Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was coming. He had drained himself to the point of exhaustion, and now his body needed to repair itself. It was a feeling he knew well, and he welcomed it. If he slept, he would stop thinking about the possible extinction of his race. He would stop thinking about his sister, who was tormented with the same guilt that he was. He would stop thinking about Hayley.
    Sleep was taking over, and he closed his eyes, but not before whispering into the puddle that was drawing closer to his lips.
    “I will save you.”

Chapter 3
    If she made it through this, Nick would be dead. Dead, dead, oh so freaking dead.
    Sarah had never been so nervous in her entire life. Her palms were sweaty. Her mouth was dry. Her entire nervous system was teetering on the edge of complete and total shutdown.
    “Two minutes, Dr. Bridgeman. They need you on the set now.” The guy with the headset peeked at her from behind the curtain. He held back the velvet, tapping his foot in irritation.
    How in the name of all that was holy did she get suckered into this? She wasn’t good with crowds or speeches. Hell, she could barely tolerate people, but because of the unwavering insistence of hospital administration and the wonderful PR department, she was forced to change into something other than scrubs, put on her happy face, and make an appearance on a talk show. Sure, her discovery was a big deal, and it could possibly mean amazing things for millions of people, but there was no way she was going to be able to pull this off. The very idea of sitting underneath all of those lights on early evening television was more terrifying than her first gross anatomy midterm had been.
    Her research partner owed her for this. Big time.
    Get a grip, Sarah. Get a grip. Get a grip
. Mumbling and keeping her brain focused with quick steps toward her spot on stage were the only ways she was going to remain conscious, because the tumble was coming. Her best bet was to get planted in that seat, and fast. Otherwise, she’d be passed out on the floor, and there would be no “Important Medical Breakthrough” segment at all.
    The producer abruptly stopped, closing the gap his rapidly paced, albeit short-legged, stride had put between them. He whipped around to face her, the cord from his headset smacking his designer turtleneck sweater. His beady brown eyes were trying to stare through her, and the look on his face was one that could only be interpreted as complete and total disgust.
    “I’m sorry, did you say something?” His effeminate, irritated voice came through his nose, literally.
    “No. No, I didn’t.”
    “Hm.” The producer crooked his forefinger and motioned for her to follow before he began walking toward the set.
    “Where’s Dr. Bridgeman?”
    The loud female voice came from directly behind her, and a shoulder slammed into hers as a woman with an entourage the size of a Midwestern state’s total population rushed toward the desk. “I want to see that woman right now. I need to tell her how this interview is going to go…”
    She kept barking out orders as she took her place behind the desk on set. The moment her ass hit the chair, she was surrounded by women armed with curling irons who set about perfecting her blonde locks. As she spoke, more women powdered her face and reapplied her mascara. The collar of her designer silk blouse was taped into place.
    Sarah stood where she was, holding her now throbbing shoulder, staring at the wonder that was Maven Jenson. As she gawked at the perfect bottle-blonde who sat behind the desk being primped by a small country, she felt the heat of fear sweep through her body once again.
    She didn’t want to do this. Nothing about this felt right. It was too soon after the breakthrough to go public, and she knew it. She felt it in her gut.
    “You. Over there.” Sarah looked up and saw Maven’s crystal blue eyes piercing right through her. “Who are you, and why are you standing around like an idiot? If you aren’t here