Alchemist's Kiss Read Online Free PDF

protective. I grasped for the diabhal laimhe , the twisted metal warming to my palm. Archie's hand squeezed my shoulder, and I kept The Hand obscured.
    My son.
    Icarus blanched at the words. Twin spots of red appeared on his cheeks as he visibly forced himself to relax. His hand, I realized, was still clenched in a tight fist.
    I have missed you, my son.
    Archie hissed out a breath and his grip grew tighter. I resisted squirming from the pressure and clenched The Hand more tightly.
    “Speak, Victor. London belongs to me.”
    Icarus' voice was infused with magical power and anger. I shivered as the physical weight of his words caressed the bare skin of my neck.
    I have come home, Icarus. But I am not here for you.  Or for your city.
    “Leave London while you can, Victor. I'm no longer the boy you tortured.”
    I shivered at the words. Though Archie and I knew Icarus' childhood had been filled with painful secrets, he alone knew the depths of the darkness he'd survived. The ticking of Archie's clockwork sped up as he tensed.
    The smell of roses intensified. I swallowed a gag as it rolled over us. Underneath the scent of roses was the squalid stench of dark magic.
    You are the man I'd hoped you would become, my son. We will meet again soon.
    The wind died down as quickly as it had come, and Icarus staggered. I jumped for him, clutching him tightly as his legs gave out. We went to the floor in a heap, his head resting gently on my shoulder. He was shaking, his body wet with sweat. I tensed for his usual derision at my nature as he shook off my help, but in this moment he clutched me tightly against him.
    I smoothed the hair back from his forehead and laid my cheek there. My eyes locked with Archie's as he moved about the room, reinforcing the magical wards that protected our rooms.
    “Dearest Cora.”
    I smoothed my hand over Icarus's hair, the light curls springing up between my fingers. I quieted him with a gentle kiss against his curls.
    “All will be well, Icarus. You are not alone.” I reminded him with a whisper.
    “I'm a fool, Cora. A fool.”
    “No.” I could not help but to revel in the feel of his arms around me. The smell of lavender and smoke that clung to him and then to me.
    He pulled back, the color returning to his cheeks as Archie returned to the room and stoked the fire. Icarus looked first at Archie's broad back and then at me. “I cannot win.”
    Archie turned to us, and he gripped Icarus' forearm with his human hand. “You aren't fighting him alone this time, Ic. Cora and I are with you.”
    “I've resigned you to your graves.”
    I shook him lightly. “I was wrong, Icarus Kane. You are a fool.”
    His eyes narrowed at me as I glared at him.
    “Together we are strong. Far stronger than your father, or any other wizard who thinks he can take London from us.”
    “Us?” Icarus laughed, the derision returning. “You're novices at best.”
    “New to magic, yes.” I reached into my bodice and removed diabhal laimhe. “But we were trained by the best wizard alive. And we have weapons.”
    Archie grinned at Icarus. “She's not wrong, Ic.”
    “My father is not just any wizard. He was the Grand High Master for many years. We will be lucky to live through the night.”
    “See?” I tweaked a curl with my fingers. “You're coming around already. A moment ago we were already dead.”
    “Can the Covens send backup?” Archie asked. “This is a breach of your territory, which you hold by rights.”
    “Perhaps.” Icarus moved away from me, and I resisted the urge to pull him back. “They won't take kindly to Victor's return.”
    Though his face was pale, and his eyes still filled with dread, Icarus was returning to normal. I wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing.
    “We're with you, Icarus.” I tipped his chin with my finger so that his eyes met mine. “To the very end. So let us help you.” I narrowed my eyes at him, “Or so help me you'll regret it for every minute of the rest