Fire Rising (Dark Kings) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was captivating and enticing.
    She wanted to run her fingers through his light brown hair streaked with gold that hung thick and glossy just past his shoulders. Brows the same pale brown slashed over his eyes. He was clean-shaven, giving notice to his strong jaw and chin.
    He wore a shirt that molded to his broad shoulders. His arms were crossed, causing his muscles to bulge against skin kissed by the sun.
    Her eyes drifted lower to his jeans hanging low on his narrow hips and encasing his long legs close enough she could sense they were as corded with muscle as the rest of him.
    He was a walking fantasy. In all her life, Sammi had never seen anyone as drop-dead gorgeous as the man staring at her now. She had wanted to know him when her fever-induced mind had thought he was a dream, but now … now she knew to get close to him, to know him might put the heart she had guarded so well into peril.
    “Sammi?”
    She jerked at Banan’s voice but couldn’t pull her gaze away from his companion. For long seconds his dark eyes held hers until she looked away. Only to find Jane watching her peculiarly.
    “What?” she asked Jane.
    Banan walked into the room and came to stand beside Jane’s chair. “Did you no’ hear Tristan?”
    Tristan. The name fit the man to perfection, just as his clothes did. Had he spoken? Oh, yes, he had. That’s what had drawn her attention. His amazing, captivating voice that made her stomach flutter with exhilaration.
    But what had he said?
    Then she remembered. Sammi idly turned her teacup around on the tray. She was being cornered in her lie, a lie she’d constructed to protect her sister.
    “Sammi, please,” Jane urged. “Why would it be impossible for you to return to the pub?”
    “I told you there was an accident.” Sammi prayed they left it at that and didn’t probe further.
    Jane blew out a harsh breath. “What kind of accident? What happened?”
    Finally, she looked at her sister. “Leave it, Jane.”
    “You don’t trust me.” Jane’s words were said in a whisper, the hurt in them slamming into Sammi like fists.
    Banan pulled Jane up and walked her to the door whispering something in her ear. After a minute she nodded and walked away. Banan then closed the door, leaving Sammi alone with him and Tristan.
    By the look on Banan’s face when he turned back to her, Sammi knew the interrogation was about to begin.
    “Don’t even try,” she said before he could open his mouth. “There’s nothing to tell other than what I’ve already said.”
    “You’re no’ a verra good liar,” Banan said.
    “I’m actually very good.” Why it offended her that he said she wasn’t, Sammi didn’t know. All she needed was a little more time to rest, and then she would be gone.
    Tristan drew in a deep breath. “The pub is gone. There’s nothing left.”
    As if she didn’t know that. She had been there. Felt the heat of the fire, suffered the impact of the blast.
    Experienced the hate of it all.
    When she didn’t reply, Banan briefly squeezed his eyes shut. “Your pub is gone. You were shot. That piece of shite you drove up in isna your car, Sammi. It doesna take a genius to figure out something is going on.”
    Damn but she’d thought she could pull something over on them. It had been naïve and foolish to think they would believe her lies. They left her little choice though. “I’m not telling you anything to keep you all safe. It was wrong of me to come—”
    “But you did,” Banan interrupted angrily.
    Sammi deserved his ire, but she wasn’t going to give in. “I knew my wound was getting worse. I needed to rest, and I knew Jane would help.”
    A muscle ticked dangerously along Banan’s jaw. “Aye. You’re her family.”
    “Why no’ go to the hospital?” Tristan asked.
    Sammi felt his dark gaze on her and shivered. His voice, just like his gaze, was electric, charged. Thrilling. She would definitely have to keep her distance from him.
    “I couldn’t chance it,” she