Blood Debts (The Temple Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free

be visible only to wizards. Odd, because he was definitely not a wizard. I just didn’t know exactly what he was. He was wearing a bulky 1980’s era trench coat that clashed with the practically archaic dress clothes underneath, and he was much taller than me. He sported a clean-shaven, baby face, and moved with the grace of a Calvin Klein underwear model. My wizard senses picked up the smell of frost and burning gravel. Odd combination… I had never seen anyone quite like him. And the fact that he didn’t know how to dress to fit in with the modern day humans was unnerving. It meant he didn’t belong here. On Earth. No doubt a smart person to avoid.
    But the cheap liquor and his unexpected warning had me wanting to vent off some steam.
    “Am I to understand that you arranged a meeting with me — to which you arrived abhorrently late — in order to tell me to stop meeting people with information on my parents’ murder?” He nodded. “Our phone call would have sufficed. Otherwise, I might be inclined to think that you were deliberately wasting my time. And very few people would consider doing that to me.” The man shrugged, unperturbed. “What if I keep digging?” I pressed, idly assessing my surroundings for collateral damage, shivering as I remembered that everyone was frozen and unable to escape. That changed things. Hemmingway took a sip of his drink, watching the exchange with interest. Why was he not immobilized?
    My contact assessed me up and down, not with overt disrespect, but merely as if wondering what form of creature sat before him. “This is a heavenly affair, not your… jurisdiction. But it’s your funeral.” Hemmingway immediately burst out laughing. I frowned at him. Was he drunk? My appointment was obviously powerful, and Hemmingway looked as if a strong wind would blow him away like a kite. Something the man had said drew me back away from the frozen patrons of the bar. The man had casually said heavenly . Was he being literal?
    “This is none of your concern.” The man hissed at Hemingway, causing my drinking partner’s grin to split even wider, revealing dazzlingly white teeth.
    Him threatening my brand new drinking buddy pissed me right the fuck off for some reason. “Are you,” I began, giving the stranger a mocking head-to-toe appraisal, “threatening me?” The man… blinked, as if seeing a kitten suddenly sprout horns. It fueled my anger even more. I mean, I wasn’t the scariest kid on the block, but I was formidable.
    Wasn’t I?
    “I don’t need to threaten a man hunting for death.” The stranger shared his glare with Hemmingway and gave a faint grunt. “Just a polite warning.” He began to turn away, business obviously concluded.
    But I wasn’t finished. Not at all. He needed a lesson in manners. Since Hemmingway seemed content to merely watch, and the other patrons of the bar were immobilized, that left me to teach him.
    I pulled the energy that filled the room from all the supernatural presence surrounding us deep into my soul into a cocoon of raw power. Enough that my vision began to twinkle with black flecks, and then I let loose a wallop of pure power straight into the stranger’s stomach. It punched him about as hard as a Mack Truck, and he went sailing out the front door, taking half of the frame with him. I grunted, nodding proudly. Hemmingway’s eyes shot wide open in disbelief and then alarm.
    I was instantly surrounded by shiny, pointy things, all resting at my throat. I hadn’t even seen anyone move. Wasn’t everyone in the bar frozen? I swallowed. Carefully. Apparently I had misread the situation.
    Then Hemmingway burst out laughing.
    I looked at one of my assailants, my gaze cool despite the uneasiness squirming in my belly. “I don’t take kindly to pointless meetings, pointy things at my throat, or threats.”
    “Don’t speak, mortal, or I will carve out your jugular.” The pompous ass threatened.
    I shrugged slowly, trying to appear