Demon Day by Penelope Fletcher (best novels in english .TXT) 📕

I grunted my disagreement, and steppedaway from him wanting to get this next part over withquickly.

The thing I turned to was a livingcrypt of trees and leaves. The great oak trunks had twisted downand their roots had reached up to entwine together tightly. It wasstunning and I could not believe I had connected my power to thatof the fairy Wyld and created this.

Breandan said it was because on thissacred ground my power was absolute. I rubbed my chest to soothethe ache the thought brought to my heart. Had I known that merehours ago, so much might have happened differently.

I had left my vampire-boy, Tomas,slumbering in this earthen tomb I had made to keep him safe. He wasdead, and would not rise until sunset. I was pleased, because itmeant I could focus on the grimoire and Devlin. From the moment Ihad met him, Tomas had been a complicated being I could notunderstand. Always he was there on the fringes of my attention, butnever the focus. When he had made me stop – by searing me with akiss to leave me shaken and dazed – he had snapped into focus. Ithad been enough to sway my loyalty when faced with the choice oflosing him or risking Breandan’s affection.

Thinking of my vampire always made meconfused and wary. He had a numbing, drug like affect on my sensesI was beginning to equally love and hate. I needed to be sharp anddefinite not fuzzy and indecisive. I snorted at myself. I wouldthink on my blood tie with Tomas, and my promise to help him later.I didn’t even know what it meant … and if I did know whatdifference would it make? Could I break it? I knew my bond withBreandan was thrown into doubt because of my tie with Tomas. Devlinhad made that perfectly clear when he had tried to claimme.

I glanced overhead, past the densetree canopy, and saw we had nine hours of sunlight at best. Whennight fell he would come after me. I knew this like I knew thehammering of my heart when he was near was taboo.

Tomas was no fool, and so I knew notto worry too much about what would happen when he woke.

He would have to spend most of thenight catching us up, and even if he did manage to gain on us – andcatch us before the sun rose – he would hang back. He was wary ofBreandan, and for good reason. Breandan would tear him apart themoment he had a chance.

Distance from Tomas was good. I wouldhave time to decide what was best for him and me. Please, gods, letme find an answer.

As I had lain beside him in theearthen tomb, I’d wrapped my arms around him and wallowed, slippeddeeper into despair until my heart had called for its other half.My heart, despite its anguish, had told me what to do and who couldhelp me. And he had been there waiting for me when I crawled out.Breandan’s touch was as soothing as the sun’s virgin light on myskin. He had held me in his arms – when I would let him – and letme wander around the fairy Wyld when I had needed space tomove.

In my heart, I knew who was right forme despite the fact I craved the love of another.

Crouching, I rested my temple on aroot and dragged my fingers, tipped with talons, along the bumpysurface.

“I have to go. I knowyou’ll follow me when you wake, so be careful. Just … don’t doanything foolish, okay?” I knew Tomas couldn’t hear me, but sayingthe words out loud made me feel better. “I will help you, Tomas.Give me time and I’ll find away to help you and yourNest.”

Breandan came up behind me and pressedhis legs into my back. “We must go if we are to have any chance ofcatching Devlin.”

Standing, I patted the tomb oncebefore turning my back on it. “Conall?”

“I am here, littlesister.”

My brother stepped into the clearing,geared up and ready. He glowed, brighter than any other I had seen,except when Breandan and I suffered the effects of our bond. Conallwas beautiful, a face of hard angles and smooth planes. His eyeswere gold, a family trait it seemed since mine were the same onlylighter. His long hair was pulled into a low ponytail that reachedthe middle of his broad back. In leather pants and soft-soled bootslike Breandan he was always topless, and bore sword – latched tohis back by a thick leather strap that ran across historso.

“Devlin will not make thishunt easy,” he rumbled. “The High Lord is cunning and mostdangerous when prepared. Devlin will head to the sea fairies at thetip of the region. They have always been sympathetic to his cause.We must reach him before he reaches them. We must travel well outof the way of the Temple and slip through the shifter Pride. I donot think he will be foolish enough but he may try to cut throughthe outskirts of the vampire city. Pray he does not.” Conallfocused solely on me. “Rae, if you become tired tell me. If youthink you hear, see, or feel something wrong tell me. If you needto eat or drink tell me. If–”

“If I breathe too loud tellyou,” I said cheekily and rolled my eyes at him. “I get it. Tellyou everything.”

He nodded once. “And try to keep up.”Moving around me he touched my shoulder briefly then broke out intoa swift run, blurring into the distance forcing me to use my fairysight to see him before Breandan nudged me and I took off behindhim.

For most of the day there was thegloomy, damp forest, my ragged inhalation as I struggled forbreath, and the footfalls of the one who called himself mylife-mate as he raced beside me. I ran through the forest teemingwith life, yet all hushed reverently as we blazed past, in awe ofus, in fear. Shaking my head at how my life had changed, I sped upleaving Breandan a pace behind so we ran single file, Conall in thelead. The air was overly crisp on