Of A Darker Nature Read Online Free Page A

They told her that you stayed behind to ensure they reached safety. I’m sure once she hears you’re alright, she’ll be pleased.”
    Marcus snorted in displeasure. He didn’t give a rip if Isabella was pleased or otherwise.
    Evan pulled at his shirt sleeves. Lord help him, he looked just like Isabella. It made sense, of course. They were related somewhere down the line. They’d searched through piles of birth and death records to deem him her great grandson – times four or so. Sometimes, even that wasn’t enough to save him from her wrath.
    Uncomfortable beneath Marcus's stare, Evan took a step back. “Jai Li and Corey were in her room for a while. I listened at the door, but only heard bits and pieces. Corey said you chased the witch and got trapped.”
    “She wasn’t there, but some of her lackeys were." Marcus rolled his shoulders in an effort to relieve the tension gathered there. "Trent and Pete were there too.”
    Evan shook his head. “Does Isabella know the witch personally?”
    “Yeah, they’ve met.” Marcus kept the answer simple. In truth, it was anything but simple. He could tell Evan wanted to discuss it further, but there were some things he didn’t need to know. “Isabella has ignored the disobedience of her favorite pet and put us all in danger. Can you believe she’s forbidden me to harm him? She wants Trent brought back without a scratch.”
    “Trent wouldn’t be the only one who has misbehaved.” Evan waggled a manicured finger. He followed Marcus upstairs into their shared bedroom. “We’re supposed to stay under the radar, keep to the shadows. Did you forget?”
    “It’s not like I asked to get bludgeoned to death.” He slipped out of the foul stonewashed jeans and tossed them at Evan, who tried to shield himself. They smacked him in the chest then fell to the floor.
    Marcus pulled clean pants from the closet. “Pete must have told Trent that we followed him. He and his crew were at the warehouse. Afterward, I got sent to the wrong place, and I’m certain it was a set up so he could finish what he started.”
    “Sent where?" Evan's concern burned brightly on his face. "Who was there waiting?”
    “I’m not sure. Some family owned place that I need to check out. They could be running a disposal for the witch.” Plus, it would give him an excuse to see the redhead again.
    When Marcus awoke, he’d had the oddest notion that she'd looked into his mind, maybe even his soul. He couldn't explain it, but somehow she'd gotten beneath his skin. He itched to find out more.
    There was something about her, something in the way she’d looked at him with those pretty green eyes. He had to see her again, even if it was from afar. God help her if she had any involvement in this.
    Evan paled. “You think Starr is paying someone to get rid of your kind?”
    Marcus shrugged, irritated that he came up short on answers. “That would explain some of the disappearances and the decrease in the newly turned, wouldn’t it? Even the shifters think something’s fishy. They’re a stupid bunch of animals, so if they can see it, why can’t Isabella?”
    “What can we do?”
    Marcus threw a hanger aside. “This is going to blow up in our faces. I think the witch will make her move soon, and Trent has aligned himself with her. I can’t even begin to imagine who else she has on her side.”
    “You think Trent works for her now? Surely there’s another explanation.” Evan’s face pinched. “Really Marcus, he’s been with Isabella longer than anyone.”
    “Perhaps he’s grown tired of her too.” Marcus struggled to contain the anger that boiled within his chest. Evan sounded a lot like Isabella. How could they both be so damned naive?
    “She won’t like this.”
    “Would you like me to wait until we have more allies? It might be too late by then.”
    The shifter community doesn’t want to get in the middle of it. Who’s left?” 
    Marcus paced the room in agitation. “We're running