Fatal Sight (Harbingers Of Death Book 2) by LeAnn Mason (universal ebook reader txt) 📗

“What? It totally is, and it’s much more nutritionally beneficial than exploded corn kernels,” Cole fired back with a curled lip.

“Now, now, children,” Ember chided, reaching to snag a handful of popcorn. With a wink to combat Raven’s stink-eye, she went on. “Why not combine the two? Best of both worlds and all that?”

Cole’s deep “Now that’s nasty” resounded over Raven’s appalled sentiment of “No, just no” and brought out a rare, joyous cackle from the ancient phoenix as she dove into her gallon tub of ice cream with gusto.

Raven switched her aim and threw a handful of buttered popcorn at her friend, smirking wickedly when most of the fluffy pieces ended up in the melting creamy goo.

Ember just shrugged a thin shoulder and shoved the glinting silver spoon back into the concoction. When it emerged above the rim, there were two popcorn kernels perched right on top. The phoenix’s eyes burned with the fire of her bird as she stared Raven down, returning the smirk she’d received moments before, then opened her maw wide and slurped up every particle from the utensil.

Raven chuckled, a rare sound these days. “So, what’s on the agenda for tonight?”

With Seke rushing off to save the banshee — again — and no impending assignments, the remaining HDPU members were having fun doing jack shit. True reprieves were few and far between, and Raven tried to take advantage of each presented opportunity as directed by Ember way back when.

“I think it’s time someone other than myself relieved me. Dancing? Maybe at Claws and Feathers? I need some validation in my life, and after the last few weeks, my temps have been near-boiling. A good steam is just what I need, I think.”

“Well, I’m not letting you go to that club on your own. Someone needs to watch your back, and other someones need to know you have someone doing that,” Cole rumbled, bristling. His eyes bled to the bright crimson of his hellhound as the protective instincts kicked in at the imaginary situation.

“And what am I, chopped liver?” Raven returned, affronted.

“You know you aren’t, but…”

“We should all go,” Ember interrupted. “I think we need it. We need to leave the bunker for a bit. Maybe it’ll help revitalize us. Hit the reset button and let us breathe a little easier after… everything.”

None of them wanted to say Jessica’s name. That they wanted to get over her death. They didn’t want to forget her, but they needed to move past it and hadn’t yet. None of them.

One thing Raven would never admit out loud was that with the passage of time and leveling of tempers, she knew it hadn’t been Aria’s fault.

The second was that she actually kinda missed the ignorant screamer. She would try not to be a bitch to the banshee if Seke decided to bring her back into the fold. At least, for the first five minutes.

“Cole, Ember, Brenna. War room. Now.” Seke’s sudden intrusion made more than one of them choke and spit out beer.

Raven groaned. “There goes our fun night. Thought you said he’d be gone a while.” She shot a glare at Cole, who shrugged, looking after their captain with creased brows.

“I presumed it might be a few days. He’s accomplished what he needed to faster than I anticipated.”

“Or maybe he didn’t find her?” Ember offered.

“We should have gone out last night instead of cleaning the fucking bunker like he asked. That’s what you get for putting chores before play.” Raven let out a hearty sigh. “Well, let’s go see what’s up his butt. Whatever it is, if I had to guess, it’s probably got to do with Silver.”

17

When I got back to the motel, I was equally disappointed and pleased to find the room vacated as I’d demanded. I’d cooled off a bit during my stroll around the neighborhood, but I didn’t know if I’d ever forgive Seke for all the manipulation and lies. I guess he hadn’t exactly lied, but he hadn’t told me the truth either. He’d kept it all tucked away.

Peeking out the window, I was more annoyed to realize that Seke took the car when he left and I was well and truly on my own once again. I tamped down on the pleasant heat flooding my body, thinking about our kiss in that car.

It’s what you wanted, Aria. He’s an ass. Being on your own is better. Yeah…

I berated myself for the self-pity and the loneliness that thickened my throat. Just a few months ago, I considered it a benefit to be alone. I’d grown complacent, comfortable with the harbingers, with Seke. That wasn’t good. Being complacent led to lowered guards.

You need to always remain on your guard. A lesson voiced by both my father and Seke, it must be a good one to remember.

I straightened my spine and moved away from the window, letting the thick curtain fall heavily back into place as I began to pace the small room, trying to think about where to go from here. But instead, my mind continued harping on the Egyptian god.

Ass wasn’t even a strong enough word. He’d known my mom all along and kept it from me. All those days we sat side by side, pouring over books in the bunker’s library for any detail on how to be a banshee, and he never once mentioned that he’d met other banshees before. I mean, he was old, so one could figure, but my own family line? If he knew my mom, did he know about the tattoo she and my dad had put on me? Had he met my dad?

No. I halted my thoughts there. His surprise that day Raven translated the runes in the bunker gym was genuine. At some point, my mother had run and left the Harbingers behind.

And now, I knew why. She was being hunted by the vampires. Was she the last banshee before me? The HD treated me