Daybreak Read Online Free

hero.
    Game, set, and match.
    He freed the girl and extended a hand. “Come on, precious. We need to make tracks before O’Malley misses this shipment.”
    It gave him a little burst of pleasure when her small fingers touched his. She stepped from the truck, his hands on her waist. She took a step toward him as if unable to help herself, seeking his proximity. Mine. Soon. The lion in him gave a lazy growl of approval. He needed a fuck so bad.
    The girl drew up short then, glancing up at the truck. “But what about the others?”
    “I’ll help them get to safety,” Pen said firmly.
    But she looked winded and wan, hardly able to shepherd a motley group of refugees. Tru gave them half an hour in the wasteland. Tops.
    Not my problem.
    Until Calla said, “We’ll help you.”
    Shit. Tru glared. He could get to hate Penelope fucking Sheehan.

THREE
     
    Pen stared back. But mentally, she changed him into the boy she’d once known. This version of Tru, grown-up and beautiful, was a selfish bastard.
    The young woman, Calla, stared at him with the eyes of a little girl at Christmas. Pen remembered feeling that way. She’d sat on her mother’s lap, determined to stay awake long enough to see Santa come down the chimney. She’d never managed to do so, but neither had she lost faith.
    The Change had taken it from her instead.
    Trying to heal that wounded prisoner had taken a lot from her, too. She hated that Tru had been right about the poor kid. The girl just bled and bled. Pen had been willing to try her most dedicated spell, knowing the risk. She hadn’t been allowed that chance.
    Now she had a whole truckful of captives to protect, and the only viable partner in her task was one surly, selfish skinwalker.
    Pen grabbed a cloth from the pile of rags the guards had confiscated from their quarry. After wiping her hands, she dug a little deeper and found her cloak. And her belt of knives. She didn’t know what god to thank anymore when things went right, so she always just thanked her mother—the closest connection she maintained with the divine.
    Wrapping that fine, familiar wool around her shoulders, she held her dizziness at bay. She needed food and sleep. That was the counter to the energy expended for her spells. With another glance at Tru, she knew he suffered the same ailment. Magic could be a fine thing, but it made unearthly demands on the body.
    “Calla,” she said evenly, taking a knee. “Would you do something for me?”
    The woman nodded. She really was an incredible beauty. But there was a time and place for everything. In the Changed world, Pen couldn’t imagine any benefit to being so attractive. It only meant attention that few females desired.
    But then, Tru had chosen Calla from two dozen possibilities. She would live because of his attention, and because of her pretty face.
    Some things hadn’t changed at all.
    “The driver. The guards. They must’ve had food somewhere. Will you look for it?”
    As if asking for permission, Calla flicked a glance toward Tru, where he lounged against a tree trunk, arms folded over his chest.
    He simply shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
    Maybe the girl wasn’t so oblivious as Pen had first assumed. “And you will help, yes?”
    Tru sighed, shook his head in resignation, and pushed away from the tree. Calla rustled through the pile of clothing and found a jacket with shredded sleeves. Who knew if it was actually hers, but she seemed compelled to cover up. Yes, she had a little sense after all. Then she was gone, hurrying off toward the front of the truck.
    “You could be sending her to face an armed driver,” he said, strolling to meet her. He yanked aside the canvas flap.
    “You don’t leave wounded if you attack.” She met his gaze. “I’d stake my soul on it.”
    He snorted. “Soul. Good luck with that.”
    “Tell me I’m wrong, then. Tell me I just sent that girl to her death.”
    “They’re dead. She’ll be fine.”
    Together they helped the