The Twiceborn Queen (The Proving Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

disappointing,” she said in a conversational tone, then waved her hand at Thorne.
    He nodded, and before anyone could react, sabre-like claws burst from his fingertips, and he slashed the throats of both thralls in one smooth swipe. They were dead before they hit the floor.
    Alicia leapt back to avoid getting blood on her dress. Even Valeria looked shaken by the casual violence. Thorne’s claws disappeared as fast as they’d come, and he pulled a snowy white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands, all without moving from the spot.
    “Let’s have no more disappointments,” said Elizabeth. “My home is off limits for your duelling in future. Understood?”
    What else could we say?
    “Yes, ma’am,” we chorused.

CHAPTER FOUR
    We drove across the Harbour Bridge, its great steel girders criss-crossing above our heads, their huge size making the cars below look like tiny coloured toys. Five nights ago Valeria had been perched up there like some nightmare bird, even her great size diminished by the mighty bridge. I’d swooped across this deck, though there’d been no headlights lighting it up then, no traffic at all, the bridge closed for the big New Year’s Eve fireworks display. I’d flown all around it, ducking and weaving as I tried to stay ahead of Valeria’s slashing claws.
    It was hard to believe now. Everything looked so normal. The only reminder of that night was the missing dove. The fireworks had ended, as they did every year, with a waterfall of fireworks fountaining from the deck of the bridge into the harbour and the lighting of a symbol that was meant to hang from the top of the arch for the whole month of January. This year it had been a dove, symbol of peace.
    Unfortunately two warring dragons had knocked it askew, and the damaged symbol had been removed the next day. Just as well I wasn’t superstitious. That was one bad omen.
    I took the turn-off for The Rocks and threaded my way through narrow streets, quiet now, past the clock tower, up through the Argyle Cut and home. The houses here had been built before Henry Ford ever dreamed of the automobile, so there were no driveways or garages attached to the narrow homes. Street parking was always hard to find, but I didn’t bother looking. I might be keen to reassert my strength, but I wasn’t stupid. Walking the streets of The Rocks late at night with a small child and an injured man for company was asking for trouble I didn’t need.
    I double-parked outside the house. Garth must have been watching for me; he came bounding down the front steps before I even had the door open, Steve on his heels. They were both big hulking guys, and with the light behind them they looked like a badass Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Up close, though, no one would mistake them for twins. Garth, with his buzz-cut greying hair and care-worn face, was probably twice Steve’s age, but the differences in temperament were even greater. The big werewolf scowled at me as he scooped Lachie out of the back seat, whereas a welcoming grin split Steve’s dark face as he slipped behind the wheel. But they were both good at their jobs: the car disappeared and we were safe inside in a matter of seconds.
    “You’re late,” Garth growled as I followed him upstairs to settle Lachie into bed.
    “What are you, my mother?”
    He didn’t even blink. “If I was I’d bloody ground you for coming home at this hour. Where the hell have you been?”
    “You knew where I was! At the hospital.”
    “You left for the hospital at five. For a short visit, you said.”
    In Lachie’s room I pulled down the sheet and he laid Lachie on the bed. The poor kid didn’t even stir. Though Garth continued to glare at me he took off Lachie’s shoes and socks with gentle hands.
    I felt a little guilty. A new emotion for the part of me that remembered being Leandra. Tomorrow I’d have to send one of the guys out to buy me a new mobile phone. I’d lost mine in all the excitement last week and