Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic Read Online Free PDF Page B

we’re to work together you need to understand the difference. It’s extremely important. And it’s the reason you’ve had so much trouble finding and killing them. They aren’t just gooey, decaying reanimated corpses, Kord. The reborn are cunning and deadly in their own way. They’re faster than you are, stronger and better organized. And with Edwige feeding them information they’re better equipped for this battle. Don’t ever forget that.”
    “We’ve done all right. The hunters have killed hundreds of them.”
    “And there are thousands more.”
    His eyes widened in surprise before he could stop himself. True, they’d been working blindly, without any idea how many of the things Edwige had created, but he’d assumed they were making good progress exterminating them.
    “It’s the reason you didn’t recognize Grimm Forbes for what he really is.”
    Kord didn’t want to believe her. But something deep inside told him she was right. “Okay, say Forbes is a zom…reborn. Why is he helping us kill them?”
    She shrugged. “He’s most likely been planted by Edwige so she always knows what you’re up to.”
    Audie frowned at that. “If I find out he’s been reporting back to the witch I’ll kill him myself.” But just as he knew instinctively that Yeira’s suspicion of Grimm was probably right, he also knew Grimm wasn’t a traitor. “But I don’t believe it for a minute.”
    She shook her head, “Kord…”
    “No, I’ve listened to you, now you listen to me for a minute.” When she closed her mouth and fixed him with a scowl, he went on. “I’ve known Grimm for two years. In that time I’ve never seen anything that would indicate he was less than enthusiastic about his job. I consider the man a friend and I’m not going after him on your word alone.”
    The damnable woman smiled a mean little smile. “But you’ve heard rumors haven’t you?”
    How the hell would she know that? “There are always rumors.”
    Yeira nodded, looking down at her feet as she seemed to collect her thoughts. “I’m going to tell you something that will probably rock your world.”
    “I’m listening.”
    Yeira expelled a breath. “Despite what you hunters believe, not all of Edwige’s creations are evil and we’re most definitely not all the same.”
    “And you’re telling me this, why?”
    “Because I want you to understand that it’s possible Grimm is acting from a place of good intent. In fact I’d say there’s just as much a possibility of that, as there is that he’s a spy for Edwige.”
    Audie stared at her for a moment as his stomach churned. If what she said was true, that meant he and the other hunters might have killed a lot of Grimms…and Yeiras…along the way. No. It couldn’t be. If it were true then his whole world view was skewed. Up was down and inside was out. Audie shook his head. “I’ll not go after Grimm.”
    Yeira shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
    Why did he doubt she was even a quarter as unconcerned as she was trying to appear?
    “So where do we start?” he asked her.
    Yeira jerked her head toward a low rise of round-topped hills in the distance. “There are ten reborns in that hillside lair.”
    Audie pulled his sword so quickly the woman’s bright blue gaze widened slightly with alarm. “Let’s go kill them.”
    Instead of moving, Yeira just stared up at him, looking eminently disappointed.
    When she didn’t move, Audie placed the tip of his sword in the dirt at his feet and leaned on it. “What?”
    “Have you even been listening to me?”
    He frowned. “Hanging on every word, why?”
    “You remember the part about my goal? Wherein I don’t kill everything that moves but instead try to find Edwige?”
    She sounded so much like his legal counsel Audie couldn’t help grinning. She certainly didn’t look like any lawyer he’d ever met. “Vaguely.”
    She turned on her heel and strode away, her feet hitting the dry, scratchy-sounding grass much harder than they