2. Darkness in the Blood Master copy MS 5 Read Online Free PDF Page B

the shell of his ear. “I’m a better human since you came to me.”
    I couldn’t improve his balance or hand-eye coordination, but at least I could still make him smile.

Chapter Four:
    Shadow Lessons

    I stood on the edge of the leaf-covered path, watching as the Navau River snagged part of a scorched tree limb from its swollen banks and swept it up into its racing tide.  So far, I’d watched three fairly large scorched tree limbs travel down the Navau. They all came from the same maimed tree. The damage was my fault. All part of my training, Ethan tried to reassure me.
    Several successive days of relentless cold gray rain had pushed Whitfield’s second largest river almost to flood levels. As a result, the Navau’s normally peaceful, meandering green-tinged waters now raced by choked up with all kinds of debris. I could see trash, branches, bottles, and the occasional swollen dead fish.
    “Caspia.”
    I shifted my weight backwards when he spoke my name, feeling my boots sink slightly into the damp pines needles and decomposing leaves. I couldn’t help myself, even though I tried to ignore him. Sometimes my body still reacted as if he was a full-blooded Nephilim, straining towards him as if the angelic blood that once bonded us had not been erased forever.
    “Caspia,” he repeated, closer this time. “We should try again.” Right against me, his breath warm and damp across my left cheek, I knew I could lean all the way back and rest comfortably against him. He would catch me. He always did.
    “It’s so ugly after the early spring rains. The river, I mean.” I wanted to feel his breath across my cheek again. It had not been that long ago when Ethan did not breathe at all. “It’s flat gray. Like my eyes, before you came to me.”
    Ethan’s hands clamped down on my shoulders and spun me to face him. My world narrowed to an annoyed teacher-boyfriend with a mouth twisted in amusement or impatience or both. “I did come to you. More than once. And your eyes are far from flat gray now.” He tucked my hair, loose and damp with sweat at the temples, behind my ears. “They’re molten silver. They get brighter the more we practice.”
    With a groan, I collapsed against his shoulder. “I can’t keep this up much longer. I’m going to run out of Shadows, I swear.” Truthfully, I just didn’t want to practice anymore. I was tired and aching and I didn’t feel any closer to learning control. All we’d proven after hours of trying was that the Dark Realm energy that made up the Shadows responded to me very quickly, and I didn’t like it. How could I summon Shadows so easily unless there was something dark and terrible about me?
    Ethan’s laugh was very deep. I felt, rather than heard it, as he hugged me with one arm. “Impossible. You can’t run out of Shadows. There’s a limitless supply.”
    “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” I muttered. Either he didn’t hear me, or he ignored my rebellious mumblings.
    “We’re working on your ability to control them. We have to perfect your skill, Caspia, so you can fight off any demon kidnappers who come for you. Now, come on.” He held me by the forearm like a truculent child and marched me down the path, deeper into the bare pine forest.
    “Remind me again why we’re doing this,” I hissed through gritted teeth as I unbuttoned my black leather jacket and positioned myself in a rare patch of sunlight. The air was still chilly, but working with Ethan was hard, sweaty labor. He was merciless. I was a pathetic pupil but he wouldn’t let me stop, determined to train me until I could fight Dark Nephilim kidnappers with one arm tied behind my back.
    “Besides learning to protect yourself, you’re the best defense we’ve got.” He paced backwards until he stood about six feet away, facing me.
    “Asheroth says it’s forbidden, for humans to do this kind of thing. It’s dangerous and will attract the wrong kind of attention.” It was risky to play