Vengeance Borne Read Online Free PDF Page B

at her. Too intimate . It had clouded Jacquelyn’s judgment and prompted her to become involved with him in the first place. The way he could see into her soul without her permission, feel what she felt had become more of an intrusion than a deep connection. It was nothing more than false emotion, contrived by his calming effect on her. She couldn’t allow herself to be fooled tonight or any other night ever again. Not until she knew her feelings were hers and not an echo of something he wanted her to feel.
    “Thanks.” She pulled away and wiped her clammy palms down the front of her jeans. “I’m going to bed. I can barely stay upright. ’Night.”
    “Whatever,” Finn said, draping himself again in cruel apathy. He turned and headed for his truck. “Don’t go out without me again. Next time you might not be so lucky.”
    Jacquelyn fought the urge to call him out on his own bullshit attitude, mouthing a couple of her favorite swear words at his back instead. Even though she blamed Finn for things that weren’t necessarily his fault, it didn’t change the way she felt. He’d always be too overprotective, and she’d always be too proud to let down her guard.
    Finally inside, the thought of a shower didn’t seem as appealing as it once had. Instead, she flopped face first on her bed and breathed in the smell of fresh fabric softener on a clean comforter. A pang of regret shot through her as she realized she’d washed all traces of Finn from the bedding. It didn’t smell like him anymore. A lump formed deep in Jacquelyn’s throat, but she swallowed it down.
    Hunters don’t cry.

Chapter 4
    JACQUELYN WINCED AS she examined the butterfly-bandaged cut on her cheek. Her jaw hurt like hell, and she’d probably be limping for a day or two. Of course, Finn could give her already quick-healing body a boost, but no way in hell was she going to ask him for help. The waxing moon had a way of stirring up a hornet’s nest of supernatural trouble, and this month was no different. She longed for the dark, void sky of a new moon, a couple of weeks away. At least the cycle would be on the wane soon and things would slow down.
    With a sigh, she pinned the plastic nametag to her polo shirt and wound the strings of her black apron around her waist twice before tying it in a bow just below her hips. Another glamorous day of lattés and cappuccinos awaited and she couldn’t afford to be late. She was holding on to this job by a thread and if she missed one more shift, she’d be back to collecting unemployment.
    Job commitment was a concept Jacquelyn had yet to grasp. Then again, it was hard to get too excited about brewing coffee when she’d spent the previous night battling the supernatural. Everyday life lacked luster when you were anything but an everyday sort of girl. She wondered which punishment was worse, pouring lattés all day just to make ends meet, or losing precious sleep because she’d been out policing supernatural beings to keep the world safe for good, innocent people. She had to admit it, Jacquelyn liked protecting these people. This small Idaho town had become her home. The people here, her family.
    Already late, she didn’t have time for more than a quick apprising look in the mirror. I look like I ran into the business end of a lead pipe. She frowned at her battered reflection once more before she headed out the door. The occasional broken face came with the territory. No big deal. Even without a Bearer’s help she healed quicker than the average person. At least there were a few perks to being a Waerd.
    McCall was a small town nestled in the mountains of central Idaho about a million miles from anywhere in all directions. The area boasted a couple of ski hills and a few lakes, miles upon miles of parks and forests, and not a few old ranches and ranchers who’d been around long enough to tell you tales of boarding horses for local Native American tribes. There were two grocery stores, half a dozen coffee