The Order Boxed Set Read Online Free PDF Page A

then, you hardly need to worry about wrinkles. And neither would I if you’d agree to my request.”
    “Females never survive the transition.” She’d come to him more than thirty years ago, asking to be changed, to become a vampire. That she could even think he would consider it was crazy.
    Her expression became eager. “I’ve been working on a spell—”
    He eyed her coldly. “I would tie you to the stake and light the match myself before I would consider turning you. Or allowing you to be turned.”
    “Bastard!”
    “Without a doubt. And now the pleasantries are over, perhaps we can get down to business.” He slid on to the stool opposite her. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
    “I thought Piers had already told you. I don’t know what more I can add.”
    He forced down the anger that threatened to overwhelm him. “Just tell me what you saw.”
    “Not a lot. The night Gabriel disappeared, I saw him in a vision. I warned him not to go. He didn’t listen.” Her eyes glittered with malice. “You taught him too well, Christian. He’s never trusted me, and that’s your fault. If he’d listened to me, instead of you, he’d still be alive.”
    Christian ignored the taunt. “Piers said the demon was only a minor one, that Gabe should have had no problem sending it back. So what happened?”
    “How should I know? At a guess, they’re getting strength from something way more powerful.” She took a sip of her wine. “From what I’ve picked up, the lesser demons are hunting for something. This isn’t just normal mischief. Someone is sending them across and whoever it is, they’re lending them power.”
    “Who would be strong enough to do that?”
    “Not many. Probably one of the seven. Could be your old friend, Asmodai.”
    His eyes narrowed at the name, and he felt the familiar surge of hatred at the thought of the demon prince. “Have you any proof of that?”
    “None, but it makes sense. He hates you, probably not as much as you hate him, but he still hates.”
    “Piers told me that you believed I was involved.”
    “I saw you, straight after the vision with Gabriel—the two are obviously connected.”
    Christian didn’t like her, but he sensed she was telling the truth. He also knew he had all the information he was going to get tonight. But did Ella really believe Asmodai was involved, or was she just trying to wind him up? It was hard to tell. She hated Christian, but she also wanted him, wanted what she believed he could give her, and that made her dangerous.
    He stood up. “If you discover anything else, you’ll let me know.”
    “Of course, oh Lord and Master.”
    Christian ignored the sarcasm. His cell phone rang as he left the bar. He glanced at the caller ID. “Piers?”
    “Things are just getting better and better,” Piers said.
    Christian sighed. “What is it?”
    “I just received a tip-off. Apparently t he Walker is around.”
    Christian’s fingers tightened on the phone. “Are you sure?”
    “That’s what the man said. The Walker’s been seen, and he’s hunting.”
    “Hunting what?”
    “My informer didn’t have a clue, but he reckoned we’d want to know.”
    Too right, he wanted to know. Unlike demons, the fae had little desire to come to earth. They tended to hold humans in total contempt, along with anything else that wasn’t pure fae, and t he Walker was the worst. He was also an assassin, and had no right setting foot out of the Faelands. What the hell drew him so far from home?
    Gabriel was dead, one of the seven probably involved, and now t he Walker was abroad. Was it all tied in or mere coincidence? Coincidence seemed unlikely. He didn’t believe in coincidence.
    “You still there?” Piers asked.
    “Just thinking. You need to set up a meeting with the fae.”
    Piers swore. “Yeah, I’d already decided that, but I hate fucking fairies.”
    Christian agreed. At least you knew where you were with a demon. The fae were tricky. He ended