The Descent Series, Books 1-3: Death's Hand, The Darkest Gate, and Dark Union (The Descent Series, Volume 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

furniture matched in a Pottery Barn kind of way, his walls were decorated with fine photography, and he even had some kind of fancy throw rug. Elise’s idea of decorating was putting up movie posters with thumb tacks.
    “It took you a long time to get up here,” he remarked from the stove. “I hid for ages. What were you doing downstairs?”
    “Locking up. Someone forgot to shut all the windows.”
    “I was busy making dinner.” James turned on the oven light and peeked through the window. “Just a few more minutes, I think. Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine.”
    He gave her the kind of look that said he knew she wasn’t, but didn’t feel like arguing it. “Did you see the Ramirezes today?”
    “Yeah. That was fun. They’re a mess.”
    James uncorked a bottle of wine and poured it into the waiting glasses. “Is it possession?”
    “Maybe. Lucinde didn’t like having St. Benedict flashed at her. She also kicked me in the face.”
    Elise picked up the Sierra Witch’s Almanac and peered at the bookmarked page. James’s coven published a new almanac every year with lunar correspondences and seasonal spells, and they always included an excerpt from their Book of Shadows in the back. The spell he was looking at seemed complicated.
    He handed her one of the glasses. She dropped the book. “Your bruises look painful.”
    “She’s got a nasty kick for a five-year-old. Nastier than yours, anyway,” she said. He opened his mouth to protest, but she went on. “Marisa mentioned she was having nightmares. It’s possible Lucinde was attacked by a mara or an incubus instead.”
    “But you don’t think it’s possession?” he asked, serving dinner using puffy blue pot holders.
    “Probably not.”
    “Good. That will make it easier.”
    Elise shrugged. “It’s not my problem. I’m not an exorcist anymore.”
    He turned on the radio on the windowsill.
    “—other spooky news, a temp guard by the name of Richard Czynski disappeared from a cemetery in the north side of town,” the DJ said in a voice far too perky to be discussing a missing persons case. “Curiouser and curiouser, he’s not the only thing that’s disappeared. The grave of notorious Amber Hackman, one of the only people to escape this black hole of a town, has also been raided. Obviously she didn’t like having to spend her death here anymore than she did her life. Zombie attack? Your run-of-the-mill grave rob gone wrong? You ring in and let us know on Spooky News, your favorite—”
    “What trash,” he muttered, switching it over to a classic rock station.
    She felt the motion before she saw it. James’s hand whipped toward Elise.
    Side-stepping his reach, she jerked his wrist forward and trapped his arm under hers. A twist, a hard shove, and she had him against the wall.
    Elise grinned at him, and his returning smile was softer, but no less affectionate. It softened the coldness of his eyes. Ten years, and he hadn’t won a fight against her once.
    “Damn, you’re fast,” he said when she dropped him. He rubbed his elbow. “I’ll get you someday.”
    “Sure you will,” Elise said, mostly to be nice.
    They sat down together at the table. James hesitated over a piece of potato, pushing it through the prime rib’s juices with his fork. “I think you should keep working with the Ramirezes.”
    “Why? The coven can handle it, and I have too much work to do. Real work. The kind of stuff that pays the bills.” Elise smiled over her wine glass. “Unless you think the Ramirezes would pay me a consultation fee?”
    “You can’t charge them money.”
    “And I can’t pay the rent with gratitude.” She tried to ignore his disapproving stare, but she could feel its weight as she picked at her salad. “I’ll investigate. Maybe I’ll find out something helpful.”
    “Thank you.”
    She grunted. “Do you still have my falchion?”
    “It’s in the locked case where you left it. Why? Did you want it back?”
    “Not really. I was