Levet Read Online Free PDF

“Just as you have always been.”
    He strutted forward, refusing to acknowledge the words hit a perpetual tender nerve.
    He was no longer the old Levet who allowed himself to be judged by the size of his body. He was a giant among demons, regardless of his heights.
    He lifted his hands. “We shall see.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Unease twisted her ugly features. “Stay back.”
    â€œFrightened of your pathetic, spineless son, Maman ?”
    â€œI am weary of this game.”
    He gave a flutter of his wings, proud when they captured the light to glitter with brilliant shimmers of crimson and gold.
    â€œThen put an end to it.”
    She pressed against the wall, her eyes wide as Levet halted directly in front of her.
    Why?
    Was she truly afraid of his dubious magic?
    That seemed . . . unlikely.
    It had to be something else.
    But what?
    His churning thoughts were brought to a sharp end as his mother glared down from her towering height.
    â€œStop this, Levet.”
    He froze, his stomach knotting in pain. “ Mon dieu .”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat is the first time I ever heard my name on your lips.”
    She belched, attempting to hide her concern behind the more familiar disdain.
    â€œYou aren’t going to snivel, are you? I would rather you kill me than be forced to listen to you blubber.”
    Levet shook his head, thinking of the vampire clan that had adopted the Dark Lord’s offspring without hesitation. They had fought to the death to protect the babies and would do so again.
    And the gods knew that Salvatore, the King of Weres, was foaming at the mouth with excitement as the delivery day for his litter drew ever nearer.
    Of course, Kiviet demons ate all but the strongest of their offspring at birth, so it could always be worse.
    â€œTell me, Maman , do you love any of your children?”
    â€œLove is for weaklings,” she sneered. “Or humans.”
    It was precisely what Levet had expected. And yet...
    He swallowed a resigned sigh.
    â€œThen why procreate at all?”
    â€œTo strengthen my power base.”
    He studied the creature who’d given birth to him for a long minute. For the first time he wasn’t overwhelmed by her ginormous power. Or cringing beneath the crushing disapproval of his lack of mass.
    She was still huge. Still scary. And still filled with hatred toward him.
    But seeing her clearly, she appeared . . . diminished.
    â€œYou know, I thought I hated you,” he said slowly. “Now I realize that I pity you.”
    His mother gave a genuine huff, as if outraged by his words. “I am the doyenne of this nest,” she hissed. “The most feared gargoyle in all of Europe.”
    â€œ Non .” Levet gave a shake of his head. “You are a lonely, bitter old woman who has nothing but an empty title and the delusion that it makes you important.”
    Fury flared through her eyes before the cunning expression made a return. “If you care nothing for me then why are you here?”
    â€œChasing shadows, it would seem.”
    â€œThen release me.”
    Levet rolled his eyes. “Nice try.”
    â€œI will give you a ten-minute head start before I track you down and kill you.”
    â€œTempting, but . . . I think not.”
    â€œVery well.” Her lips stretched into a tight line. Was that supposed to be a smile? Sacrebleu . “I’ll give you an hour.”
    Levet considered. Really and truly considered. Perhaps for the first time in his long life.
    What did he want?
    Clearly he would never earn his mother’s approval. Or repair the wounds of the past. Or find . . . what did the humans call it? Closure.
    But he could have something that had been stolen from him.
    â€œI want what is rightfully mine,” he stated in clear, dignified tones.
    The gray eyes narrowed. “An empty title?”
    â€œOf course not,” Levet said in confusion. Only females were allowed to