Silver Blood (Series of Blood Book 1) by Emma Hamm (bill gates book recommendations .TXT) 📕

had been divided up long ago. Originally it had split in half when the dimensions had collided with the world and since then had been chopped up further. Two hundred years later, no one was exactly sure where the borders had been drawn, but everyone knew that M.O.M. ruled over more of the land than not.

Canada was one of the few countries that had remained relatively untouched. Because of their long winters, they had attracted similar creatures to the cold. Frost Giants, Ice Wraiths, the White Fae, and more had gathered there. They disliked having creatures of all kinds living together and preferred that similar magical creatures existed among each other.

This was obviously something that others disagreed with, especially the agents of M.O.M. Burke sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose.

“Can we get in without anyone else finding out?”

“Doubtful,” Jasper replied. “I can’t even hop in without M.O.M.’s shields finding out. They’ll catch my magic as soon as we land on the other side.”

“Can we get a temporary permit?” Lyra asked. “It can’t be that hard.”

“We might manage to get one in the next six weeks.” Burke hated that he knew the information they required. “M.O.M. purposefully makes people wait a long time in hopes that they’ll change their mind.”

“Well,” Lyra said quietly, “we’re stuck then. We can’t make M.O.M. angry.”

“We can’t just leave her there!”

Burke’s shout echoed in the room as the three stared at each other. They were the strongest that the Five had to offer. They knew nearly everything that the Five planned on doing. But they were incapable of seeing a solution to this problem.

In short, they had failed. The first person they found that had fulfilled the requirements for the prophecy had already been lost to them. The first and the final, as all four were necessary to save them all.

“We’ll be remembered forever for this,” Jasper murmured. “We’re the ones that signed our names on the fate of the world.”

“A bit dramatic, don’t you think?” The voice came from the shadows behind them and was not one that could be recognized.

Burke’s eyes narrowed as he slid from the table. He held a finger to his lips as he moved towards the dark shape in the corner. He was warning the others to remain silent while he dealt with the newcomer. “And you are?”

“Not necessary information.” The voice was deep and obviously masculine. But this was not someone who lived in Haven and certainly not a Red Blood.

They could all see the faint shape that the shadows made. Tall, wide shoulders, a head and hips. But no other information could be found from looking at the creature that stood in the darkness.

“I think it is,” Burke growled. “You came to the wrong place to be sneaking around and listening to conversations that are confidential.”

“Confidential.” A snort followed the word. “Right. Look, there’s an amulet you can wear to jump over the border. Black Market goods but they’re made by a couple Harpies. Ask for Scylla or Charybdis. They’ll only deal with other women. Harpies, you know.”

“Why are you telling us this?”

“Because I can.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“No, I suppose it’s not.” There was a slight pause as the shadow seem to flicker in and out of existence. “There’s entertainment in stirring the pot, much more preferred than sitting around and waiting to see what will happen. Just do it.”

“Why should we trust you?” Lyra asked from the back of the room.

“Because you don’t have any other choice. Find the girl, don’t find the girl. I could care less. But now you have the information you need to get her.”

“I’d say you care, or you wouldn’t be here helping us,” she replied. Burke looked over his shoulder to see she had jutted her chin up in the air. Lyra had always been brave for such a tiny little thing.

“Hmm.” The sound appeared thoughtful before the shadow shrugged. “Perhaps. But note I’m not going to find her myself. Good luck.”

The shadow disappeared then, leaving a much lighter dark spot in the corner of the room. Burke shook himself before turning to look at the other two.

“Do we trust it?”

“I can find the Harpies,” Lyra muttered. “Not that I want to talk to those two, I remember them all too well.”

“What?” Burke hadn’t realized that she had ever been to the Black Market. At Jasper’s warning head shake, he wisely did not push for further information.

“Just…” Lyra sighed. “I’ll be back. Hang tight.”

Her head felt scrambled. There were thoughts there, or there should be thoughts in the great expanse of her mind. But there weren’t. Or there were too many. She couldn’t seem to find herself in her own head, and that was particularly disturbing for Wren.

Even worse was that Malachi seemed to play her like a puppet. All he had to do was snap his fingers, and the pain inside her head grew worse. The noise would increase as he yanked forward all the minds inside of her at the same time. She was constantly in a state of potential insanity.

Not once did he appear to strain himself. He sat on that damned plush chair he had created and sat her down next to him. Wren didn’t want to admit that it was comfortable. She didn’t want to admit that the wine tasted sweet against her tongue.

Everything about him seemed like the most dangerous of poisons. He appeared reasonable, sometimes even charming. Yet a layer of darkness always seemed to be in every movement he made. His fingers would flex just so, or his eyes would darken in such a way that Wren knew how much he wanted to harm her.

It was hard enough that she was struggling to remain herself. Every creature inside her head was pushing and shoving to the surface. They didn’t want to harm her, E wouldn’t have allowed that. But the individual minds were something Wren had never felt before.

E had always seemed to be something that was one creature. Now that