A Fall of Silver Read Online Free PDF

anxiety, t he two men chuckled over the restaurant’s moniker.
    Kethan said, “The House of Waffles.” He made it sound like a gourmet eatery, complete with white-jacketed waiters and a fine wine cellar.
    She shifted again, hr hands flashing to touch the handles of her whips and then back to wedge into her pockets, time sliding away. Delay or go? Which was safer? While they stood talking, four killers were merging with the darkness to wait…. Kethan had to know it. Was he deliberately delaying her to ensure the safety of the vampires?
    Worse, was he ensuring that Sutton had the advantage when he attacked?
    When she gazed into his eyes, she saw a glimmer of amused knowledge. He seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.
    “ Whatever.” She agreed despite her anxiety. An icy shiver rippled through her. She recognized it. Vulnerability. She needed to get away and find a way to protect herself and Kathy. Yet she remained and stood there, looking up at Kethan.
    What’s wrong with me? Who is this man?
    He smiled, dimples crimping his cheeks. His brown eyes warmed as she stared into them. Feeling her mouth respond with an answering grin, she flushed before glancing away.
    Just as quickly, she stepped back and studied the large windows, trying to see past the shimmering reflection of the lobby. The room was nearly empty of life except for the pale, disheveled clerk cleaning up odds-and-ends at the desk and a few weary travelers shuffling toward the elevator.
    She shrugged o ff the good feeling that had settled around her like a warm, well-used jacket when Kethan smiled. Time to go and face the music . She took another step toward the door.
    She could still protect Kathy. She just had to focus on the task at hand and not on the big man standing next to her.

Chapter Four
    Kethan fell in to step behind the slender woman, Quicksilver . After a glance at the rigid set of her shoulders, he refrained from commenting on her odd name. He didn’t want to antagonize her, and he was already concerned enough about her safety to want to keep her near while he considered their options. Sutton had backed off for now. However, the vampire’s restraint wouldn’t last long. Kethan had already recognized the unfortunate fact that Sutton had poor impulse control. It was, to a large degree, why he had so many difficulties as clan leader.
    When they passed through the hotel’s revolving door, he maintained his distance and avoided the temptation of crowding into the same quarter section of space she occupied.
    Give her room . Make her comfortable.
    Despite his restraint, she flicked unhappy, mistrustful looks at him over her shoulder.
    T he night was misty and cool. Out of habit, he moved to the edge of the sidewalk to block the gusts of exhaust and danger from erratic traffic. She frowned and walked faster. He stayed beside her, slipping easily into his normal stride.
    H e scanned the street and sidewalk, senses alert to any signs that Sutton’s clan followed them.
    A ghostlike ripple in the darkness ahead caught his attention. A vampire waited in the shadows. Not wanting Quicksilver to notice, Kethan suppressed any reaction.
    They didn’t need any more violence tonight.
    He nodded to Joe. The priest moved to guard her flank. Despite their silence, she stiffened and slipped one hand around her back to cradle the silvery handle of a whip. He tensed and sent a brief prayer upward.
    Give me the strength to stop her without endangering an innocent bystander. His hand throbbed briefly where her whip had sliced his flesh. He could imagine what it might do if someone inadvertently got in the way when she went after a vampire.
    He glanced again at Joe and shook his head.
    Fortunately, the priest caught the subtle signals. He’d also noticed the subtle ripple. The undead tracked them, moving silently in the darkness between the brick buildings. When Quicksilver looked at Joe, he met her frown with a reassuring smile. Her gaze sharpened. She