Bear Reign (Alpha Guardians Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

toward him at the same time. Her chin lifted, and for a moment he thought he saw the same expression on her face, thought he saw her pupils dilate and contract, making her clear blue eyes brighten and darken quick as a heart’s beat.
    She feels it too , he thought.
    Then she lifted her hand, a glint of gold drawing his gaze. Ephraim’s moment of dazzling, blinding hope flared and then died when he saw what she held up for him to see.
    His keys.
    He had to give himself a sharp shake to stop the painful squeeze in his chest.
    What did you expect? He reprimanded himself. This is what happens when you’re stupid enough to hope. You know better.
    Moving closer, he noticed that Sohpie’s clothes weren’t the only dark thing about her. Her aura lit up for just a moment, tranquil lavender and pink and white close to her heart. Further out, though, it darkened. Around the edges it went from royal purple to midnight blue to black, like a piece of paper with singed edges.
    She was in transition, her aura slowly darkening as she tainted the inner wellspring of her power, no doubt with some very dark magic. Another mystery, a piece of the puzzle that matched perfectly with her stalking demons in the Gray Market.
    Suddenly, she was only steps away from him, looking him up and down.
    “What’s your name, djinn?” she asked, gaze narrowed. Expecting a fight.
    “Ephraim,” he said, letting his head drop a few inches. She was gorgeous and tempting, and he wanted nothing more than to move closer. Touch her, taste her.
    Mate , rang through his head now, over and over. Mate . Mate . Mate .
    After she’d presented the keys, though, his desire for her made him feel… dirty. Weak. He kept his gaze low, unwilling to share all the emotions that were no doubt flitting through his eyes. He’d never been one to conceal his emotions, especially since none of his masters ever cared how he felt.
    Now, though… he wouldn’t give that part of himself to her, not if he could help it.
    “You’re the only one that can help me, Ephraim,” she said, a softly melodic quality to her voice.
    His lips curled up in a humorless smile.
    “Not the first time I’ve heard those words,” he said, canting his head. “I suppose you should come inside, the Guardians have been waiting.”
    He didn’t miss the surprise in her expression, but he turned his back and marched inside before he could read further into it. Learning more about her, feeding the curiosity about her that filled him inside, it would only lead to the deepest kind of disappointment.
    Mere Marie awaited them inside, seated on an overstuffed love seat, her voluminous white robes arranged around her like a cloud.
    “This is Sophie?” Mere Marie asked, a cynical brow arching. Her eyes moved over Sophie, no doubt reading her tarnished aura just as Ephraim had a few moments ago.
    “This is Sophie,” Sophie said, her brows pulling together as she frowned. “You must be Marie La—”
    “Mere Marie,” said Rhys, the big redheaded Scot who served as head Guardian. “I’m Rhys. Let me make introductions.”
    He went around and introduced five of the Guardians and their respective mates, explaining that one of the Guardians had a new baby and wouldn’t be involved in the planning stages. A pair of identical Fae, new to Ephraim’s eyes, were introduced as the Guardians’ most recent additions.
    “I’m Kieran, this is Kellan. Our mate is at work,” one of them explained in a thick Irish brogue. He rolled his eyes. “She says she’s less interested in the coming apocalypse and more interested in helping people .”
    “She’s a doctor,” the other one cut in, elbowing his brother. “We’re astoundingly proud of our Sera.”
    “Right,” Mere Marie said once all the chit chat was done. “You’ve come at just the right time, the planning stages.”
    “The planning stages of what, exactly?” Sophie asked, crossing her arms. Her gaze wandered around the room, taking everything in.