Curse of Shadows and Light Read Online Free PDF

fine and dandy. Her twin sister, not so much. Got it.”
    My hand is turning the doorknob when she adds, “Wait, Lucky… Can I ask you something real quick?”
    I glance back to the brightening window. “Make it fast.”
    She squishes her mouth to the side and bites her lip. “Who is Bones?”
    My breath catches in my throat. I pause and turn back to her. “Why? Where did you hear that name?”
    She twists the edge of her comforter and avoids my stare. “Well, earlier today you, I mean Liora, she was sleeping and kept moaning his name. Like she was calling him. And it just sounded so… I dunno… sexy . And I could tell Kieron was irritated.”
    So that explains Kieron’s weird behavior. Liora went and had herself a naughty little sex dream about Bones. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
    “ Bones is someone we both knew and cared about very deeply,” I murmur. “He recently died, so I’m sure she was just acting out something.”
    “ She kept saying, ‘baby, my baby, Bones, my baby…’”
    I hold up my hand. “Okay I get it. What can I tell you? He was a hottie. Now don’t forget to tell Liora what I said to you. That’s the only thing you need to worry about, okay?” I turn and hurry out the door and back to my room before she can see my trembling hands and the tears filling my eyes.
    Bones.
    My best friend, my lover, my partner in crime, my protector, my salvation, and my ultimate heartache. Not just in this lifetime, but in many others as well. Even after his death, Bones had saved my life. It was his ashes that allowed Kieron and me to defeat the Light-angels who were trying to kill us. Kieron told me later what the ‘dirt’ really was, and that Bones had left me that final present from beyond the grave.
    But that was only partly true. It wasn’t his final present. Bones left me another gift of life… an entirely new being growing inside of me. Still probably not much bigger than the eraser of a pencil, I can feel its spirit throughout my entire body. There is a life growing inside me… and Liora.
    And I have absolutely no idea what to do about it.

Chapter 5. Liora
    Early morning sunlight streams through the cracks of the curtains, and the oversized room shimmers under the soft golden rays. The opulent and unfamiliar décor throws me… where am I ?
    I sit up and shake my head, confused by the luxurious surroundings. This is obviously no motel room. But…?
    I get off the massive bed, wander to the sliding glass door, and ease it open. The salty-sweet air of the Pacific Ocean greets me, as its waves gently welcome the new day. I take a few steps out onto the patio and see the enormous mansion off to one side.
    What? We’re still at Anastasia’s house?
    I hurry back inside and close the door. What’s going on here? And where are Corrine and Kieron?
    Suddenly I remember my last conscious thoughts from yesterday, and my stomach seizes up in a painful knot. I stagger back over to the bed and collapse on it as tears fill my eyes. Through my growing sobs, I almost don’t hear the light tapping on the bedroom door.
    “ Liora? Liora, you up?” Corrine asks as she pokes her head in. She sees me, and her face crumples as she rushes to my side. “Oh no! No, it’s okay! Don’t be sad. Everything is okay! Lucky told me to tell you that Tatiana is fine… it was all just a trick or a test or something. Tatiana is fine.”
    I stare at her, my jaw hanging open. “Wh-what?” I hiccup.
    She pushes up her glasses. “Yup. I don’t know the whole story, though. I assume that’s what you’re upset about, right?”
    I nod, still unable to really process what she’s saying. Tatiana is alive and is okay? I almost can’t hope to believe her.
    “ A trick? But why?”
    Corrine shakes her head. “I don’t know the details, sorry. Lucky just came and woke me a few minutes ago and told me to tell you. She was really insistent I tell you the second you woke up. Only I wasn’t really sure when that was.