DreamKeeper Read Online Free PDF Page A

chair, motioning for Angel to sit. “Try some fruit. Ciara and I picked it fresh this morning. I’ll go get Kacie.” With that, she left the room.
    Angel sat down across from Ciara, who seemed indifferent to her arrival. She didn’t know quite what to make of this woman who hadn’t said much—though, when she had, her words had been intrusive.
    “How do you like the island so far?” she asked, then popped a piece of pineapple into her mouth.
    “It’s beautiful. You must love living in this tropical paradise.”
    She shrugged. “I’ve been with Reece so long I never gave it much thought when we moved out here. I like the social life in LA, but we can’t stay there full time because of his…dilemma.”
    “Sounds like you have reservations about this life.”
    “And you don’t?” Ciara’s eyes burned into hers. Her sudden change in demeanor felt somewhat disturbing.
    Angel met her stare straight on. “No. I love Savaant. He has brought more into my life than I ever dreamed of. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. You have no idea what it’s like living in a glorified cage for thirty years.”
    “Did your late husband abuse you or something?”
    “Or something.” She aggressively stabbed a chunk of kiwi with a plastic pick. She felt no obligation to spill her personal life to this meddling bitch.
    “And you have no clue what it’s like living bound to a blood-dragon.” Ciara shot back. “Always walking around with a secret hanging over our heads, praying people won’t find out what we are.”
    “From what I’ve heard, you are not bound unless you return his bite.” She slanted Ciara a knowing look. “And yes… I know full well what it’s like living life behind a secret.”
    Ciara appeared taken aback for a moment. However, her setback didn’t last long.
    “Why would any woman want to bite one of these blood-dragons just to become one of them? I am not fond of the taste of blood, let alone setting myself up to be bound by their fate.” She leaned forward, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “So you’re not Little Miss Innocent like the guys said. What secret haunts you, Angel?”
    “One that is dead and buried.”
    “You’re not going to tell me?”
    “My past is nobody’s business except mine and Savaant’s.”
    “You’re a lot tougher than you look.” Ciara’s freckled face wrinkled into an expression of puzzlement.
    “Just because I came from a rich country home doesn’t mean I grew up in Disneyland.”
    “Old skeletons have a way of coming back to haunt. Are you sure Savaant knows everything about you?” She looked away to reach for more fruit. “I…we…wouldn’t want him getting hurt again.”
    Angel felt the muscles in her jaw tighten but controlled her rising ire over the accusatory undertone in this woman’s voice. She slammed her hand down over Ciara’s, knocking the fruit off her fork.
    “Worry about your own ghosts. I have mine well under control.”
    Ciara’s eyes flashed with mixed emotion, causing Angel to wonder about her true objectives. They glared at each other in what felt like a challenge of wills.
    “Play nice, girls,” Sage teased upon reentering the kitchen with Kacie. “We don’t want the men to get grumpy.”
    Sage’s return drew a sigh of relief from Angel. She felt overly stressed by Ciara and now viewed her as a threat. The four women sat around the table snacking on elaborate fruit, dipping the succulent treats into various fruit dips.
    Naturally they were curious about Angel and her background. She did her best to field their inquisitions without revealing her dark past or the recent incidents in Los Angeles.
    * * * *
    In the other room Savaant was under scrutiny as well. His friends wanted to know everything about Angel and how they’d met.
    Blade leaned back, casually resting one foot over his knee. “Tell us, Savaant, wherever did you find that lovely lady?”
    “I took out a personal ad.” He smirked while sipping his