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

No alcohol,” he reminded her.
    “Kris tossed it all out after he found me
knocked out on the bathroom floor last week,” she admitted, rolling
her eyes.
    “Good. You’re going to need your head
clear.”
    She searched his face. The snow began falling
harder, and he met her gaze again finally. The regret in his dark
eyes made her want to beg him not to kill her and comfort him for
the pain he’d surely feel hurting his own friend. Her throat
tightened, and in the end, no words came out. She wondered how
accurate her dream had been, if her only way to save Rhyn was to
sacrifice herself.
    “Farewell, Katie,” Gabriel said in a hushed
voice.
    “Farewell, Gabriel.”
    Death’s assassin turned and walked away,
disappearing into the shadow world. The coldness of fear within her
grew stronger. She rubbed the lumpy scar on her arm, her attention
caught by the sight of a jaguar dropping from a tree branch to the
edge of the park and the forest a short distance away. It was not
all black but had a white patch around one eye. It stared at her
through green eyes, and she frowned, uncertain why the sight of the
creature bothered her.
    A gust of wind flung snow into her face. She
retreated to the castle, up the back stairwell off limits to
everyone but her, and to the warmth of her chamber. Toby’s giggles
reached her before she opened the door. She walked in to see Rhyn’s
jaguar form sprawled across the bed, shredding a down pillow. Her
bed looked as if a flock of geese had combusted over it, and she
counted at least ten dead pillows.
    Toby laughed and tossed Rhyn another pillow,
delighted when he snatched it from midair and shredded it in an
explosion of white feathers. Reining in her emotions, she tried to
distract her dark thoughts by focusing on Toby.
    “Toby!” she exclaimed. “Where did you get all
these pillows?”
    The baby angel and half-demon turned toward
the door.
    “From our neighbors,” Toby said. “I had two
and you had three and the fat lady down the hall had four, so then
I got hers and that mean man’s pillows.”
    “Just what I need,” she grumbled, wondering
what other insults the castle’s Immortals’ mates would fling at her
after this incident. She didn’t fit in; they made it clear every
chance they could, just as their leader did. “Wash up for
dinner.”
    “Okay, Mama!” he sang and sprang away. She
bent down to pick up a yet unscathed pillow, startled to stand and
see Rhyn had changed to his human form.
    “ You got stuck with the
baby-angel?”
    “Maybe that should be we got stuck
with the baby-angel!” she shot back.
    “He’s all yours. What smells like shit?”
    “I think I like you better as a jaguar. Much
easier to get along with,” she said with a shake of her head,
unable to help the warmth that spread through her whenever she saw
him. “Gabriel left for good today.”
    “He always comes back.”
    “Not this time.”
    He was quiet, digesting the news. Still
shaken from her discussion with Gabriel, she couldn’t decide if she
wanted to run to the comfort of Rhyn’s arms or send him away for
good, before Gabriel took her away.
    “Mama, I’m ready!” Toby said,
reappearing.
    “Okay, come on,” she said. She held out a
hand. He took it and tugged her to the door. Rhyn gazed at her, and
her whole body responded despite her fear. The memory of his kiss
made her insides warm. “If you want, you can come by later.”
    His gaze flared with heated interest.
    “For tea,” she clarified. “And to talk or
whatever.”
    “I like whatever,” he said.
    “I’ll get more pillows,” Toby said.
    “You’re not invited,” Rhyn growled.
    “But how can we play?”
    “You’ll be in bed.”
    “ That , no, Rhyn,” she corrected him.
“I mean tea. Daylight tea.”
    “Breakfast tea.”
    Toby giggled, and she glanced at him, afraid
Rhyn was going to dive headfirst into a discussion Toby shouldn’t
hear.
    “Afternoon tea. C’mon, Toby,” Katie said and
turned away,