Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave Read Online Free PDF Page A

stab of unwanted guilt assailing her. She pushed it away.
    Felix rushed to her. His arms came around her. They felt good. Too good.
    The front door was thrown open. “Felix! Don’t worry, I’m here. You’re Shielded. You’re — whoa.” A blonde woman nearly collided right into the stairs. Her arms flailed until she caught the banister of the stairs. Readjusting herself, she found her footing and turned.
    Her golden locks fell just past her shoulders. Her green eyes lit up with genuine joy. “You’re all right!”
    Felix unwound his arms from around Cali. She missed the sensation instantly and wrapped her own arms around her body as a poor substitute.
    “Sydney? What are you doing here?” he asked.
    Sydney glanced Cali’s way and gave a welcoming wave before returning her attention to Felix. Her bright expression darkened slightly.
    “Niella told me what she Dreamed. Way to leave me in the dark. I went looking for you but you were gone. I came as soon as I could. What the hell do you think you were doing, anyway?” she scolded. “You could have gotten seriously injured, you dumbass. You have no idea who — ” Her gaze caught on Collette, noticing her for the first time. Recognition flashed briefly. Her voice dropped, and Cali could just barely detect the fear behind it. “What is she doing here?”
    Felix shook his head.
    Sydney turned to Cali. “Was she the one that attacked you?”
    Something tickled in the back of Cali’s mind. “She said she was following orders.”
    Felix and Sydney both shared a look.
    “She’s a full-forced Illusionist, Felix. This wasn’t the regular cookie cutter Dream from Niella.”
    Felix’s face was solemn. “I know.”
    “How’d you take her out?” Sydney walked a small perimeter around Collette as if looking for signs of life.
    Cali wanted to step forward. She wanted to boast that she’d taken a Taser to Collette and hadn’t needed Felix’s help. Only her vision started going black again. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit, and she reached out blindly.
    Warm fingers grasped hers before everything went dark.

Chapter 3
    Felix wrapped his arms around Cali as her body went limp. It lasted only a second. A dizzy spell? Had she fainted? Either way she was back on her feet shortly. She averted her eyes from his as she pushed away from him. He wished she wouldn’t do that.
    Put space between them.
    He bit back a growl of frustration.
    “I’m okay,” she said before he or Sydney could ask.
    Sydney, ever the doctor, came up and got right in Cali’s face. Cali gave a start but she didn’t back down.
    Felix’s lip curled.
    “Too much, too soon,” Sydney diagnosed.
    “Huh?” Cali said articulately.
    Sydney leaned back, arms crossed. “You used too much of your powers too soon. I take it you’ve never used them this much, if at all?”
    “Power?”
    “You’re a Silencer. You know … ” She wiggled her hands in a way that had Felix biting back a laugh. “You manipulate sound. I’m a Shielder.” She thrust her hand out. “Sydney Spencer. I block everyone’s powers around me.”
    Cali hesitated before shaking her hand. “Cali Crazar,” she said carefully. “Nice to meet you.” She turned on Felix. “And you’re what? The Vanisher?”
    He grinned at her sarcasm. “Eraser.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
    “I don’t know about you guys but I have a feeling we need to get out of here.” Sydney kicked the unconscious Collette without remorse. “I’m sure there’s going to be reinforcements when she doesn’t report in.”
    Felix couldn’t agree more.
    Collette. Here.
    Shit.
    Shitshit shit!
    The scar along his shoulder burned insistently. Every scenario he played out in his head ended poorly. Collette showing up here couldn’t be coincidence. She had to know. The way she eyed Cali … it was as if she knew Cali was his missing half. His Mirror Mate.
    Was this some kind of revenge gig then? An eye for an eye? The poetic and barbaric justice