Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

we?" she finally asked.
    "Nonni's." He picked up his pace again, opening the wooden gate that fenced in the yard. "We'll be safe here for awhile until I figure out what I'm supposed to do with you."
    Marilyn glared at him but held her tongue as the half door opened and an old gnarled face peeked out into the dark.
    "Is that you, Draylon?" the old woman called.
    "It's me, Nonni. I've brought someone with me."
    Nonni looked around as she hustled them into her home. Draylon bent down to kiss the wrinkled cheek of the old woman. Nonni was ancient. No one knew how old. But then, aging was a concept his kind didn't have to dwell on.
    The heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them. Nonni replaced both the top and bottom part of the door and secured a wrought iron bar across the entrance, blocking all the elements from the cottage and any danger that might try to come in.
    "You did not bring the Vamiers with you, Dray?" She eyed him.
    "No, ma'am."
    She didn't say anything more but turned to Marilyn and studied her for long moments, beginning to walk away and then turning and examining her again as if she were going to change her appearance if she turned away too long.
    Draylon fought not to burst out laughing as Marilyn shied away, took a step forward when she thought it was safe, only to have the old woman turn on her again. It was bad enough he'd told Marilyn that Nonni was a witch.
    "Come…eat."
    "I'm not hungry…" Marilyn said.
    Shit.
    Draylon learned long ago it was best not to argue with Nonni. If she told you to do something, you did it. No questions asked, no disagreement.
    Nonni turned on Marilyn, sending her backing into him. "I did not ask if you were hungry. I said 'eat.'"
    Draylon nuzzled her ear. "It's okay. Do as Nonni says."
    Marilyn nodded and they followed the old woman to the grand table in the middle of the chalet and sat.
    Nonni still cooked on the hearth of the stone fireplace that took up the whole side of the house. He'd bought her a wood burning stove/oven combination to cook with nearly a century ago. She used it occasionally but preferred cooking over her open fire. The heavy oak table still held its rustic authenticity. Marks and nicks marred the stained wood. Two rough hewn logs split into two separate lengths created matching benches supporting up to eight guests on each side and two massive arm chairs dominated the ends. There was a reason for such a table. One never knew when guests would show up at Nonni's.
    The rest of the interior was as massive. Two wolves lay sleeping on the braided rag rug near the other fireplace. Even their huge forms were dwarfed by their surroundings. The furniture, rustic as it was with its rough hewn logs and twine for frame work, were cozy and comfortable with their over-stuffed, goose down cushions.
    There was no electricity in the house. Nonni didn't believe in it. Electricity was the work of Satan. It made man lazy and domestic. What was good a thousand years ago was still good today, was her motto.
    Draylon was thankful tonight wasn't as busy at Nonni's. He could deal with the two pups.
    "Here—eat. You are too skinny. You must eat to prepare for your journey."
    "My journey? I'm not going anywhere. I'm supposed to meet with Professor Vamier in Cluj."
    Draylon gritted his teeth against what was about to happen. Though he couldn't read Nonni's thoughts, he knew what she thought.
    Petite and wrinkled old lady that she was, Nonni had a temper that would make the devil whisper, "Oh shit—she's pissed."
    Nonni got in Marilyn's face to spout ancient Dacian. Cringing and flinching, Draylon knew what every word meant. And Nonni wasn't heaping "happiness and joy" on the brunette. Then Nonni got in his face, shaking her crooked finger fractions of an inch away from his nose then punctuating her irritation with that same finger in his chest.
    All he could do was nod his head in agreement and back up until the solid wall was behind him. If a four foot-six inch woman could make