Katie's Hope (Rhyn Trilogy, Book Two) Read Online Free PDF Page A

at the vial of
blood.
    Suddenly, she feared a new fate. At least
before, Kris had a reason to keep her around, because he wanted
something from her. What happened if he got what he wanted
elsewhere, before she knew what she wanted?
    “Ully, how long will that take you?” she
asked.
    “A few days, maybe a week.”
    She gripped the perfume bottle more tightly.
She couldn’t help but think Sasha’s sudden appearance was related
to the demons in the forest and her dreams. Her thoughts went to
Rhyn.
    “I’ll see you later,” she heard herself
say.
    Ully nodded, already seated and scribbling at
his desk. She exited the brightly lit room into the hallway,
crossing to look out the nearest window at the falling snow. A dark
figure in the snow-covered park area caught her attention. Gabriel
was sitting alone on top of one of the half dozen picnic tables.
She made her way to the back entrance to the castle and stepped
into the quiet, chilly day. The snow fell straight from the sky
without the wind and was soft and fluffy beneath her feet.
    “Gabriel?” she called, crossing her arms at
the chill. He didn’t face her. “You okay?”
    “Better than you.”
    She paused a short distance from him, sensing
something wrong. He didn’t speak much. She knew nothing about him,
except he’d been a friend to Rhyn.
    “You’re early today,” she said.
    “I can’t stay tonight.”
    “Oh. You’ve got, um, work?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’ll be back tomorrow?” she asked at the
ominous note in his voice.
    “No, Katie. I’m not coming back.”
    “Ever?”
    “For your sake, not if I can help it.”
    “So when you come back, you’ll be back for me
for good?” she asked.
    “Yes.”
    She was struck by his words, feeling as if
the one person she relied upon was not only running out on her but
would chop her into pieces the next time she saw him. Her hand went
to her neck. He looked away as his words sank in.
    “Take care of Toby and Rhyn,” he said, and
stood. “And … take care of yourself.”
    “Gabriel, maybe you should just take me with
you now and save us all some grief,” she said.
    “Humans have free will,” he reminded her.
“You have some other decisions to make first.”
    “But if I choose Rhyn and you come back for
me tomorrow, it doesn’t seem very fair to him.”
    “You’re not making this easier on either of
us!” he said, a flare of emotion in his voice for the first time
since she’d met him. Taken aback by his anger, she watched him run
a hand through his hair in an unusual sign of agitation.
    “Guess I don’t understand the rules,” she
said quietly.
    “I’ll stay away as long as I can. I may not
have a choice, though.”
    “What do I do, Gabriel?”
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    “But you can tell me you’re coming back to
kill me,” she said, anger rising.
    He looked up at the sky. Dressed all in black
with his dark eyes and hair, he looked like a living shadow in the
snow-covered world.
    “Rhyn is my friend,” he said after a long
pause. “He cares about you. I’ve never thought twice about any life
I’ve taken until now.”
    “I understand but I’m having a hard time
sympathizing, considering it’s me you’re gonna kill.”
    “It’s not just you. The next time I visit the
human world, I’ll be leaving with two souls.”
    “Okay, so you’re taking me and someone else,
but this still doesn’t help me figure out what to do!” she
said.
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    She drew a deep breath. Her hands shook as
she stood there discussing her own death with a creature that
resembled the Grim Reaper.
    “It’s not Toby or Rhyn, is it?” she
ventured.
    “No.”
    “Good. They’re both growing on me.”
    “I have to go, Katie,” Gabriel said.
    “First the nightmares, now this. Why do I
feel like something really bad is happening?”
    “Sometimes things get worse before they get
better. Most of the times, things just never get better. Doesn’t
help that I got demoted.