Treachery Read Online Free Page B

Ltd, 11 Community
Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India. Penguin Group (NZ),
67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson
New Zealand Ltd). Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa. Penguin Books Ltd,
Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R oRL, England.
     
     
    Copyright © 2012 by Broken Foot Productions, Inc.
    Orion Constellation copyright © iStockphoto.com/peresanz. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without
permission in writing from the publisher, Philomel Books, a division of Penguin
Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
Philomel Books, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. The scanning, uploading and distribution
of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the
publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic
editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted
materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. The publisher
does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author
or third-party websites or their content.
     
    Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America.
Edited by Jill Santopolo. Interior book design, including the Lupus, Crux and Orion
constellations by Amy Wu. Text set in 10.25-point Appoline Regular.
     
    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cremer, Andrea R. Bloodrose : a Nightshade novel / Andrea Cremer. p. cm.
Summary: Calla Tor, the alpha member of her shapeshifting wolf pack,
must decide if her illicit love for the human Shay is worth the ultimate sacrifice.
[1. Wolves—Fiction. 2. Love—Fiction. 3. Supernatural—Fiction.
4. Shapeshifting—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.C86385Bl 2012 [Fic]—dc22 2010052004
     
    ISBN 978-0-399-25612-7
    1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
     

 
    For my parents
     

 
    I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
     
Thomas Hobbes

PART I
AIR
    ONE
     
     
     
    I COULD HEAR each heavy beat of my heart. The sound seemed to ebb from my veins out of my body, traveling across the empty space between the shimmering portal and the dark house.
    He was there. I had no doubt. Though I couldn’t see him or even catch the slightest hint of his warm, smoky scent, I knew he was there. Waiting for me. But why? Why would Ren come to this lonely place?
    My gaze traveled over the shadows that twisted as clouds slid over the moon, reminding me too much of wraiths. I stared at the sky so I didn’t have to look at the houses, or the skeletal frames of those left unfinished. Time had been frozen here. The mountain slope, cleared of trees to make way for a cul-de-sac and ring of houses, whispered of a past unreachable. The sprawling Haldis Compound—or what would have become the Haldis Compound—lay before me, composed of luxury homes built exclusively for the pack Ren and I would have led together. Our pack’s den. Our home.
    I turned to face Adne, trying to hide my shivering. “Stay out of sight. You’ll hear me if there’s a problem, and if I come running, you’d better open a door fast. No matter what, don’t come looking for me.”
    “Deal,” she said, already backing toward the forest. “Thank you, Calla.”
    I nodded before I shifted into wolf form. Adne melted into shadows. When I was satisfied that no one would be able to detect her, I began to stalk toward the house. Its windows were dark, the structure silent. For all appearances it looked empty, but I knew it wasn’t.
    I kept my muzzle low, testing the air. We’d arrived upwind from the compound, which left me feeling vulnerable. I wouldn’t be able to pick up the scent of anyone hidden by night’s veil until I was almost on top of them. My ears flicked back and forth, alert, listening for any sign of life. There was nothing. No rabbits dashing for cover