In Darkness We Must Abide Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dexios,” Kallos timidly said. She was tall and very slender with masses of medium brown wavy hair. Thick, dark eyelashes edged her green eyes.
    “ Likos …”Aeron grunted. “You mean the wolves.”
    “My wolves,” Leto said sharply. “My likos .”
    Aeron often scoffed at Leto for clinging to her Greek heritage. Many of her children had Greek names and called themselves the likos among themselves. Though Kallos was descended from Leto, her family line was diluted with mortal blood. In fact, Kallos was human enough that Aeron had committed the worst sins against Leto when they’d been adversaries. He’d made Kallos a vrikolakas , a vampire. A hundred years had passed since then, but Leto’s anger had not diminished over time. Aeron was arrogant and foolish enough to believe that Leto had sided with him out of lust for power. He never imagined that she’d only sided with him to find a way to destroy him.
    “Dexios is strong. If he was wounded, he’s found a den,” Leto said, sliding off the divan, leaving her wolves to their slumber. “He’ll find his way home when he’s healed.” Hopefully, Aeron would forget about Dexios altogether. It was important that Dexios stayed with Alisha in hiding, but Kallos didn’t know that and the young woman was obviously worried.
    Biting her lower lip, Kallos barely nodded.
    “Is he the only wolf missing?” Aeron asked.
    Kallos kept her eyes firmly planted on the marble floor. “Yes, my Master. A few vampires have not returned. Lorelei is among them.”
    “Lorelei is dealing with Carlotta. She’ll return soon,” Aeron said, clearly not caring to learn the names of the other vampires who may have perished.
    “At least I’m not the only one dealing with difficult children,” Leto remarked gently touching Kallos's locks, the silky softness wrapping around her fingers.
    Kallos lifted her eyes to gaze sorrowfully at Leto.
    “Carlotta has always been difficult. I should have killed her long ago,” Aeron said with a dismissive shrug.
    “I have one more message for you,” Kallos said, her apprehension very evident.
    Striding back to the fireplace, Aeron flicked his fingers at her, urging her to hurry. “Deliver it.”
    “Queen Mirrah and the Brides arrive tomorrow night.”
    With a dark laugh, Aeron leaned one elbow on the mantle. “Excellent.”
    Allowing Kallos’s curl to slip from her fingers, Leto dropped her hand. Mirrah was cruel to Kallos and treated her more like a pet than a member of the servant staff. “How will you explain Vanora to her, Aeron?”
    “I don’t need to explain anything to Mirrah,” Aeron answered, already sounding bored.
    The vampire dismissed Kallos with the wave of one hand, and the girl hastily spun about to leave. Something in the hallway made her gasp, then she darted out of view in a rush. Taking her place in the entrance was a badly burned Lorelei. Her skin blackened and cracked, large patches of her blond hair were gone. Stumbling slightly, the girl attempted to bow.
    “Forgive me, Aeron. I failed you.”
    “Lorelei,” Aeron gasped, then rushed to the small vampire. Falling to his knees, he took her slim arms in his big hands and stared into eyes that resembled boiled eggs. “What happened?”
    “Someone threw a part of the burning house on me. By the time I fought my way out, Carlotta was gone and the fire trucks were arriving.” The flesh around her mouth split and seeped viscous fluid as she spoke. “I tried to find her, but had to return before sunrise.”
    “You were weakened by the demon. I never should have left you there. He must have returned to attack you,” Aeron said with unexpected emotion and tenderness.
    Leto dispassionately watched the scene. Aeron had shown no concern about Dexios, so why should she care for his children?
    “I apologize for my condition. I would have fed, but…” Lorelei swayed on her feet, appearing child-like and delicate. The usual menace that exuded from her was absent.
    Leto