A Touch Mortal Read Online Free PDF Page B

a working vacation?” Luke probed. He leaned against the railing of the boardwalk, his tight leather pants creaking as he adjusted his stance. They’d played the game hundreds of times. Luke would have his questions, knowing the Bound couldn’t lie. He lifted his jaw in the direction of the hotel. “If you have some free time, maybe I’ll stop by.” Gabriel’s heart sank at the satisfied smile. Luke never bluffed.
    The question now was how long he’d been onto them. What he had seen.
    “Are we done here?” Gabriel turned, heading back toward the hotel, not bothering to conceal his destination.
    “I really have been bad about keeping in touch,” Luke called after him. “I owe Az a visit, don’t I?”
    “Stay away from Az, Luke. I mean it.”
    “Still trying to save your lost little lamb?”
    Gabriel paused, turning back toward him. “He might not be ready yet, but one day he will be. He’ll use the wings. He’ll come home.”
    “I beg to differ. Which reminds me, tell him I approve of this latest girl. She’s quite pretty, don’t you think?” Luke pushed off the railing, covering the ground Gabriel had put between them in a lazy stroll and moving past. Just beforehe turned onto the quiet side street, Luke spun back. “She looks like a fighter. And they’re so much more fun to break.”
    Gabriel stumbled back to the hotel, the elevator ride passing in a blur. Az had been strong enough to keep from choosing a side so far, but if Luke got a hold of Eden, tortured her, it would be the catalyst to set off his Fall. Az opened the door before Gabriel could use his key.
    “What’s wrong,” he demanded.
    “Is she safe? Did you call her?” Gabriel collapsed on the bed.
    “She’s fine. What the hell happened?”
    “Luke.” His voice broke. “It’s Luke. He knew we were here. Az, he knows about Eden.”
    Az’s legs went out, dropping him onto the other bed. “How much?” he whispered.
    Gabriel met his eyes. “I don’t think he knows she’ll be a Sider, but he’s going to come after her. I’m sure of it. If he takes her…”
    There was no reason to say it, to add details out loud. Az flinched as if he’d been slapped. Luke wouldn’t kill her outright. He’d keep her in pain as long as possible.
    Worse, she wouldn’t be the first. Twice before. Violent, drawn out, and painful. Every day had been a battle against the Fall for Az, searching in vain, knowing Luke kept the girls alive. The search only ended when the packages started to arrive. A finger in a jar. A hand wrapped in newspaper.Gabriel had barely gotten Az through the loss, through the guilt. For weeks after, he’d done his best to pull him out of the depression, didn’t let him out of his sight.
    Even now, Az’s breaths came fast, his eyes darkening as thoughts of vengeance no doubt crossed his mind.
    Az shook his head, his eyes still glazed. “I told her today. About what we are.”
    “You should have waited for me!” Gabriel tried not to look startled. They were going to tell Eden, but he hadn’t expected Az to take it on himself. “You didn’t tell her anything else, did you?”
    Az shot him a look. “Of course not.”
    “Well, you didn’t call, so I guess she took it well?” He tried not to feel left out.
    Az nodded. “Gabriel, with Luke being around…” Gabriel heard the hesitation in his voice. “If he gets to her first, and does to her what he did to the others.” He swallowed, unable to go on.
    “We’re not going to let that happen,” Gabriel insisted.
    “What happens if Luke cuts her.” His shoulders shook. “Cuts her up,” he went on.
    Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair. “If he kills her, she’ll come back when she’s with him. He’ll know what she is. Az, he won’t stop.”
    “We can’t let that happen,” Az said.
    “Well then, we can’t wait much longer. Luke knowsKristen’s on our side. And as long as he doesn’t know Eden’s going to be a Sider, he won’t come looking for