Dead of Winter Read Online Free PDF Page A

me. “Gabe’s tent is over there, just past the courtyard. How do we do this with him?”
    â€œYou’re going to flirt with him.”
    â€œAre you mental?”
    â€œHe’s head over heels for you.”
    Selena huffed with impatience. “Understandably. But how does this help us? You want me to act like I like him? He’s completely bizarre.”
    Yes, he wore an old-timey suit everywhere with a strange tie (a cravat or whatever). And yes, his speech was outdated. But . . . “I was going to say eccentric.”
    She snorted, then lowered her voice. “Tess told me he was raised on a secluded mountaintop, in some kind of Arcana monastery. His chroniclers were cultish wing-worshippers. They separated themselves from society for generations, waiting for him to be born.”
    No wonder he was so outdated. “You said his books got destroyed?”
    â€œVillagers tried to burn the cult, à la Frankenstein; the chronicles went up in smoke.”
    Villagers had tried to burn me in a past life as well. They burn what they fear.
    â€œSelena, I’m not asking you to nest with Gabriel. All you have to do is ask him really nice to fly us over.” I reached up to brush hersilvery-blond hair back, tucking a silken lock behind her ear. “I miss lip gloss, and clearly you do too.”
    â€œShut it. I can’t believe I’m going along with this. I hate it when girls use their wiles. Normally, I’d just strangle him until he agreed.”
    I sighed. “That’s plan B. Sometimes climbing ivy does that too.”

5
    â€œYo, Gabe!” Outside their tent, Selena cast me a glare for good measure. “I need to talk to you.”
    He rushed out, flattening his black wings to duck under the tent flap. His long black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Like Lark, he had claws and a set of fangs. His eyes were leaf green.
    He was a striking, if unusual-looking, guy.
    â€œSelena,” he breathed, cheeks flushed. “Uh, and the Empress too.”
    Why was I even here? As Matthew would say, “Nature and course. Love and bloom.”
    â€œGreetings to you both.” He adjusted his suit coat. Must be a bitch to line up the slits in the back with the bases of his wings. “What is the issue at hand, ladies?”
    Selena rolled her eyes. “You mean: what’s up ?”
    Wow, way to flirt. She was a regular coquette.
    He nodded. “For me, I believe all things are best when pointed up .”
    She and I blinked at him. Gentlemanly Gabriel probably had no idea his words sounded kind of dirty.
    â€œWhatever.” Wasting no time, Selena said, “We’re going in to rescue J.D., and you’re going to help.”
    He glanced over his shoulder and back. “Joules has already spoken on the subject. Our alliance will not—”
    â€œI’m not asking your alliance,” she interrupted. “I’m asking you. All we need is transpo. You don’t have to do anything but fly us across the river.”
    I recalled another of his talents—animal-like senses. “And to track Jack’s scent. It’d mean a lot to me, and so much to Selena.” I cast her a look.
    â€œYeah. It’d really mean a lot, Gabe,” she added, laying a hand on his muscular arm.
    His lips parted, and his wings seemed to flutter uncontrollably. Wait, had he grimaced from the movement? Was something wrong with our transpo?
    â€œEverything all right?” I asked.
    He didn’t answer, just stared at the hand on his arm.
    To her credit, Selena gave it a squeeze. “So we can count on you?”
    When he remained undecided—or mind-boggled by her touch—I said, “Help us end the Lovers tonight.” Well, at least one of them.
    Collecting himself, he said, “I thought you didn’t want to play the game, Empress.”
    â€œI don’t. But I need time to figure out a way to stop it.” I pictured