Blood Promise (A SkinWalker Novel #4) (A DarkWorld SkinWalker Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wraith whose life I'd happily erased, probably leaving his prostitutes with nobody to force them to keep working. I'd given this girl Storm's card for the Shelter and told her come to him if she needed anything. I thanked Ailuros she'd actually listened to me.
    "Kailin," said Storm as he got to his feet. With his looks the man could be a supermodel--the cheerful smile on his way-too-beautiful face, the wide strong jaw that inspired trust in the kids and people around him, those deep eyes that let everyone know how much he cared. All that beauty and he spent his time here, helping people. Gorgeous and admirable.
    "Hey," I said, coming to a halt in front of his paper-strewn desk. "You need a secretary."
    "I have one," he waved a hand at the girl. "And we have you to thank for sending Niki to us."
    I gave her a warm smile. "I'm so glad you came."
    "You remember me?" she asked, her cheeks reddening.
    I grinned. "Of course, I do." I jabbed a thumb at Storm. "Has he been good to you?"  
    "Better than I deserve," she said, her eyes darkening.
    "We all deserve better than we think we should get," said Storm, his tone gently chiding as he watched her. She gave a small smile and he continued, "Now Kailin, what can I do to help?"
    "I have a new addition for you," I said. "But only if you want him. I'm not entirely sure you will, so I haven't left him on your doorstep in a cardboard box and taken off. He's in the waiting area with Cassie."
    Storm nodded and rounded his desk. "Very well. Let's have a look at him."
    He hurried off toward the waiting area with Niki and I close behind him. I wasn't sure she should witness Storm's assessment, but he knew me well enough to know chances were high I'd be bringing him a paranormal. His decision.
    Just inside the door, Storm stopped and glanced back over his shoulder. "Niki, if you can get that filing finished, then you'll have plenty of time for your Chemistry homework." It wasn't a suggestion, but he phrased the command so nicely no one would argue with him.
    Niki nodded and began to turn away. Then she stopped and looked straight at my face. "I want to thank you for what you did that day. You didn't need to save me, considering how I spoke to you. But you did, and for that I will always be grateful."
    I smiled. She'd been a foulmouthed little creep that night and even Lily hadn't been impressed. But Niki had made the right choice and listened. Gotten out of the game. "I did what I always do. And you can thank me by making a good life for yourself. You've got a nice start here."
    "I will. I promise." She did one of those little finger-waves and headed down the corridor.  
    I watched her leave, her thin body now slightly more rounded after a few weeks of decent food and no drugs. I gave a small nod as one success story walked off, then turned back to the waiting area hoping Storm would agree that another potential success story sat on his sofa.
    The boy lay on his back on the sofa with Storm bent low studying his neck. Cassie stood a few feet away hovering a little like a protective parent.
    I joined Storm. "How bad is it?" I asked, afraid of the answer.
    "It's not reversible." His words killed the air.
    Hope drained from me as if I'd been mortally injured. "So we can't save him?" Poor kid.
    Storm shook his head. "Not from the vampirism. But once he's healed, we can rehabilitate him to live a relatively normal life in society."
    My gaze snapped to Storm's face. "But he's been turned." Even I didn't think it was possible for a vampire to survive in the normal world.
    "He's been turned, yes. But, with help, he can get back to a more healthy stable state. We can give him the support he needs. He hasn't spoken yet, but I'm pretty sure he's too old for school so we can find him some kind of proper work to do."
    The boy's gaze shifted to Storm's face. "Hack . . ." he whispered.
    Storm frowned and looked questioningly at me.  
    I shrugged. "Hacker?" I asked and received a weary nod from the