Challenged by Darkness (An Urban Fantasy Novel) (Befallen Tides series Book 2) Read Online Free

had become well acquainted.
    And she’d found him falling asleep against a grimy lamppost.
    “You’re breaking laws right now!” she hissed. “Revealing yourself like this? What are you thinking?”
    Keaton was about to argue until Sabrina pointedly lifted his upper lip with her finger and let it flap against his fangs.  He sucked in a shocked breath. He hadn’t even noticed. When was the last time he had lost control in a public place?
    “What are you doing here?” he growled. He shook his head to clear it of fogginess, and as he did so, his features returned to composed and normal.
    “Not making a spectacle of myself.” Sabrina kept her grip on his arm and began to lead him away. “Come with me. I’ll give you shelter.”
    Once upon a time, he would have willingly taken that offer. Sabrina wasn’t only attractive and good in bed; she was witty and fun. Being with her had been the closest thing to a relationship that he’d ever had. But the bandits mixing packs was always had the problem of where their loyalties fell, and that hadn’t changed.
    “Wait.” He tugged his arm from her hold. “I can’t go with you.”
    “Your pack. They’re gone, aren’t they?”
    The accusation pulled at Keaton. “How would you know that?”
    “You aren’t the only one who lost their family.”
    So Sabrina was alone too. The smile that usually frequented her mouth had disappeared.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    She touched his chest, right over his heart. “Come with me. I’ll show you.”
    Keaton looked over his shoulder, as if he could feel eyes on him. Then he looked back at her. The decision was a hard one.
    “Please,” she said again, tugging his arm in her direction.
    Powerless to his curiosity, he followed.
    Darkness descended over the city. The owner of the B&B, a Doug Yertz, had yet to leave his office. His brow furrowed as he eyeballed the paperwork littering his desk until the picture of his family caught his eye. He smiled with a trace of longing and ran a finger along the edge of the frame.
    A small black-and-white television to his right went fuzzy. Doug rapped the top sharply with his fist, but it did no good. When he slapped harder, the screen went dark altogether. Doug huffed in frustration and looked back down at his ledger.
    Without the distraction of the TV, other sounds in the night grabbed Doug’s attention. He got up to look out his office window, but there was nothing in sight.
    The jangle of the front door bells echoed around the foyer.
    Doug froze. He peered out the double doors of his office and to the hall.
    “Hello? Can I help you?”
    There was no answer, but he could see the outline of someone standing beside the door. Doug finished putting on his coat and walked toward the front desk with a fake smile pasted to his face. “Welcome. Are you looking for a room?”
    No reply.
    Doug stayed behind the counter. “Sir? Or…ma’am? Is everything all right, or—”
    “Do you have guests currently in your establishment?”
    “Our services are available year-round.” Doug paused. “If you’re concerned about disturbances from other guests, our walls provide each customer with as much privacy as possible.”
    “I’m searching for specific persons staying in your boarding house. Do you have a Winx Rowan currently residing here?”
    Doug remained hesitant. “Are you a cop? Because if you’re looking for someone, I’ll have to see some ID.”
    As the man looked up, Doug could just make out the crest of his smile. “You seem like an intelligent man, so I’ll make this clear. Tell me what I want to know, or say goodbye to your business.”
    “I suggest you leave, or I’ll call the police.”
    He laughed loudly. “You think I fear law enforcement? I could rip out your throat before dispatch contacted them.”
    Doug fumbled for his gun, but once drawn, he held it steady. “Get out of here. Now.”
    The intruder lifted a hand and opened the door. “Very well. I didn’t realize