reminded me of my uncle Niko, and it still bugged me that my father had kept his own past from me.
Not that I was about to look a gift horse in the mouth. If he was able to save Logan, who was I to question him on one omission?
"Fine, I'll find him. But first, I want to know how you're doing." He tilted his head studying my face, concern in his eyes.
I offered a short nod. "I'm fine. I'm doing okay."
"The Elders keeping you busy?" he asked, giving a wry smile.
Another nod. "In fact they're keeping me far too busy."
Justin frowned. "You know you don't need to do everything by yourself, right?"
My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, bristling. He wasn't in my life. He didn't have the right to question me. Just because he'd proposed marriage, didn't give him any rights. But I tamped down my annoyance. No need to lash out at him just because he was concerned.
"There's a lot to do. I just wish that the things I need to facilitate my job would happen faster."
He laughed softly, his voice low, conspiratorial. "I know exactly what you mean"
Clearing my throat and straightening I asked, "Any news on the Walker Council issues?"
Justin nodded, although his expression clouded. "Ivy and Celeste were able to identify the Alphas who were feeding the council information. Gerald Bartlett and Sofia Morgan. There's a surveillance team on them twenty-four-seven in the hope that we can catch them in the act."
I shrugged. "Just because they're talking to someone on the council doesn't make them guilty of anything."
"We're well aware of that. Which is why we're just watching them for now. Our other leads have confirmed that the two newest members of the council have grown astronomically in their influence over the rest."
"Who?"
"Neil Trapper and Delia Wade. They joined the council two years ago. Seem to be the ones in charge despite Joseph Marsden's seniority."
"At least I know that Mom and Grams have been busy."
"No kidding." Justin laughed, his admiration obvious. "Those two seem to be the best investigators around."
"Just be thankful that they're actually on your side." I smiled.
Justin burst out laughing, the sound reverberating around the room and enveloping me. Reminding me of time spent on the back porch as the sun set and the fireflies came out. Long conversations with intertwined fingers, Justin's arms around me, keeping me warm and safe.
"Too bad they were needed elsewhere." He sounded regretful.
"I'm sure you'll all manage," I said as I pulled myself out of the past. I scooted forward on the seat and got to my feet. "I really have
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