Demon Lord 5: Silver Crown King Read Online Free PDF

cheap.”
    “Dinner and a movie first?” I asked.
    She looked confused.
    I smiled.  “Never mind.  I’ll be talking to Gloria about catering the affair.  I’m sure she’ll be roping you in.”
    “One thing I want to ask you, Caine.”
    “Yeah?”
    “That egg I threw, it killed William.”
    “Eventually.”
    “And you gave it to me, knowing I was mad enough to use it because of Angie.  You let me kill my own grandfather.”
    “Uh, huh.”  I waited to see if there was going to be an epic emotional explosion.
    “Thanks.  It was my mess since I resurrected him.  I’m glad you let me clean it up.”
    A rational woman.  How unexpected .  “You owe me one,” I said.
    “Yeah, I do.  But I’m not joining that harem of yours.”  
    “I’m crushed.”  I moved out from behind the bar, heading for the door.
    “Where are you going?” Sarah asked.
    “Like Angie said, ‘there’s a lot of work to do.’”
    “Can I get a ride into L.A.?  I don’t think I’ll be staying with the wolves any more.  That would just be awkward.  And painful.  And maybe not free anymore.” 
    I paused in the door way, looking back at her as she slid off her stool.  “Why don’t you stay here?  No one else is.  More and more of my time is being spent at the clan house.  You need a place to stay, and I get a house-sitter who can keep an eye on the place.  I have protective wards on the property, but I’d feel better if someone were here that could call me if something weird develops.”
    “If I put myself out like that for you, I wouldn’t owe you a favor, right?”
    “You’d be eating my food and drinking my booze, so you’d still owe me,” I said.
    “Well, okay.  I’ll do it.”
    “Good.  I’ll get you a spare key.  Just don’t bring any strangers here.  Set off the wards, and it could get quite messy.”  As with all my trusted friends, the wards already were tuned to accept Sarah’s presence.  She came over and followed me into the living room.  I went to the front door.  There was a small table there for mail and other odds and ends.  A lamp made out of a conch shell was there.  The Old Man had bought it in Mexico.  And had refused to let me use it for target practice.  I tilted the lamp and pulled out a set of keys I knew the Old man kept there.  I handed the keys to Sarah.
    Then swept her to the side, violently pushing her to the floor.
    She opened her mouth to protest.
    I held a finger against my lips, a hushing gesture.
    She went still, staying quiet.  William had trained her well. 
    I mentally linked to my armory and summoned a pair of semi-automatics Berettas.  My heightened senses picked up a presence on the porch, something waiting for me to come out.  The bell hadn’t rung.  I heard the soft scrape of a foot on the porch.  I smelled ozone.  I figured it this was another assassin from the Storm Court.  The killer had been smart not to try to breach the stronger wards of the house, but stupid taking on a hit against me.
    Everyone figures they can succeed where others fail.  The last dozen assassins I’d taken out had all thought so.  I hoped this one might entertain me better.

 
     
     
     
     
    FOUR
     
    “It’s good I like killing, so much is needed.”
     
                                       —Caine Deathwalker
     
     
    The door shattered.  Wooden shrapnel exploded inward, riding a hard blast of wind.  At the core of the wind, a thick, forking vein of blue fire stabbed into the living room.  The jags writhed, scorched the air, and faded. 
    Catching the edge of the attack, I was shoved away, thrown off balance.  I hit the carpet and rolled up against the couch.  From where I sprawled, I could see Sarah lying flat, trying to avoid attention.  Her eyes were turned my way, wide and dark with fear.
    A tall, thin figure appeared on the threshold, casually batting away the broken trim edging the doorway.  He wore