Intoxicating Magic Read Online Free PDF Page B

bring him here, we will go to him.”
    Shit.
    Of course he would. Dammit. If Hunter was still in the area, I’d have to figure out something. Even if I had to stretch the truth a bit. The last thing my community needed was an infiltration of vampires. That was a shit storm waiting to happen.
    “I’ll do what I can,” I said as Link and I boarded.
    “Check in with me each evening, Rhoswen.”
    As I climbed the stairs to the jet, I scowled. Despite the fact I’d saved Allcot’s life a few months ago, we still hadn’t formed a relationship based on mutual respect. He ordered me around and used threats to get his way. Serious, not-in-any-way-idle–type threats. He was a coldhearted bastard to everyone, even those he loved. And it bothered me that David put up with it. I glanced at Allcot over my shoulder. “I’ll check in with David.” At least with him, I knew he had a heart underneath all the obligation Allcot had saddled him with.
    “Fine. And remember, time’s running out.” With that, he turned and slipped into the back of his black Town Car.
    Link and I watched the car disappear behind one of the hangars.
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” David said from the doorway. He’d boarded to talk to the pilot and to make sure we had food and drinks for the five-and-a-half-hour flight. Since vampires didn’t need food, the plane was rarely stocked with the necessities the rest of us needed. “I could stay at a hotel and just be nearby if you need anything.”
    I suppressed a sigh. “No. It’s not a good idea.”
    He stepped aside to let Link and me board.
    Trying to calm my nerves, I took a seat facing the cockpit. Flying always drained me. It was the metal of the plane that depleted my energy. Once I landed and was near nature, I’d be fine, but after a few hours on the flight, I’d be weak and vulnerable. My body tensed with unease from the thought. Clutching the armrests, I glanced up at David. He was so handsome standing there with the sunlight washing over him. It always shook me to see him appearing human, the way he’d been when we’d been together. Before I’d been sucked into his crazy vampire world.
    “I’ll call you later tonight,” I said quietly.
    “Okay.” He hesitated at the door.
    Then he took two steps and pulled me out of the chair. His arms came around me, and for once I didn’t lose my breath or find myself lost in his embrace. The coolness of his skin only served as another stark reminder that he’d always be a vampire, always be tied to Allcot. If I was with him, I could never take him home to California. Never have a family of my own. Never be a part of Talisen’s life. Now that I was going home to see Tal, this thing, whatever it was David and I had been dancing around, seemed too much like a betrayal. As if I’d only proven Talisen right when he’d left. My stomach twisted into a ball of knots.
    “Be careful,” he whispered into my ear.
    “I will.” Out of habit, I hugged him back, but all I wanted was for him to go so we could get this show on the road. I hadn’t seen Tal in over three months. Had barely even talked to him. And I had things to say.
    Finally David let me go. With one last look, he exited the plane. A crew member shut the door and within a few minutes we were in the air. In less than six hours, I’d be back home. The thought comforted me as I petted Link’s Shih Tzu head lying in my lap. My eyes closed, and I tried to push away all the turmoil crowding my brain.
    But it was no use. What would Tal say when he saw me? Would he talk to me? Ignore me? Spit in my face? No, he wouldn’t do that. But he just might shut me out, and I was certain I couldn’t handle that. Sadness started to overwhelm me. We’d had something special. We’d been best friends, had almost become lovers. Then he’d left me and cut off all communication. Getting back to even being just friends seemed impossible.
    Damn him! Why was I agonizing so much over this?