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

they will think it's working."
    "Clever," said Chloe as she got to her feet. "Now, I think it's time you got some sleep. When you're rested, you can shower and change. In the meantime, we'll find a healer for that wound and see if we can also find someone to remove some of the virus."
    "Remove it?" I asked, as Baz rested his head back against the sofa. Our questioning was taking a toll on him.
    Chloe lifted a shoulder. "Only some of it. One of our skilled healers would be able to suck it out of his system, but he'd still have the virus in his bloodstream. He'd have to have regular visits as it builds up, but it will enable him to live a fairly normal life."
    I blew out a sigh of relief just as Cassie entered the room.
    "It's been fun ladies and gentlemen," she said. "But duty calls." Storm and Chloe nodded at her. Baz lifted his head from the pillow. "And you," she told him sternly, "behave yourself. Don't make me come back here to sort you out."
    "Yes ma'am," he said with a weak smile.  
    It didn't take anyone long to see through Cassie. All bluster, but just a big marshmallow inside.
    She looked at me, giving her comms a tap. "Do you have a minute, Kai?"
    As Larsson appeared, I said, "Sure." I gave the small group a wave. "Take me home. I need a shower."
    Cassie nodded, took my outstretched hand, and we melted away into the ether.

CHAPTER 6

    T HE SHOWER IN G RANDMA I VY ' S en-suite was running when Larsson dropped Cassie and me in my living room.
    I felt a rush of anticipation as I dropped my backpack beside the kitchen counter and headed to the sink. Seeing Grams when she came home, however brief her stay, was something I looked forward to and our teatimes were a pleasure I couldn't miss.
    Even if we had company.
    Things had been crazy for the last few weeks, so nuts that I'd barely noticed the absence of Cat, our pet feline. The last time I'd seen her was before I'd been thrown into the wraith world and found out my Mom was still alive. After that shock to my system I'd barely had time to think about mundane stuff like cats who have the habit of running off for weeks on end.
    It's true when they say that dogs have owners but cats have staff.
    I spent a few moments diligently scrubbing remnants of the demon's blood from my fingers before grabbing the kettle and filling it for tea.  
    "Ivy," Cassie said, giving the closed bedroom door a glance. She knew Grandma Ivy Odel pretty well. "Tell her I'm sorry I can't stay and chat. Sentinel wants me back at the vamp's hovel, overseeing this op."  
    She kept her backpack firmly on her shoulders and gave me a twist of a smile. "Have you thought any more about Sentinel's offer?"
    I glanced up as I switched the kettle on. "I've given it a thought or two."
    How was I supposed to turn her down? The Grande High Councils offer to join the Elite Corps was much more enticing than anything Sentinel or Omega could offer. But it will remain confidential until I confirmed my decision.
    Cassie sighed.  
    "Why?" Although Cassie was a new friend she'd already gotten pretty close to me, and I suspected it was purely because I missed Tara's comforting presence so much. With my Fae bestie gone off to Ailuros -knew-where, I felt a bit on the lonely side.
    Cassie pursed her lips and then slid into a stool and faced me. "Look, I am probably not supposed to tell you this, but the offer won't be on the table forever."  
    I didn't say a word, just pulled cups and saucers from the cupboard above the counter and laid them out. My pointed finger at the cups got a 'no' from Cassie.  
    "You're special," she continued. "We all know that, but even for the Niamh, offers don't stay offered when you keep refusing."
    I stiffened. "So you know?"
    She shrugged. "Most agents who need to know, know. I was tasked with looking after an agent who we'd once thought was the Niamh."
    "My mother."
    Without missing a beat, she continued. "And when we discovered the interpretation of the prophecy was wrong and indicated