The Taste of Night Read Online Free

saw a fat brown field mouse hunched near the open doorway, gazing up at them with its shiny black marble eyes.
    Suzie spun off her chair and lowered her lean body into a crouch, eyes unblinking, locked on the mouse.
    â€œOh, no. You wouldn’t,” Livvy said. “It’s so cute.”
    With a sudden lightning movement, Suzie pounced. The mouse let out a squeak as Suzie grabbed it, wrapped her fingers around its stubby brown fur.
    Its last squeak.
    Suzie tore off its head and tossed it out into the hall. Then she tilted the body over her mouth and squeezed out the juice.
    When she had finished, dark blood trickling down her chin, she heaved the drained corpse into the hall. Then she turned to Livvy and Monica with a grin. “Appetizer,” she whispered.

chapter six
NIGHT BIRDS
    LIVVY TRANSFORMED INTO A SLENDER BLACKBIRD . She perched on the windowsill, gazing out at the purple night sky.
    Her feathers felt stiff and scratchy, and it took a while to get used to the rapid pattering of her heart. Once she adjusted to seeing two views at once, her eyesight was sharp.
    She raised her wings and lifted off the window. The cool air ruffled her chest feathers. She swooped higher, pale white stars blinking so close above her. What a thrill!
    To fly. To be free of the ground. To swoop and soar like a wild creature.
    I’ll never get tired of this, Livvy thought.
    And then she felt the hunger, a sharp pang that tightened her belly. She opened her beak and let the onrushingair cool her throat. The gnawing hunger was insistent, wave after wave, until she felt dizzy from the need.
    I have to feed.
    What will I find tonight? Who will help me quench my thirst?
    The yellow moon loomed above her, wisps of gray cloud snaking across it. Livvy lifted her wings and floated, gazing up at the moonlight.
    No one else can see the moon like this. I am so lucky.
    But then she felt a ripple in the wind at her side and heard the flutter of wings. Livvy turned and saw another blackbird, more plump with a streak of white in its wings, soar beside her.
    The two blackbirds flew together, side by side, wings touching. They lifted high toward the stars, then shot low above the shimmering trees.
    Livvy landed softly in tall grass and felt the dew tickle her feathers. The other bird shook its wings hard as it bounced to a landing a few feet beside her.
    They both transformed quickly into their human forms.
    Straightening her pink top, Livvy gazed at Ross Starr. The moonlight gave his short, blond hair a glow. He wore straight-legged jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt that showed off his muscular arms. He flashed her his Hollywood smile—the smile that had convinced her she needed Ross, needed to bring him with her to the other side.
    â€œHey, Ross,” she murmured. “What’s up? That was nice, wasn’t it.”
    He stepped forward and kissed her. “You and me. Flying together. Yeah. That’s what it’s about, right?”
    He tried to hug her, but Livvy pulled away. “I’m hungry. I mean, I’m starving.” She held her stomach. “I…can’t even think straight.”
    He smiled again. “Oh, yeah. Fresh nectar. I want mine super-sized!”
    She kissed him on the cheek. “Get lost, okay?”
    He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. “Come on, Liv. I need more than a kiss. You look so hot tonight.”
    â€œRoss, please—” She squeezed his hands, then pushed them off her. “I told you I need to feed.”
    He shrugged. “Okay. I’ll come with you.”
    â€œOh, sure. That’ll be helpful. You’re gonna help me pick up a guy?”
    He frowned at her. “I don’t like you with other guys.”
    â€œWhat’s your problem? He’s not a guy. He’s a meal.”
    She didn’t hear what he said next. She transformed quickly, stretching her wings, ruffling the stiff tail feathers, a blackbird again.
    She bent her