Shadow of Doubt: Part 2 Read Online Free PDF

moments for his limbs to relax from
the inner fear, only to tighten from the frigid temperature. It
took a moment, but he shivered again as the reminder of last
night’s events remerged: the conversation with Aurora, seeing
Nanny, the bitter truth of what had happened in the past, then
Aurora’s simple acceptance, taking her back to her apartment, and
then it being too late to find Janus.
    Focussing on his immediate situation,
he caught hold of the pay phone just as his feet began to slip on
the slick pavement. Snow covered the sidewalk, but black ice lay
beneath. Regaining his balance, he glanced around to see the
familiar café that stood a few blocks from his apartment. He
followed the aroma and forced himself to ignore the urge to run
into its warmth. The cold never seemed to bother him before, but
tonight it felt glacial.
    He was still paranoid about trying the
booth in his apartment. What if it didn’t work since it was
indoors? He’d work up the nerve one morning, but right now he had
more pressing matters.
    Once inside, he rubbed his hands
together and blew on them as he waited for his turn in line. After
ordering a large coffee and grabbing a newspaper, he settled into
the nearest booth. Not focused on the cold, his brain seemed warm
enough to allow him to think. He stared at his coffee, pondering
the blackness of the brew with the black of his own Shadow
life.
    What had he done?
    Aurora knew his secret. He’d just
broken the most important law of Shadows by telling her. He knew he
was already screwed, but that was unimportant. He had to protect
her at all costs. If any Shadow knew, she was dead. He thought
about the last Night Council meeting he’d attended and shuddered.
He pictured Aurora in place of the girl who had begged for her
life. He couldn’t get the terrible image out of his
mind.
    He flicked the porcelain mug,
irritated. Instinct had him grabbing at the coffee cup and wrapping
his hands around it to preventing it from toppling over. Hot coffee
spilled onto his hand. Swearing under his breath, he reached for a
napkin and wiped it off. It hadn’t burned but would be sticky
later.
    The distraction gave his head the
moment’s rest it needed. First, he needed to speak to Aurora and
warn her to keep quiet. It didn’t seem very likely this was
something she’d be telling other people, but he still needed to
take precautions. Her life meant more to him than anything ever
had.
    Second, he had to find a way to get
rid of Nanny. It wouldn’t take her long to figure out something was
going on between Aurora and him. She’d take pleasure in hurting him
by doing something to Aurora. However, he also needed to find out
what she wanted. She wouldn’t come looking for him without some
sort of agenda.
    He needed to make sure Nanny didn’t
know where he lived. He’d have to find Janus and ask him to keep
that information to himself. Too bad a Shadow couldn’t get a
restraining order on another Shadow. The Night Council would laugh
in his face if he tried to approach them. At least Janus knew his
past situation with Nanny. He’d be willing to help.
    Erebus sighed. Unless, of course,
Janus found out about Aurora. He’d have to stand before the Night
Council. Nothing would matter then. Aurora would be dead, and all
because of him. The Night Council would force him to watch or
participate before they came after him. Horrific pictures filled
him again.
    Gulping down the rest of his coffee,
he headed out of the café to his apartment. He checked to make sure
Nanny wasn’t lurking about and, assured of her absence, quickened
his pace. Tapping in the numbers to his keyless entry, he dug in
his coat as his cell began vibrating.
    “Hello?” He started flipping lights on
inside and hadn’t bothered to check the caller ID.
    “Hiya.” Aurora’s voice sounded breezy.
“You know how hard it has been to sit here all day and wait for it
to get dark out? I’ve been dying to talk to you.”
    Dying? More appalling