Book of Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

just past his ear.
    I licked my finger and shined the tip before steadying my hand and releasing the string. The arrow split the air, silent to a human’s ear, but whistling within my own. The sound alerted me to its exact position, the slightest twist making all the difference. It passed him as expected, slamming into the meat of a tree beside him. Greg halted, twisting his gaze about the forest before looking to the canopy above.
    With my bow in hand, I ran to a nearby tree, wrapping my arm around the trunk and flipping my body up until my knees hooked with the first branch. I curled from my torso, continuing to climb with breathless energy. The branches remained still and silent under my delicate weight. I jumped from treetop to treetop until I was no more than ten feet from where Greg stood on the ground below, looking weak and defenseless.
    I let out a little sigh, shaking my head as glitter fell from my hair. It rained to the ground in an array of colors. Not to my surprise, Greg didn’t notice. I grabbed another arrow, kissing the end and loading the bow. With a grin, I shot again.
    It sliced down through the air with more efficiency than the last, barreling along its intended path right past Greg’s other ear. To my surprise, he caught it.
    I watched as he rolled it in his hand, a grin growing across his face. “ A -very!”
    I giggled to myself, not because he’d remembered me or my arrows, but because it hadn’t taken him long to figure it out.
    “Avery, stop teasing!” He yelled again.
    I tucked the bow into the quiver on my back and leapt to the next tree before swinging down, landing solidly in front of him. I put one hand on my hip, not even breaking a sweat. “Long time no see, Greg. I’ve been expecting you.”
    He laughed. “Can’t say I’ve been expecting you .”
    I grinned. This was an impromptu meeting.
    He stared at me, unconcerned by my presence, eyeing me guardedly. “You missed.” He held my arrow teasingly in his hand, just out of my immediate reach.
    I hated the smug look on his face, but that was about to change. “Missed?” I reached forward, touching Greg’s ear where cool blood dripped from his lobe. Drawing my hand back, fingers stained, I showed him his weakness with a pleasure I found hard to subdue. “I never miss, dear Greg.”
    He stood his ground, the smug look remaining. “You didn’t kill me,” he challenged.
    I laughed, feeling the plan inside me already unfurl. “Killing you would defeat my purpose,” I admitted— my revenge —I added to myself.
    Greg’s lip was permanently arched in amusement. His pale face and stony features were not unlike his brother’s—a man I once loved more than myself. “Your purpose?”
    I reached forward, grasping the arrow from his still outstretched hand, refusing to delight him with an answer.
    Greg had a knowing look on his face. “Are you saying you’re finally seeing my side of things?”
    I shrugged, keeping my intentions hidden. “Maybe I am.”
    Greg relaxed, kicking his foot out and propping his hands on his waist. “Max won’t like that news.”
    The mention of his name made jealousy burn in my heart. “Max?” I snorted. “You think I still care about him after what he did to me?”
    Greg shrugged in a mocking manner. “Some things don’t change.”
    I could tell he didn’t want to trust me, but why would he? I’d once been his enemy, but as the years passed, and the bitterness of rejection grew, I’d begun to see his side of this battle.
    I narrowed my gaze. “Anyway, the point is that Max doesn’t need to know.” I stood tall, proud. Greg was trying to read my mind, but I refused to let him. I couldn’t blame him for distrusting me. I was a pixie, and there was no doubt he questioned my motives. That’s what made this fun.
    “So, you’re saying you want to trick him?”
    I didn’t move. I didn’t reply.
    “Have you even seen him since he’s been back?”
    I felt his remark trying to dig into