Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend: Afterglow, Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

though.”
    “I hope you do, Cheney.” Lucy stood awkwardly, balancing herself on her back legs and hugging his neck with her chubby arms.
    “I’ll try, sweetheart.”
    Pandora’s mind seethed with questions, but something about the idyllic surroundings stilled her tongue and she watched, simply enjoying the sight of youngsters at play.
    It didn’t seem odd when Cheney’s hand grasped hers and held it for a few moments. “Thank you.”
    She didn’t know what he was thanking her for. She felt she should thank him for this brief glimpse into a world where all was light and happiness. So strange, so unique—and, sadly, so short lived.
    “We have to go now.” He squeezed her fingers.
    “Okay.” She wanted to say no. To beg for a few more minutes. To stay and play with Rusty and Lucy, to throw the ball, to leave everything and everyone behind. It was a seductively simple scene, yet she knew she’d never forget it.
    Doing none of the things she wanted, she did what she had to. She closed her eyes and let the illusion disappear.
    “Well, what do you think?”
    His voice was calm and businesslike, and she opened her eyes to find herself back in her own clothes, still sitting on his back lawn watching two puppies in the sunshine.
    “I think I have a helluva lot of questions.” She organized her thoughts, frowning as she tried to figure out what to ask him first.
    He beat her to it. “I meant do you think something like this will help your problem pup?”
    She blinked. “Uh—I suppose so.” It was a difficult question to answer. “I take it you created that illusion for them. It wouldn’t be something they came up with on their own, right?”
    “Correct.” He nodded. “Come on, let’s get a glass of iced tea and discuss our options.”
    She accepted the hand he held out as he stood and let him pull her to her feet. There was strength in his grip, not totally unexpected but enough to tell her there were muscles under the casual jacket even though Cheney appeared tall and lean.
    “By the way.” She brushed grass from her skirt as he glanced at her. “I liked the dress.”
    “Me too.” He chuckled and led her into the house.

    With two glasses of Roz’s perfect iced tea in front of them, Cheney faced Pandora across his kitchen table. They were alone and he could see the curiosity bubbling up behind her gaze.
    “Fill me in.” Her tone was peremptory, allowing no room for debate. “Everything. What you do, how you do it and why.”
    He lifted one eyebrow lazily. “I don’t think so.”
    “Well give me the condensed version then.” Her fingertips drummed on the table. “Give me something. Some clue about this—this stuff.”
    “This stuff, as you so succinctly call it, is my AG talent. What more is there to know?” He knew he was being evasive, but now that they were back in the real world, he was reticent to let her probe his mind. Of course, if she wanted to probe other things… He still had the image of her in that transparent dress locked in his head. Ruefully, he admitted to himself he might have made a mistake putting her in it. She looked too damn good.
    “Those—those children. How do you help them?”
    He thought about the question. “I give them a safe environment. I allow them to develop at their own speed. I let things happen the way they’re supposed to.”
    “And their parents don’t?”
    “Look, Pandora. I don’t have to tell you this isn’t a perfect world. It’s better, but it’s still not perfect. Children are born with AG talents. Parents don’t always know how to handle them. Some don’t want them. Some births result in an AG baby who comes into the world fully developed.”
    “God.” She swallowed. “You mean some women have puppies?”
    He shrugged. “It happens. Usually the mom understands and within a few days she has her baby. There are counseling services, doctors and therapists. We know a lot about AG mutations now. A loving parent pretty much takes care