Cold Blooded Read Online Free PDF

can’t risk it.”
    I nodded once, accepting her decision.
    Rourke shifted in the small space next to me. His voice came out deep and rich. “We have an idea why the demons want Jessica,” he said, changing the topic. “The imp who attacked her in the parking lot alluded to her taking control of their crown. But what doesn’t make sense right now is why the sorcerers would involve themselves. By abducting your niece they’ve started a war with both the wolves and the witches.” He moved and I adjusted. “That seems like a very hasty decision on their part. They are run by a council, not an entity. From what I know, they are almost monklike in their rituals and are known to be weaker than most Sects. Why start a war they have no chance of winning?”
    “They want what they always want.” Tally shrugged as she came to a standstill behind her desk.
    “And what’s that exactly?” I asked, leaning forward.
    “Power.” She crossed her arms. “Their magic is born of the earth, like ours, but they have a much weaker gene pool. You have power, so they want it.” She inclined her head toward me. “They are always after some trinket or other that’s supposed to unleash ‘ultimate power,’ and they are willing to risk anything to get it, regardless of their chances of success. It makes them predictable.”
    “But I don’t have a trinket to steal. In order to steal my power, they’d have to siphon off what’s living inside my body,” I said. “Is that even possible?” Did I even want to know?
    “There are ways,” she said. “But none of them are very effective in the long-term. They are a bunch of fools.” She waved her hand dismissively in the air and pulled out her chair to sit. “You don’t have to worry. They won’t succeed.”
    That didn’t sound comforting. Extracting raw power from someone had to hurt. But as much as the sorcerers were an irritant, the demons were still the biggest threat to me at the moment. “The demons still pose the greatest—”
    An explosion ripped through the front yard, shaking the house on its foundation.
    We all hit the ground.
    Books toppled off the shelves and lamps crashed to the floor. The blast felt like an earthquake. I covered my head, expecting the plate-glass window to explode inward, but it held.
    Tally was up first. “That was an Orb. The sorcerers have tracked you here. That was quicker than I thought they’d be able to amass themselves.”
    I jumped to my feet. Rourke and Nick were already up. “Can they get in?”
    “Of course not.” Tally sniffed. “But they’re going to try.”
    Out in the hallway, there was a flurry of activity, but instead of panic I heard glee. There were several decisive “Bring it, Baldies!” All sorcerers shaved their heads. Rumors were it was some sort of magic-enhancing tradition—which I now knew wasn’t a rumor. Magic boosting must be their main focus.
    “Sorcerers are cowards by nature,” Tally said, moving toward the window. “That Orb came from more than ten miles away or we would’ve sensed them. Close proximity would’ve triggered our alarms. But there’s no doubt they will be here shortly. This is your chance to get out of the Coven.” She turned and met my eyes. “I’m prepared to wait them out, but we could be locked in a standoff for weeks if you stay. They don’t give up easily, tenacious bastards, even if they only attack from afar. If you leave now, you have a chance to outrun them.” When I didn’t move immediately, she pointed toward the door. “Your window of opportunity is now . I suggest you take it.”
    I turned, not needing any more incentive. We couldn’t afford to be locked in here for weeks, and now that we knew Marcy was safe, our agenda with Tally had changed. My staying here would risk unneeded damage to her Coven. Rourke was in front of me, and Nick’s hand rested on my shoulder. I glanced back before I went through the doorway.
    She met my gaze and nodded once. “Marcy