04 Last Read Online Free

when I do that,” he said.
    “That’s never stopped you before,” I said.
    “Clare…” he said in a voice laced with doubt.
    It was the beginning of an unnecessary conversation. Despite being a super-being, he still had an overwhelming capacity for self-doubt. It was easy for him to think I had found someone else to fulfill my desires. He didn’t realize there would never be anyone but him. The emotion made him more human – which would have been a good thing any other time.
    “I am not, nor will I ever, cheat on you,” I said.
    “That’s not an answer to my question,” he pointed out.
    “Life’s not fair,” I said.
    His lips moved to form a retort. His retort was stopped by a knock on the door. He closed his eyes in irritation at the interruption.
    His eyes still closed, he said, “Come in, Alex.”
    Alex opened the door and let it swing out until it bumped in to the opposite wall. Her golden hair reflected the florescent light above, giving her the appearance of a halo. She looked at us for a moment, sensing the tension hanging in the air. Her x-ray eyes assessed our moods and our body language. More than that, the gift she had developed with my blood – the ability to see to the heart of most things – went in to overdrive. It was an ability she had used to seal her place in the Saints. While Spider had forged his place by being the go-to guy for anything anybody could ever need, Alex had become the go-to girl for confessions and therapy sessions. People depended on her for it now. No one could imagine a time when she wasn’t in the Saints. It was a talent I would have preferred she didn’t use on me so much.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “We’re arguing,” I admitted.
    “Oh, it’s about King, isn’t it?” she asked.
    “Yeah,” I agreed.
    “How do you know about that?” Daniel asked suspiciously.
    “Daniel…some things are better as surprises,” Alex said pointedly. “You know that better than anyone. What did Jackson say?”
    “The place is a fortress,” I said. “We’re going to go and check it out. I think Reaper is hoping some grand epiphany will happen in his brain once he looks at the place.”
    Alex made a disbelieving noise in the back of her throat – doubt Reaper would ever have any kind of ‘grand epiphany’ – but she didn’t say her thoughts out loud.
    “Do I get to come?” she asked.
    “Of course,” I said. “Not only would I not leave you, you wouldn’t stay if I tried to make you.”
    “That’s true,” she said with a smile.
    She took a step in to the room, feeling more comfortable now that we had gotten past the tension of my argument with Daniel.
    “I talked to Dad,” she added.
    “Oh, yeah?” I asked.
    “They finally found a house they like,” she said. “They’re going to buy it. Apparently, they sold both of their houses in King’s Cross. Dad was more comfortable selling our house than Ellen was with yours…she had trouble with it. But I guess she was determined to move on.”
    I would have expected nothing less from Ellen. Selling her childhood home was a big step for her – I wasn’t sure it was one she was entirely ready for. However, it was a step she was willing to take to make a new life with Sam. It made me proud of her – she was finally growing up.
    “Where did they buy their new house?” I asked.
    “Santa Monica,” Alex said. “It’s three doors down from Naomi. Dad managed to talk the people down.”
    “Of course he did,” I said. “He threaten them with death by law?” I asked.
    “Probably. He also told me that he and Ellen needed to talk to us about something,” she said.
    “That sounds serious,” I said.
    “Nah,” she disagreed. “You know how parents are. They think the smallest thing is something that’s going to freak us out. They’re probably just going to get married or something.”
    “You’re probably right,” I said. “We should probably work on our surprised faces, though. Make sure we