Read Collide and Seek: Act 4-5 (Bitter Ashes Book 2) for Free Online Page B

not descended from anyone. You simply exist.”
    “And what about my pesky penchant for empathy?” I asked, not liking the idea of coming from nothing.
    Alaric shrugged. “Now that, I have no explanation for, and it was clear that Estus did not expect you to come with such interesting gifts.”
    “Okay,” I began, reverting back to our original line of conversation. “If I am a denizen of death, and other Vaettir like Sivi identify with the elements, what exactly do you, as a Bastet, embody?”
    “War,” Alaric replied simply.
    “Well that's comforting,” I mumbled.
    Alaric laughed and pushed against my arm playfully. “Since when is death intimidated by a little bit of war?”
    My legs were beginning to tire from all of the walking, and my brain was tired enough that I didn't quite know how to answer him. Sure, death was a part of war, but death wasn't supposed to feel the pain and emotions of those who were to be claimed.
    I took a deep breath, and gave Alaric the only answer I could think of.
    “Since death grew a heart.”

Chapter Six
    I felt like my feet were about to fall off by the time I first heard sounds of traffic. The sun was making its slow decent past the trees, robbing us of the last of its warmth. James had eventually fallen back to walk with us, though he'd remained silent by my side.
    I unbuttoned Alaric's shirt, not looking forward to baring my arms to the chilly air. He took the shirt absentmindedly and began putting it on as he sniffed the air, reminding me of a lion, or some other large cat.
    “Anything?” James asked as he eyed our surroundings.
    Alaric shook his head. “I know a few places she would go. We might have to search for a while.”
    “We don't have much time,” James replied sternly. “That we're yet to see any sign of pursuit from Estus' people is shocking, to say the least.”
    “There's probably time for food though, right?” I chimed in.
    My stomach was cramping terribly from the lack of food over the last few days. Alaric and James didn't seem affected by it, but they didn't seem affected by a lot of things. Me, I needed food and a nice warm coat.
    Alaric pulled me toward him and wrapped an arm around me. My first instinct was to fight, but I was freezing, tired, and hungry. I simply didn't have any fight left, and his body heat was one small comfort I wasn't willing to refuse.
    James gave us an irritated look, but didn't comment. Instead we all began walking again, following the sounds of traffic.
    Soon we started seeing houses here and there, and our footing transitioned from dirt and pine needles to sidewalk and asphalt.
    I didn't recognize where we were, but Spokane is a large city, and there was no way for me to be familiar with all of the suburbs.
    As darkness fully fell, we reached a small strip mall. The smell of cooking food wafted out of a few restaurants, but the few clothing stores had already closed.
    “Get her something to eat,” James instructed as he looked at Alaric. “I'll find her a coat.”
    I raised a finger in the air. “And some socks . . . if you don't mind.”
    James sighed loudly, then disappeared into the darkness, presumably to steal me a coat. Alaric ushered me forward toward the nearest restaurant, a small pasta/pizza place.
    “It's like we're going on our first date,” Alaric intoned happily as he practically skipped along.
    I glared up at him as he gently urged me toward the restaurant. “The first date usually occurs before the breakup, and it definitely occurs before the . . . ” I trailed off, not wanting to say what I had originally intended.
    “The sex?” Alaric finished for me. “So we like to do things backward,” he went on, “it's part of our charm.”
    “There is no we or our ,” I corrected, “and this is not a date.”
    “No roses, no wine,” Alaric joked. “Got it.”
    “Wonderful,” I grumbled.
    Alaric held the door for me as we went inside the small restaurant. Nervous, I pulled my hair forward to