Read Fading Light: Shadow Born, Book 2 for Free Online Page B

black duster from the hood of the car and slipped it over her shoulders.
    “If he wasn’t already here,” Gray corrected.
    Keegan grinned. “Did Gray misbehave? Should we spank him?”
    “Shut up, Keegan.” Brenna glared at him. “You’re next.”
    “I took an opportunity and ran with it.” Gray pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the van. As he moved to open the door, Brenna pressed her hand against the window to slam it shut.
    “I’m not done talking,” she continued. “You planned all along to come down here and have Lilura summon Keegan. Did you even look for him first?” Brenna took the keys from Gray’s hand and opened the car door. “I figured it out when Seraph told me the Victus Pendant was missing. You gave it to her as payment, didn’t you?”
    “Brenna–”
    “This is why we aren’t together. I still can’t trust you.”
    Gray reached for her, but she stepped back. His hands fell to his sides. “I didn’t lie to you.”
    “You didn’t tell me the whole truth. It’s the same thing.” Her gaze fell on Keegan. “And you, Mr. Vigilante, where have you been? You’re not in this alone, you know.” Shaking her head, she motioned to the passenger seat. “Get in.”
    Keegan pressed a hand against his chest.
    “Yes, you.” Brenna sighed. “Get in before I change my mind.”
    Gray batted down a sharp denial. Walking to the back of the car, he reached for the door handle. The metal burned his fingers. He jerked back, stunned.
    “Not you.” Brenna shook her head. “Keegan and I have some catching up to do. Alone. We’ll see you back at headquarters.” She jumped into the driver’s seat, slammed the door and hit the gas. Keegan waved, a wide grin on his face.
    Gray watched them go, torn between rage and guilt.
    Brenna’s temper began to cool as she drove back to headquarters. Gray claimed he wanted her trust, to be her partner, then he pulled crap like this. Part of her wondered if he truly wanted to be with her, or if he was still hanging on to old prejudices. He clearly didn’t trust her. He wouldn’t act this way if he did.
    “He lied to me again.” She made a hard right onto the dirt road.
    Keegan slammed against the door. “Make him pay for it, then get over it.” He righted himself. “We all have to work together, might as well make the best of it.”
    Brenna shot him a wary glance. “Since when are you willing to play nice?”
    “I want Adare.” He stared out at the fading landscape. “Tell me about the new bodies.”
    Brenna filled him in.
    “Sounds like the others.” He considered. “They had no symptoms. Nothing tied them together except where they lived.”
    “They never went anywhere together?”
    “No. They weren’t friends. They were roommates. The only thing they shared was the wine.”
    Brenna glanced at him, confused.
    “Humans bring me things so I don’t eat them,” Keegan explained. “Once it was virgins, now it’s alcoholic beverages.” He shrugged, thrumming his fingers against the dash. “Someone dropped off a case of wine. It seemed legit, so I gave it to the others. It was long gone when they died. I’ve searched everywhere, even the landfills, but I can’t find the bottles. Even so, I doubt the residue would still be present.”
    Brenna considered. “Did they say the wine tasted funny?”
    “They loved it. Said it was the best they’d ever had.” He put his hands behind his head, leaning back in the seat. “One of the girls was convinced it was spelled. Claimed it calmed her nerves.” He shook his head. “She was a cheap drunk. One glass and she was under the table. That would calm anyone.”
    “Did you keep the package it came in?” Brenna asked.
    “There wasn’t one. Only a stack of wine bottles and a note.”
    Brenna sucked in a breath. “Please tell me you kept it?”
    “The note?” He shot her a surprised glance. “I probably burned it.”
    Frustration reared its ugly head, but Brenna held it back. Keegan