Immortal Desires (Well of Souls) Read Online Free PDF Page B

necessarily." The older man held up a hand in caution. "In fact, I think they meant to draw you out. The Conrí's mission isn't to destroy human life but rather to stop the pairing of soul mates."
    "Why? Why hurt her if they wanted me? That doesna make sense." Ian flopped into a chair and stared out the window, pulling at his bottom lip.
    "Fate's efforts to bring you back together, I suppose." Robert sighed, running a hand through his thick hair. "They can't touch you here, not with the wards surrounding the property."
    "The magical wards didna help Deanna tonight." Ian knew he sounded bitter and took a deep breath. "Send her back, Robert. She'll be safe with my mortal self."
    "What makes you believe that?" Robert looked at him and Ian had the impression the man knew more than he was admitting.
    "What havena you told me?"
    Robert shifted in his seat and didn't speak for a moment. He locked eyes with Ian and seemed to deflate. "The Aeneas Council thinks that most of the soul pairings stolen from the Well are from your bloodline."
    "Why didna you tell me this before?" Ian jumped up to pace again. Nervous energy thrummed through his veins with nowhere to go. He wanted to smash somebody's head in, confront the Council—anything but sit here feeling helpless. His hands curled into fists and pounded against his thighs. The wee lass in the next apartment didn't deserve any of this.
    "She has more strength than you realize," Robert said, apparently reading his thoughts. "More than she's aware of at the moment. Don't worry about her."
    Robert stood up. "Fiona's calling me. It seems Deanna's awake. Stay here."
    Ian watched him go, common sense warring with his desire to follow Robert and see for himself that Deanna was all right. He fell to his knees and did something he hadn't done in over five hundred years—plead with Brìghde, the Goddess of healing, to watch over Deanna and keep her safe. It seemed he couldn't.
    ***
    Deanna opened her eyes and groaned. Her head throbbed and the left side of her face stung. She reached a hand up to feel her cheek when something shifted in her peripheral vision.
    "I imagine you have a headache."
    Robert's voice. In her bedroom. She let out a squeak, then images flooded into her mind. "Oh! I was in my car…"
    "Rest a minute. Here, take this." He handed her a couple of pills and a glass of water which she gulped down without hesitation. Her head hurt so bad…
    "Someone was standing in the road. He came out of nowhere." Deanna couldn't draw enough breath into her lungs; her heart began to slam against her ribs. "Did I hit him?"
    "No. We didn't see anything. You slid off the street and bumped your head. It happens in the snow."
    "I'm sure I saw someone." Deanna frowned and her headache retaliated with an extra shot of pain. She quickly relaxed her features again.
    "Perhaps an animal ran across the road. The eyes can play tricks on you at night."
    Deanna didn't think so but Robert's voice soothed her and she yawned, suddenly very tired. Maybe that wasn't aspirin.
    "How did…" She meant to ask how he found her but the words disappeared. It didn't matter. The floating was nice—warm like a cocoon.
    ***
    Deanna woke with light streaming in the window. She lay on the bed fully clothed with a blanket pulled over her. Had she stumbled in drunk last night? She could count the times on one hand that she'd done that. Besides, she left early, if she remembered correctly. Michael was a nice guy but he wouldn't take no for an answer, as if wearing her down with compliments would make her say yes to a date.
    No…there was something about her car. An accident? Her hand flew to her cheek and found a rough scab. She'd cut herself.
    Robert was there. No, he was here, in her bedroom. She shook her head. Nothing made sense. Her muscles protested as she got out of bed but a hot shower fixed the worst of it.
    As she sat back down on the bed, a feeling of being watched came over her. Invisible fingers trailed over the