Dark Heart Rising Read Online Free PDF Page A

dream,’ I said. ‘But it didn’t feel like a dream. It was so clear. I can remember everything.’
    ‘Mmm.’ Soren studied my face. ‘A dream.’
    ‘I’ve had champagne before,’ I said. ‘I had it last Christmas. It was fine. I was fine. I don’t understand.’
    Soren chewed his lip and his eyes flickered away from me. All of a sudden his face looked so pale against the black of his hair, his cheekbones more angular.
    I felt a cold feeling run through me. I couldn’t explain it. I shut my eyes. I had had this feeling before, the last time I was with Evan … I had not realised then how dangerous he was until it was nearly too late. Maybe I had trust issues, but Soren was hiding something.
    ‘I have to get back. My grandmother will be so worried.’ I looked around, flustered, for my bag.
    ‘I called your hotel,’ Soren said calmly. ‘I explained you would be a little late back.’
    ‘But I want to go back now,’ I said. I wanted to see Granny. She was safety.
    ‘Of course.’ Soren stood, running his hands through his hair. ‘I will take you back in a taxi.’
    ‘I don’t mean to be rude,’ I said, more apologetically. ‘It was fun. I think.’
    At this Soren laughed out loud.
    ‘I like you, Jane,’ he said. ‘You’re funny.’
    ‘Well, I’m glad you think this is amusing, Soren. I am never drinking alcohol again. It’s evil.’
    And then he sighed again, deeply, and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. I watched him, wondering what was going on.
    ‘OK,’ he said, addressing the ceiling light, ‘it is time for me to tell you the truth.’
    The chill returned. As if on cue, a gust of wind seemed to blow in, through what I saw now was a broken window.
    ‘What?’ My voice quavered and I crossed my arms around me, hugging myself.
    ‘I took you back,’ he said. ‘I took you back to find him … I’m sorry.’
    ‘Sorry?’ I frowned.
    ‘Come on,’ he said, a half-smile on his face. ‘You know what I’m talking about.’
    ‘I …’
    ‘To Nissilum,’ he went on. ‘To your beloved Luca.’ He paused. ‘It didn’t go quite as I thought. I guess I underestimated the boy.’
    My heart felt like a butterfly in my chest.
    ‘I knew there was something off about you,’ I breathed. ‘You’re telling me you’re one of them … What do you want from me?’ I knew my voice sounded panicky and scared. ‘Are you a werewolf?’
    Soren said nothing, simply looked at me.
    I put my hands to my face. ‘I really was there. It wasn’t just a horrible dream. It actually happened.’ I glared at him. ‘How could you play with me like that!’
    And in the moment of silence that followed, another tonne of questions rolled through my head.
    ‘Answer me then? Who are you?’
    Soren’s smile was calm, infuriating me further.
    ‘Stop it!’ I said angrily. ‘Stop scaring me. I thought you were—’
    ‘You thought what?’ Soren’s voice was more gentle now. He moved closer to me. ‘OK. You need not be frightened. You are not in danger. I came to find you here … in Paris, because I thought we could help each other.’ He paused before continuing. ‘Luca is about to marry the girl I have loved my whole life.’
    I sank down on to the chaise longue.
    ‘Lila,’ I breathed. ‘She’s the one?’
    He nodded sadly. ‘So. You see. This really is not about you. You have no reason to fear me. I am on your side. I thought that together we could reclaim what is meant for us.’ He paused. ‘I need you. Without your remaining link to Nissilum through Luca, I cannot get back there.’
    I looked up at him questioningly.
    ‘I have friends on Nissilum, who told me about you … I too can communicate through my dreams.’
    ‘Which friends?’ I narrowed my eyes, but he shook his head.
    ‘Just people I am still in contact with. I needed to find the link on Earth to get back to Lila. You are that link.’
    ‘Using me.’ I sighed.
    ‘Don’t you see? Your link with Luca is still strong,’ he said