Dalir's Salvation Read Online Free PDF Page A

contact with Thane and the team, and only they could see him anywhere because of the time travel powers he’d shared with them. Celine and Lauren could only interact with him when they were in The Drift. Yet Ari was aware of him in this dimension.
    “You heard what the cute doctor said.” Oblivious to his presence, Brooke strolled to the living room. “You can’t stay alone. Someone needs to be with you overnight.”
    The brass framed, oval mirror on the wall near the door reflected Ari wearing the blood stained dress.
    At the store, she’d appeared so fragile amongst the oversized, stuffed toys. When she’d fallen unconscious, he’d almost phased her to The Drift to heal her injuries, but then Brooke had arrived. Thank the Alandian stars she’d only hit her head and not broken her damn neck.
    Ari slipped her keys into the large, beige purse hanging on her shoulder. She released an exasperated exhale. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
    The hell she didn’t. She should have realized her limitations and let someone else climb the ladder for what she needed.
    “If it makes you feel any better, you’re doing me a favor.” Brooke laid her backpack on the yellow couch. “I have an important paper to work on for my history class. My roommate doesn’t understand the definition of quiet, and I hate studying late at the campus library on weekends. Besides that, Celine would kill me if I didn’t take care of you.” The twenty-two-year-old, college junior smiled as she flipped her brown hair. “I’m staying.”
    “So am I.” Dalir stood in front of Ari.
    Her jaw tightened as she gave him a withering stare. “In that case, you’re welcome to stay, Brooke. I’ll make up the guest bedroom.”
    “No need. Just tell me where to find a pillow and blanket. I can crash out on the couch. Not that I’ll be getting much sleep. I have a lot to do.” Brooke straightened the hem of her white T-shirt over the waist of her skinny jeans. She shooed Ari toward the hallway. “I’ll work on dinner while you get cleaned up.”
    “I didn’t make it to the store this week. Just order pizza. The menu is on the side of the fridge.” Ari stalked away. The mid-thigh length of her dress and her high heels emphasized Ari’s toned legs. Her hips swayed with every step.
    Awareness flared. Dalir tamped it down. He needed to know what was going on. She had to stop blowing him off.
    He phased down the hall and blocked her path into the bedroom. “It won’t work. I know you can hear and see me, Little One. Talk to me.”
    Ari maneuvered past him. The chain shoulder strap on her purse jangled when she dropped it on top of the natural wood dresser. She slammed the door. “One. You do not boss me around. Two. I got stuffed into a space the size of a soda can because I talked to you, so as far as I’m concerned, we’re done communicating. And three,” she advanced on him, “call me Little One again and you’ll regret it.”
    Difficult. Mouthy. She was definitely friends with Lauren and Celine. “I’m not leaving, Little One, until I get answers.”
    She socked him in the stomach.
    Caught off guard, Dalir hissed out a short breath. “You think you can take me?”
    She glared up at him. “Say it again and find out.” One good junk punch and you’ll drop to your knees.
    Her thought stung like a phantom slap to the cheek. He backed her up against the edge of the dresser.
    The mirror shook. Perfume bottles rattled.
    He planted his palms on either side of her. “I don’t think so.”
    She lifted her chin. Too bad he’s such a jerk. Her thoughts grew louder in his mind. Look at all those muscles. I’m going with figment of my imagination over ghost. I hit my head. That makes better sense. Doesn’t it? Is it weird for me to be attracted to a figment of my imagination? Wait. What am I doing fighting with him in the first place? He’s my fantasy. I should be stripping him naked and getting my hands on all that goodness. What should I