Between the Bleeding Willows (The Demon Hunters Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

large wooden table. Killian took a dagger from his belt and laid it in a large golden bowl that sat in the middle of the table. The bowl had a blue shimmery liquid that made the dagger glow blue as it covered it. It reminded me of the glow my ring took on in the right amount of light. Killian looked down at me and smiled, knowing I was impressed.
    “I wondered when you’d summon me.” A beautiful middle-aged woman with brown curls emerged from behind us. She wore a dark purple tunic that wrapped around like a kimono, and of course, skintight leather pants with boots. She carried no weapons but had various stones and necklaces adorning her.
    “Angeline.” Killian nodded in respect to her. “Your talents are needed. Seems something went wrong with the gate, and we had a mortal slip through.” Angeline studied me intensely. Her eyes dragged up my body slowly, assessing everything from my clothes to my injuries. She finally settled upon my face with a skeptical gaze. “I need you to cross her over.”
    “I sensed her presence and knew it was a matter of time before you would bring her to me. A curiosity for sure she is. But you are anxious to return her home.” Killian nodded in answer. “As you wish. Meet me at the Center in five minutes. I need to gather my materials.”
    “Of course.” Killian grabbed my hand and began leading me away.
    My eyes fell to our hands. “I can walk perfectly fine without someone holding my hand.” Killian chuckled and released my hand. “So will going back be anything like my other crossover?”
    “Yes, it will. But you should be fine. I mean, you made it the first time, and this time Angeline is helping.” He nodded at several passing people and then added, “You’ll have to eat soon after, but it should be an easy crossover.”
    I listened and nodded, though worry began to take root. The first crossover happened by accident; I had no time to think about the consequences or worry. I did not land in this place gracefully. My ripped and dirty clothes and bandaged appendages were proof that I took some damage in the crossover. There’d probably be a few bruises coloring my skin in a few hours judging by the soreness I felt. But it could have been a lot worse. Killian seemed genuinely surprised that I survived the crossover—so a few cuts and bruises were tolerable compared to the alternative outcome. Of course here I had people, medics, caring for me. When I crossed back to home, I’d…what? End up in the graveyard looking like a piece of charcoal? Back home there was no one to look after me, no one to care if I never came back. Was there any guarantee that I wouldn’t die while crossing back into the Human Realm?
    Killian reassured me, “You will be fine, Cassidy.”
    I let out a breath and let him guide me down a long, narrow hall as my brain still thought about the upcoming crossover. There were no hallways off this narrow one; it just ended in a small circular room. Angeline was already there waiting on us. We’d held a steady pace, so she either knew a shortcut to the Center or used some sort of magic to get here fast. Killian stood against the wall, and I approached Angeline. She placed what looked like a syringe gun down on a table and picked up two vials.
    “She’s nervous,” Angeline said, looking at Killian. He agreed with a single head nod. She turned back toward me. I was nervous before seeing the long needle attached to a gun, but now I was beyond nervous. She poured the first vial, which resembled ashes, into a long line on the ground. “I had hoped I wouldn’t have to do this to you, but you are too anxious to get into the state of mind needed for crossover. If I send you like this, God knows where you’d end up.” She picked up the gun and pulled me into a tight hold against her body—she was amazingly strong for her petite frame. Instinctively, I pushed against her, trying to gain some space between us, but my efforts were in vain. And then I heard a