Dark Nights Read Online Free PDF Page B

for someone like me to be treated like a ditzy little woman who can’t fend for herself? The trouble with arguing with the voice in her head, Joie decided, was trying to determine whether it was all imagination or real.
    I would not mind biting you. This time his voice purred with sexual innuendo . But another time would be better. Seriously, I’m in some trouble and if you managed, by some fluke to actually join me, I am not certain I could adequately protect your party from harm.
    Joie shivered in spite of herself, yet heat curled deep inside her. If you keep this up, my brother and sister are going to figure out I’m crazy and have me committed. Then where will you be? Strands of dark hair blew across her face, hiding her expression from her siblings.
    And just for your information, Sir Galahad, I am not the “in need of rescue” type, so get over that one fast. Sheesh. First it’s vampires and now it’s rescuing. Will you just be quiet and let me figure this out? I don’t suppose you want to tell me, give me a hint or two, if you’re really down there and know where the opening is.
    Jubal leaned back in the tall grass with his hands behind his head, studying the cloud formations. The mist had begun to reach them, long streaming tendrils that looked as if giant hands were reaching for them. A few of the thicker streams had dropped low and looked almost as if they were winding their way around Joie’s legs as she made her way back around the outcropping, drawn again and again to the same place.
    “You’re like a hound dog on the scent of a criminal, Joie,” he said, narrowing his eyes, watching the snake-like ribbons of mist. “You would have made a great detective.”
    “She would have,” Gabrielle agreed with a little grin. She concentrated on the bright blue flowers with their symmetric petals, lying on her back waiting for her sister to call it a day. The beautiful masses of flowers were unusual, yet something sinister seemed to lie beneath the ground, just inches from the soft petals, an obscene, malicious presence.
    The wind rushed over the mountainside. The flowers shook, some closing quickly. Gabrielle gasped and drew her feet up. She sat up quickly, blinking rapidly.
    “What is it?” Jubal asked.
    “I don’t know. For a moment I thought I saw something moving beneath the soil. I know this sounds crazy, Jubal but the soil rose up an inch or so as if something alive tunneled beneath it.” She looked around her, noting the mist streaming down toward them. “This place definitely gives me the creeps.”
    “Joie, come on. We’re getting out of here,” Jubal decided, reaching a long arm to gather their gear. “The sun will be down in a couple of hours anyway.”
    Joie examined every inch of the outcropping and the niche on either side. The rock was grown over with scrub and grasses. Wildflowers lifted their bright heads toward the diminishing sun as if soaking up the last of the rays. Joie narrowed her gaze and stepped up as close as possible to the large outcropping, focusing completely on the jutting surface and every crack and shadow. “I’ve never felt so driven in my life. I don’t think I can leave without finding it,” she admitted honestly. “I’m sorry—if you two want to take off, go ahead. I’ll come along as soon as I can.”
    Jubal and Gabrielle exchanged a long, knowing look. “Sure thing, sis, we’ll just leave you up here all by yourself. Knowing you, you’d disappear into a cave and mate with a troll,” Gabrielle said. “Just like Mom is always saying is going to happen.”
    “Ha ha,” Joie answered, the frown still on her face as she studied the outcropping.
    “What’s the name of this mountain range?” Jubal asked idly, but his gaze was on Joie as she scanned the rock surface. “The bogs are even beautiful. If it wasn’t so freaky up here, I could live in this area.” When Gabrielle arched a black eyebrow at him, he laughed. “I could. I don’t need to