Of A Darker Nature Read Online Free

front door and stepped onto the porch. “Can’t you at least pretend to be ordinary?”
    Why was this a hot button issue with her? Most of the time, she didn’t even mention the ability or practice it. “I wish I could, but this is who I am. Until you acknowledge that, I guess we’ll always be at odds.”
    “I’m sorry, but I won’t be coming around anymore.” Liz’s gaze hardened. “Don’t bother to call or drop by. I’ll be unavailable.”
    “See if I care.” Emily tilted her chin up and pretended that Liz’s words didn’t sting. “And how do you know Detective Hahm anyway?”
    Liz allowed a half smile. “She’s a client. I do her taxes.”
    Her sister made a hasty retreat to her car and backed out of the driveway. Emily watched her taillights until they disappeared into the inky blackness. Finally, she closed the door and locked it. 
    “I’m sorry, sweetie.” Brenda’s arms crushed Emily in a hug. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
    Emily stayed in the shower until she used up all the hot water. After that, she dropped onto the faded patchwork quilt her mother had made for a long ago birthday. Now, as she lay curled in a fetal position, fear crept over her. What if something terrible crawled through the window while she slept? The guys from the mortuary could have followed her home. They might be outside the window right now watching, waiting.
    Emily had never been one to let others fight her battles, but just this once she would welcome a bedside vigil from her hero, John Doe. She clutched the blanket beneath her chin and shifted her eyes in the darkness. She strained to hear each and every noise in the house, imagined or not. Her mind scrambled to grasp what was real and what wasn’t. There seemed to be a fine line that separated the two and Emily no longer knew where it began or ended.
    She spied the toe tag on the nightstand where she’d left it. “John Doe,” it read. It seemed silly, but she tucked it beneath her pillow to ward off any unpleasant dreams.

 
    Marcus made his way to the newest hideout, careful to keep to the shadows and side streets. His head was still fuzzy after everything that had happened that night.
    The gate swung open, and the human guard smiled at him. Marcus walked past and ignored him. The vampires traded places with humans during the day, and it was the middle of a shift change. He wasn’t so sure the human guards, blood slaves or not, were a wise choice. Marcus wanted the werewolves to stand guard while the vampires slumbered, but Isabella didn’t want the dirty animals anywhere near her blood-clan.
    Marcus entered the grand foyer. The scent of vanilla potpourri cloistered around the room. Just below it, he smelled death and despair in the form of old blood and decay.
    Evan dropped what he was doing to hurry alongside him. He was all atwitter now that Marcus had returned. He tripped over the cranberry carpet and bumped into Marcus's shoulder several times. “Where have you been? Mistress is livid that you went missing.”
    Evan’s voice rose to a shrill whisper. “Now you’re back and half naked. Those aren’t even your jeans!”
    Marcus aimed a derisive grin at Evan's attire. He wore black dress pants, a black vest, and a ruffled, hot pink tuxedo shirt. “Are you making fun of me, Princess? You look like you stole that outfit from a colorblind drag queen.”
    Evan laughed and fluffed the pale blonde hair atop his head. He struck his best pinup pose. “Do you like it?”
    Marcus pinched the apple of Evan’s cheek. “You look tasty as always.”
    Evan’s expression sobered, and he laid a hand against his chest. “I was worried about you, Marcus Dane. It’s nearly sunup!”
    “I had a little run-in with Trent and his thugs.”
    “You haven’t eaten, have you? There's a wild look in your eyes.”
    “I had a snack, but just enough to keep me sane.”
    This explanation proved enough to stop Evan’s chatter. “Jai Li and Corey made it back.