Alabaster Nights (The Josie Hawk Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fidgeting. The only person who calls me Josephine is my father, who I happen to think walks on water. No one else, including Irish here, has earned the right to call me by my given name.
    Keller nods. “So you did. I’ll do my best to adhere to your command.”
    “I’d appreciate that.” Pulling my jacket closed, I glance behind me.
    “You’ve got tall walls.”
    Turning back to him, my eyebrows draw together for the briefest of moments. I smooth them out and try to appear bored. “Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Keller slides his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. I swear I do not notice anything below the belt region.
    “It’s too quiet tonight,” I say, changing subjects. I’m pretty sure I know exactly what he means by tall walls and I have every intention of keeping them firmly in place. In fact, I might even add a few more rows of bricks and put a roof on top. I’ve always wanted to live in a fortress.
    Keller shrugs slowly, as if the effort costs him. “Everyone needs a night off at some point. Perhaps you could wrap it up early. Maybe we could get to know each other a little better. For Sage, of course.”
    I have a feeling his definition of better is intimately and includes dinner. His dinner . I shake my head. “No. In my world quiet is like the calm before the storm.” Besides, I’m not the one who needs to go take a nap. Judging by the circles under Keller’s eyes, he’s in need of sleep and more. If he thinks I’m tonight’s special on the menu, he’s sorely mistaken. My neck is a no-fang zone. “It’s going to be a bad night. You should probably find a place to hide. Sage wouldn’t be happy if you got hurt.”
    Reaching out, he wraps his finger around a lock of my hair. Instinct tells me to jerk away and run. Run until I can’t run anymore. Instead, I stand very still.
    “Who will take care of you when you get hurt?”
    I blink. Trust me. I’m very used to a lack of faith in my skills from others. It doesn’t faze me. But for someone reason, Keller’s doubt hurts worse than the sting of a fat-tailed scorpion. “When? Not if?”
    Keller slides his hand through my hair and cradles the back of my neck. It’s so hard not to move when my insides are trembling. His touch is like an electric jolt and I’ve just been fried. I can’t help but to wonder if he’s using some of his vampiric power on me. That would be a very big mistake.
    He leans closer. “We all get hurt eventually.” He smiles, just a quick show of teeth before he grows serious again.
    I swing. Keller anticipates my move and shifts so I only clip his jaw with my uppercut. Flashing his fangs, he drags a hand through his hair. I kick. He catches my leg. I drop and spin out of his grasp. My back slams into the wall, rattling my bones.
    “Stop,” I order as he advances, my arm extended as a shield.
    He slows. Barely. “Stop what?”
    “Stop…” I blow out a shaky breath. “Just stop everything.”
    “I get it. You’re affected. I am, too. We’ll figure it out.”
    I’m affected all right. I’m so affected I want to sink my blade into his gut and twist it until he comes to his senses. Or until I come to mine. I don’t like to be played with. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s nothing to figure out.” Needing something to do with my hands, I pull my hair to the side and start braiding. “May I offer you a word of advice?”
    Keller slides his tongue over his teeth. “I’m all ears.”
    He’s all something, but it’s definitely not ears. I realize braiding my hair has exposed my neck. Sighing, I unbraid it and let it hang loose over my shoulders. “Find yourself the nearest blood bank. You’re looking a little green tonight. Then, once you’ve re-fueled, find something useful to do.”
    I turn and leave him to chew on that thought. I’ve only jogged a few feet away when a pair of demons barrel around the corner, eyes redder than the blinking traffic signal