rogue shifter 06 - torn apart Read Online Free PDF Page A

full day—alone. I'd argued, and finally got him to allow me to come and also bring along Sinlae and Samson, my Rottweiler who happened to be a Cu Sith, a Faerie Dog. He'd reluctantly agreed to my telling Garrett, but told me that if I mentioned our arrangement to anyone else, Charlie would be taking up residence with him at court. He'd laughed at my choice of companions, but he wouldn't have agreed to anyone coming who he considered to be truly powerful, so I did what I could to protect us.
    But then, just before his first visit, Charlie had gotten ill. Kennet had stayed away, probably waiting to see how the illness progressed before attempting to build any kind of relationship with his son. I mean, why bother if the kid was just going to die, right? I hadn't heard from Kennet since that first time and, although I thought it unlikely, I was keeping my fingers crossed that he'd given up on the idea of paternal visitation.
    The situation with Kennet was serious, but what I worried about the most was seeing my demon trainer, Isaiah again. Shortly after Charlie's birth, I'd experienced a disturbing dream and felt compelled to summon him. He'd appeared in his true form, dressed in the usual breeches, tunic and boots, looking every bit as handsome as the last time I'd seen him. Unfortunately, his mood had deteriorated greatly.
     
    "You are now my property!"
    Not exactly the greeting I'd hoped for. "The agreement we drew up is null and void. You told me that yourself."
    "The written one that we created while you were held prisoner, but not the oral agreement we made in Faerie when you turned Kennet over." He stretched out his long arm, finding his way blocked by the protection of the circle. I started to ask him a question but he shouted at me before I could get a word out. "Jacqueline!" I cringed. "I will not discuss anything at all as long as I am in this fucking circle."
    Okay, so he was really mad. Like Garrett, he'd only throw out the F bomb only when furious. "If I let you out, are you going to hurt me?"
    "The longer you keep me here the more likely it is that the answer will be yes."
    "Isaiah..."
    "Either you trust me or you do not." His eyes were bright orange, a sign of intense emotion. Probably rage. Not good. My plan to protect Charlie was going up in flames.
    "Please don't hurt my family or my friends. Only me, if you—if you have to." I lifted my chin, in a feeble show of bravery.
    He could tell I was terrified. "I agree. My argument is not with them."
    I had a last minute idea. "I invite you, Isaiah, to my home, under the usual rules and restrictions." I smeared the salt with my foot and broke the circle, backing up and hoping that my invitation would keep him in line as it had in the past.
    Isaiah, his expression smoldering, walked straight toward me, grabbed my shoulder and shoved me against a tree. My teeth rattled. "I should teach you a lesson, little demon."
    "I'm sorry." At this point I was shaking.
    "I explained how it feels to be summoned. I was under the mistaken impression that you understood. That you respected my request."
    "I do." I was cowering under his furious gaze and would probably be whimpering soon. When he'd snarled at me, I'd noticed fangs.
    "By summoning me in this way, you may have lost..."
    "I had a dream about Charlie."
    "And how does that concern me?"
    "You were in the dream. Charlie was around my age, I think, and he was fighting you, only it wasn't a real battle. You were in your warrior form and you were training him. I saw myself standing off to the side and there was a circle of salt near me. That's how I knew I had to summon you." His gaze was scrutinizing, looking for the truth in my eyes. "I am sorry, I didn't know what else to do."
    He let me go and walked away, his anger cooling slightly. "So you wish for me to train him to fight against your grandmother's armies?" He turned and I nodded. "Against your sister?" I nodded again. "Against my own people?" This time I winced. It could