Red Blood (Series of Blood Book 2) by Emma Hamm (best short books to read .TXT) 📕

She filled her glass from the tap and drank deeply. Long trails of water slid down her neck and pooled in her collarbone.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you just saw a ghost.” A silvery voice drifted out of the darkness.

She paused, holding the frigid water against her tongue before turning to find the owner of the voice. She knew who it was. That voice was far too recognizable for anyone to mistake its owner.

Lyra leaned her hip against the countertop. “Pitch. How did you get in here?”

He was seated at the island. His lean frame stretched past the stool so he appeared like a vulture surveying his prey. Unnaturally dark eyes stared at her from shadows that clung to his form like a lover’s fingers.

“I have my ways.”

“Ways that include sneaking into a heavily secured compound personally surveyed by the strongest creatures on this planet,” she commented sarcastically.

He shrugged in response. A lock of raven hair fell into his eyes as he moved.

“Wren’s not here,” Lyra said as she crossed her arms. The condensation on the side of the glass was cold against her sternum. “She’s probably in bed. Like any sane person would be at this hour.”

Pitch arched a brow. “Yet you are awake.”

She shrugged off the shroud of fear and replaced it with anger. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. Breaking and entering.”

“I think you’re trying to divert my attention by becoming angry about something foolish. Now back to my original statement; you look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

Her lips pursed. “Like I said, Wren’s probably asleep. Unless you want to go knock on her and Burke’s door to find out.”

The words seemed to give him pause. His brow furrowed with what Lyra interpreted as anger before his flawless features smoothed once more. “So they’re doing well then.”

“Like two peas in a pod,” she replied. “Though you seem to be more angry about that then you have any right to be.”

“We’re not talking about me.”

“Now we are.” Lyra hopped up onto the counter and wiggled to get comfortable. “I know what you did for her, you know. The Elixir of Life, just whipped out of your pocket like it’s an everyday item. How curious.”

“Indeed.” Now he looked uncomfortable. The raven dark man slowly stood to place his palms firmly against the table.

She refused to be intimidated. Lyra didn’t care how mysterious this man was; he was in her home, and he was a distraction. “An Elixir from a fountain that has long since been dried up in a dimension that no longer exists. We did not have bodies when we came to this dimension, so it’s entirely impossible for you to have that liquid at all.”

“You’ve already thought this over, I see.”

“Yes, I have. You have done the impossible.”

He arched a finely pointed brow. “I have been known to be an impossible man.”

“How did you do it?”

“That is a secret I intend to keep.”

“Oh, you have many secrets, don’t you?” she asked as she crossed her arms firmly over her chest. “More secrets than any man deserves to have.”

“You are one to talk.” He moved. His strides were smooth as his predatory gait ate up the distance between them until he could stand between her legs and frame her body with his wiry arms. “Secrets are what you were created on.”

“You know nothing of my secrets,” she spat at him as she glared.

“Oh, I do indeed. The rich girl who found herself in the Black Market. The Siren with unusually strong powers. The girl who knows far too much about everyone around her.”

Lyra’s hands curled around his wrists as she held him in place. “Strange how you know so much about me. One might think you’ve become fascinated.”

“I have use for you.”

“Am I supposed to care?”

“I need you to speak with the Graverobber.”

She froze. There could be nothing good from Pitch wanting to speak with such a powerful man. “No.”

“No?” He arched a brow. “Why is that?”

“I know you’re a death dealer, and I am not foolish enough to peddle your words.”

“How would you know that little secret?”

“Black Market,” she murmured.

Their conversation was done. She would speak no more of shadows that lurked in the corners of her mind. Sliding off of the counter, she dodged around him when he tried to grab at her arms.

She had nearly reached the door before she heard his next soft words.

“How is Bones?”

Instantly, the fear that she had buried came lurching to the front of her mind. She was nearly sick as the emotion caused a violent reaction. One of her feet tripped the other, and she fell against the doorframe. In the dark, she shivered.

“How do you know that name?”

“I told you, I know many things.”

“You will not utter those words again tonight. How do you know that name?”

She could hear him shifting as he seemed to settle himself in a seat again. Her hands were shaking as they held onto the door frame.

“Many know the names of the Lords. I have never particularly liked Bones very much, but I have heard that he has an interest in you.”

As she heard those words, she quivered for another reason. Water leaked from her ears as she tried to control her anger. “I promise you now, I will dig your secrets out of whatever grave you keep them in. I will find them, and I will destroy you.”

“Like you destroyed Bones in your room? You don’t know how to destroy creatures like me or him.”

If he had meant to goad her, those were the correct words. Growling, she spun around and launched herself towards him. She would claw out his eyes. She would punch her fist into his chest and revel in the feeling of breaking ribs and gore.

He caught her against his chest. They both slammed back against the refrigerator, which rattled at the impact. His hands flexed against her spine as he held her against