Dark Destiny: Book One of the Destiny Novella Series (Destiny Novellas 1) Read Online Free Page B

this. My aunt never mentioned you.”
    Bennett set the bags down slowly and pulled his phone from his pocket.
    “Lady Chamonix told your aunt where to find the pot-tet . It is a talisman on a long, gold chain. And I need it most urgently. As Ms. Dubois is unable to help you, perhaps you might contact your grandmother concerning it. It could be that your aunt told her mother about it, yes? She is the family matriarch, after all.”
    “Wait, just…wait.” Lily scrambled for something to say, something that would draw out useful information to identify the man. Bennett moved his phone close to hers, recording the conversation. “Maybe this thing you want was in the store, and now you’ve gone and destroyed it.”
    “Ah, regrettably, no . It was not in the shop or the apartment. I looked myself. You are very peaceful when you sleep, you know . So beautiful, so much potential. I do hope you find rest this night. I will call you again soon. Good evening.”
    Lily’s blood ran cold and she closed her eyes. He had been in their home, had watched them sleep. Guilt washed over her in waves; had she been more in tune with her abilities, she might have sensed him there. Might have prevented all of this. Veronique’s skills were not nearly as pronounced as Lily’s, so the fact that she hadn’t been aware either wasn’t a surprise. And it made Lily sick. Her own resistance to the despised family talents had put them at risk.
    She raised her eyes to Bennett only to see cold fury in his face as he scrolled through his phone. He knelt down beside her as he put the phone to his ear. “I’m going to have Jeremy come over now to do his interview with you. The police need to know about this immediately.” He paused. “We will find this man,” he murmured to her, his hand on her knee, “and then I will kill him myself.”
     
    Lily tossed and turned, wincing with each movement despite the fluffy softness of the bed she rested in. Dreams chased in and out of her mind, images of her mother, of Veronique lying in the hospital bed, and a nameless, faceless enemy who had tried to send her aunt a deadly message. Lily was running through the streets, dark shadows chasing her, calling to her, and she knew if she stopped she would be destroyed. Dark tendrils filled the air around her, squeezed her until she thought all of her bones would break, threaded their way down her throat and into her lungs, choking every last breath from her body.
    She sat up in the bed, gasping for air, the movement hurting her ribs so badly she felt dizzy from the pain. Someone was there, in the room with her, and he reached for her as she screamed.
    “Lily!” Bennett held her arms as she thrashed and fought him. “Stop, it’s just me. Shhh. It’s ok.”
    Lily stopped struggling, the frantic burst of energy gone as quickly as it had come, leaving her limp with exhaustion and blinding pain. Tears formed in her eyes and fell, and she slumped against him, trying to calm the wracking sobs that built in her chest and made everything hurt worse.
    He held her close to him as she cried, gently massaging her back and cradling her head against his shoulder. He murmured to her gently, words she couldn’t hear over her own ragged breaths but that resonated deep in her body like a physical thing. Vibrated there, soothing, comforting.
    “You were dreaming,” he whispered in her ear as she finally managed to relax a bit, tears still flowing but the painful sobbing eased. “I’m right here, it’s ok.”
    She clung to the solid reality of his arm, forcing her fingers to relax when she realized she’d been digging into him with her nails. “I’m sorry,” she whispered and wiped at her nose with the back of her hand.
    He reached over to the nightstand and handed her a tissue. Moonlight bathed the room in a soft, silver glow and a cool breeze wafted through the open French doors on the balcony. She lifted her hand, placing her palm on his chest and feeling the soft