Autumn's Blood: The Spirit Shifters, Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

happening.
He would never forgive him.
    “I’ll see what I can look into, but I
don’t want you anywhere near me.”
    Blake turned on his heel and strode
back through the forest, heading back to where he’d left his
clothing. He had small bundles of clothes hidden around the forest
in case his runs took him too far, but in this case his closest
clothing was back where he’d started.
    He became aware of his cousin walking
along behind him.
    Blake drew to a halt and Chogan
stopped with him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    His cousin cocked his head, his long
hair falling down to cover one brown shoulder. “What do you think?
I’m coming with you.”
    Blake strode off, shaking his head.
“No way.”
    Light footsteps followed. “I’m
planning on staying around, Cuz. There’s something going on, and I
plan on hanging out till you agree to help me.”

Chapter
Four
     
     
    AUTUMN FITTED THE key into the lock on
her front door and turned it. The apartment door cracked open to a
blast of music and the scent of food cooking. A smile tugged her
mouth. She was glad to be home.
    “Hey, girl!” Her roommate Mia’s dark
head popped around from the kitchen door. “How did it
go?”
    Immediately, her thoughts turned to
the beautiful giant of a man who’d touched her mouth. She could
still feel the heat of his finger against her lip. “How did what
go?”
    Mia’s fine eyebrows arched. “Err,
let’s see. Could I be talking about this elusive interview you’ve
been unable to speak about all week?”
    “Oh, yeah, of course.” She gave her
head a shake. “It went well. I got the job.”
    Mia jumped up and down, clapping her
hands. “Yay! I knew you would. Now why am I the one celebrating
while you’re acting all mysterious?”
    Though the other woman was three years
younger than Autumn’s own twenty-seven years, their mothers had
been best friends and the two girls had grown up like sisters.
After Autumn’s mom died, Mia’s mother had treated her like her own
child and she’d spent numerous nights at their family home when her
father had needed to work late.
    Autumn didn’t need a roommate for the
rent. She was even a little embarrassed that she’d not taken the
more adult step of living alone, but the truth was she found living
alone to be unbearably lonely.
    Plus, Mia was like the wife Autumn
would never have. Mia loved to cook, where Autumn was capable of
burning water. The younger woman was more than happy playing the
role of homemaker, but Autumn couldn’t think of anything worse. She
hoped her friend would find a guy soon. At five-two, with her big
dark eyes, tiny nose, and cropped hair, she was more than a catch
for any man. Autumn knew Mia wanted a family of her own one day,
and part of Autumn dreaded such a thing happening, as it would mean
she’d end up alone. However, she’d still be overjoyed if Mia met
the right man.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be. The
experience was a little strange, that’s all.”
    She followed Mia into the kitchen. Her
roommate opened the fridge and, without even needing to be asked,
pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine. Autumn settled herself
at the kitchen counter as Mia poured out a couple of good-sized
glasses and sat opposite.
    “Strange how?”
    “There was a man who ...”
    Mia leaned toward her, her eyes
bright. “Who, what?”
    She shook her head and looked down
into her wineglass. “Who left an impression on me.”
    “Oh. My. God. He’s not going to be
your boss, is he?”
    Autumn laughed and some of the tension
ebbed from her body. She took a sip of the wine, enjoying the crisp
taste. “No, nothing like that. Though we will be on the same team.
He was just really ... intense.”
    “And sexy?” Mia waggled her eyebrows
up and down. “Please say he was sexy.”
    “He was big and ...
intense.”
    “Seriously, Autumn, you need to find
yourself some more descriptive words.” She leaned even farther
forward. “So how big was he?”
    Autumn