Read Ignis (Book 2, Pure Series) for Free Online Page A

"You're making me nervous."
                GM gave me a wry smile.   "My apologies, Solnyshko."   She rose.   "I need to get the tea things out anyway."
                GM got out her blue-and-white china teacups—the same ones she had used on the night that Galina Golovnin and her son, Aleksandr, had shown up on our doorstep to warn us that Gleb Mstislav would soon be after me.   GM had not believed them and had thrown them out.
                But they had been right.
                Soon the kettle was whistling, and GM poured out for us.   I gazed into the golden depths of the tea reluctantly.   I knew it was chamomile, and I knew it was untainted, but I couldn't help thinking again of the poisoned tea my cousin Odette had given me.
                I shivered.
                GM glanced up at me.   "Are you cold, Solnyshko?"
                I gave her a reassuring smile.   "No.   I was just thinking.   You know how sometimes a memory steals over you and catches you in a funny way?"
                "I do indeed," GM replied.
                She sipped at her tea and gave me a look over the rim of her cup.   Then she set it down with decision.
                "Katie, I know we both have things to say, and I hope you don't mind if I go first."
                "Go ahead," I said.
                "Thank you."   GM paused for a moment.   "Do you remember what I said to you in Tblisi?   I promised you that when that whole terrible business was over, that we would do some proper traveling?"
                "I remember," I said.
                GM took a deep breath, as if she were gathering courage.   "What do you think about spending Christmas in Russia?"
                I didn't know what I had been expecting, but that was not it.
                Several memories flashed through my mind—all of them terrifying.
                "Christmas in Russia?" I said.
                "Yes."   GM nodded her head in an encouraging fashion.
                "In Krov?" I asked.
                "Yes."
                My head began to spin a little.   I loved Russia—I really did.   It was the country of my birth, and I thought it was beautiful.   But going back to Krov seemed dangerous at this point—especially since I had just met two vampires who wanted me to do exactly that.
                "Why do you want to go to Krov for Christmas?" I asked.   "Does it have something to do with all the letters?"
                "Letters?" GM asked innocently.
                "Yes, GM," I said.   "Letters like the one you were reading in your office just now.   I've seen you with them before—and the envelopes always have a lot of foreign stamps on them."
                "Ah, yes.   It appears you have sharp eyes, Solnyshko.   You don't have anything to be concerned about.   The letters are not from anyone you know."
                "Who are they from?"
                GM shook her head.   "Sometimes a grandmother needs to keep some things to herself.   Do not distress yourself over the letters, Katie."
                I decided to give up.   Once GM decided she wasn't going to talk about something, she very seldom changed her mind.   I stared back down at my tea.
                "Solnyshko, forgive me," GM said, "but you do not seem very excited about going to Krov.   I thought you would be happy.   I thought we might go to Moscow, too.   You would love all of the beautiful buildings in the great square.   St. Basil's Basilica is a wonder in person."
                I tried to think of how to put my thoughts into words, but what I wanted to say seemed to need more diplomacy than I was able to summon at the moment.   I wanted to tell GM that I wished she would tell me what was