Dark Alpha's Embrace Read Online Free PDF Page B

courage that helped her overcome a lot. He hoped it was enough to get her through what was coming.
    River turned to face the fire, putting her back to all of them. “I don’t care why you came, but you’re not welcome. Leave. All of you.”
    Kyran looked at Talin who gave him a shrug. Both knew this was how it would go. Jordyn’s appearance hadn’t helped anything.
    Cael walked quietly to stand next to River. He clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the fire with her. “My men tell me you disguised yourself to hide the Fae within you.”
    “It worked for years until tonight,” she said without any heat.
    “Who taught you that?”
    River remained silent.
    Cael turned his head to her. “You saw for yourself the Dark we’re fighting. I’m sure you observed the Dark Fae who razed the city at Halloween and before. The Dark who attacked tonight are stronger and more powerful. They hunt those like you.”
    “We’ve been hunted from the beginning.”
    Kyran frowned and started to move toward her, but Cael held up a hand, halting him. If River had been hounded, it explained her reaction to them.
    “No one is supposed to hunt any half-Fae,” Cael said.
    River snorted and cut her pale blue eyes to him. “Tell that to those who’ve killed my family.”

Chapter Five
    River should’ve known the Fae would find her. The fact they hadn’t killed her yet was a plus. But there was little hope she’d last until morning. They wanted information from her, and until they got it, she would remain alive.
    The Fae beside her was tall and striking—as all Fae was. His silver gaze was direct, his tone frank. As imposing as he was, though, she had to stop herself from looking at Kyran.
    She didn’t know what it was about the Dark that drew her attention, but she hated it. It was bad enough she associated with Fae, but to have a Dark turn her on? Maureen was probably rolling over in her grave.
    “The Dark we fought tonight are killing half-Fae all over the world. They wiped out Jordyn’s entire family,” Talin said. “We want to protect other half-Fae.”
    She slid her gaze to him. “If you want my help, the least you could do is give me the truth.”
    Kyran held up a hand to stop anyone from talking. He moved toward River as Cael sidestepped to make room for him. “It’s true we need something. The truth is, those Dark want our group dead. They began by killing half-Fae to get our attention. Jordyn’s family was wiped out. We saved her, and we’d like to save more half-Fae.”
    “Don’t waste your time with me.” She turned to him and met his gaze. “Let me guess. You can’t read the books.”
    “Each one contains a dialect that died out thousands of years ago.”
    River inhaled deeply and blinked.
    That’s when Kyran nearly smiled. She could read them. He didn’t know how, but that didn’t matter at the moment. The important thing was that she could help.
    They just had to convince her.
    Kyran gave Cael a subtle look. The next second, only Kyran and River remained.
    She looked around, brows raised. “Are they veiled?”
    “They’re gone. It’s just us.”
    “So you can convince me to give up my secrets.”
    “So I can persuade you how much we need your help.”
    She sat in her chair and turned to the fire, resting the side of her face against the chair. “No.”
    Kyran didn’t expect her to agree immediately, but the way she said the word, as if a gavel fell at the same time. The finality disturbed him.
    “You will condemn other half-Fae to die?”
    “Everyone dies.” She glanced at him. “Even the half-Fae.”
    He did a quick look behind him to see the kitchen without a single dish out of place. “That’s true. The Dark are making them suffer.”
    “You’re Dark.”
    “I am, but not in the same way.”
    She snorted, letting him know what she thought of that statement.
    Kyran knew there was only one way to get River’s cooperation. And that was to tell her the whole truth. “You act