Ember's Curse (Prime Wolf) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and besides, he was like a brother to me. I filled the bar sink up with water and threw the shirt in. My clothes usually shifted back with me, leaving them good as new, but the silver had interfered with the magic and left them still torn and dirty. I could try and shift, to clean things up, but exhaustion weighed too heavily on me.
    "How long will it be ‘til he arrives?" I asked, scrubbing out some of the stains with dish soap.
    "His plane should land in about an hour or two. He is flying in from California."
    Nathan reached over and unplugged the sink. He then stopped my hand mid scrub and took the shirt from me. After he carefully wrung it out, he started for the stairs. "I'll take care of this. Just go wash yourself up."
    ***
     
    A loud pounding at the bathroom door pulled me from my watery heaven. I finished rinsing the conditioner out of my hair and turned off the shower. My body shivered from the sudden loss of heat.
    "This better be important," I snapped at him.
    "Collin is here," Nathan's voice echoed through the door. "He wants to talk to you."
    "I’m just finishing up in here. Can you give me a sec?" I wrapped an oversized towel around my dripping body and opened the door. Nathan was already showered and had a fresh set of clothes on. His hair was hanging in his face, almost dry. I must have lost track of the time. Did I forget to mention I take very long showers?
    "Clothes?" I asked.
    "I put some on the bed," he said, handing me a sandwich. "Try and hurry up. My cousin doesn't like to be kept waiting."
    Nathan zipped across the room in three long strides and left, slamming the door behind him.
    I looked down at the peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my hand and my mouth began to water. I finished it off in three bites. I wiped my sticky fingers on my damp towel and made my way over to the cherry wood sleigh bed.
    The beautiful hand crafted bed took up most of the small guest room. I picked up the neatly folded pile of clothes that sat on the cream-colored pillow, and fantasized about laying my head down in their place. I would kill for a quick nap right about now, but instead of soothing my tired beast, I grabbed the freshly laundered grey sweats and black cotton tee.
    I slipped the shirt over my head and pulled the pants up over my hips. The borrowed clothes were big and very baggy, but with a tuck here and a fold there, I made them fit quite nicely. I ran my fingers through my wet hair to smooth out the tangles, and then headed for the door. I was as ready as I could get. It was time to meet the leader of the highly respected and feared Adelphi. Oh joy.
    ***
     
    I was halfway down the hall when I overheard Nathan and his cousin arguing back and forth.
    "Remind me again why you had me rush down here?"
    I paused by the entryway to the living room. I had never heard a voice like that before. The deep timber of it left me out of sorts. I shook off the feeling and took a few more steps into the room.
    "I wouldn't have called you if it wasn't important, Collin. I believe that the Gatherers have set up shop here in Astoria."
    Nathan was standing in front of a tall, dark haired man. He was dressed in tight fitting jeans and a white button up shirt. As soon as my eyes settled on the stranger’s back, an odd tingle began to radiate through me. It must be the lack of sleep, I thought to myself.
    "Ah, here she is. Ember, this is my cousin, Collin. Collin, this is my friend and pack mate, Ember."
    I walked across the dark hardwood floors and stopped just behind the tall, well-built man.
    "Hi," I said shoving my hand at him. He shifted his body and turned in my direction.
    His warm hand wrapped around my smaller one. The velvet touch of his fingers against my skin shook me. My legs turned to jelly and I fell to my knees. With his hand still holding mine, he followed me to the ground.
    "What the...?" I vaguely heard Nathan say in the background.
    When I was able to move my head without feeling nauseous, I took a deep