Read Shadow Rising for Free Online Page A

still fully clothed.
    But Abbey wasn’t playing the deer-in-the-headlights game. “What the hell is he doing here?” She jabbed her finger in Tray’s direction.
    “Uh,” Kara began, floored at the sight of her warrior passionately pursuing her best friend. She couldn’t think fast enough.
    “I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Tray ground out and stepped toward the pair.
    Jaxon growled and shot to his feet, his massive chest heaving. “I would be pleased if you would try.”
    Kara whipped around Tray and thrust her hands between the two men. “Not tonight, boys. I’m not in the mood.”
    Abbey stepped beside Kara, directly into the fray. Fire burned in her eyes, and her tousled red hair made her look like an avenging angel, so much like the old Abbey when she poked the aforementioned finger straight into Tray’s chest. “I said, what are you doing here ?”
    His charged gaze slipped from Jaxon and locked onto the delicate features of Abbey’s face. “Kara was in an accident, Abbey. She didn’t want to worry you, so I walked her home.”
    Kara had never seen such betrayal in Tray’s eyes. His pain was so thick in the air, she physically hurt for him.
    Abbey’s expression went blank. “Another one? You’re joking.”
    Jaxon took Kara by the shoulders to look her over, his gaze flitting past the pendant on her neck that bore his symbol. “Why didn’t you summon me? Are you hurt?”
    “I’m fine.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. Yes, she wanted the two of them to be happy, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about this latest development.
    “What does she mean, ‘another’?” Tray asked.
    Kara released a long breath out of her flared nostrils. “I fell down the stairs a few days ago. Cheese-n-rice, you guys, I was fine .”
    “Yeah, but you would’ve bashed your little hybrid brains out if Jaxon hadn’t caught you,” Abbey countered.
    “And the balcony,” Jaxon reminded her. “It broke while she was leaning on it two days before that.”
    “See, that wasn’t my fault,” Kara said to Tray.
    Abbey’s brow hitched. “Well, you are the apartment manager. Whose fault is it?”
    “I’m having all the railings checked this week. At least we caught it before someone got hurt.”
    Jaxon leveled his no-nonsense gaze at her. “If I couldn’t fly, you would be buried in the earth right now, mistress, awaiting regeneration.”
    Abbey looked at Jaxon. “You see. That’s what I’m telling you. She’s not just reckless—she has a death wish or something. No one has that many ‘accidents’ in a week.”
    Kara looked from one person to another, almost wishing the falling beam had knocked her out for a good long while. “You know what? I’m going out for real this time.” She glanced at her roommates. “I’ll be at least a couple of hours. Carry on, you two. Don’t let us stop you.”
    She barely looked at Tray as she sauntered to the door. “Goodnight, Tray. Thanks for your help. I’m sure you can find your way out.”
    “And leave them here alone? Hell no.”
    Kara turned, grabbed his arm and hauled him to the door. “They live together. They’re alone all the time. Get over it.”
    She knew she was being a bitch, but she had to get out of there. She didn’t have a flippin’ death wish. None of this had been her fault. Well…maybe chasing the witches from the bar…but that was beside the point.
    “Kara,” Abbey called. “Where are you going? Tell me about the accident.”
    Kara got Tray out the door, then turned back with a smile. “I survived.”
     
     
    The Gaslamp was a good place to go on a night when you wanted to blend in with the crowds and forget the witch decree burning a hole in your pocket. Kara had never been so happy she could walk out the lobby door straight into the bustle of activity.
    Maybe she would shack up with the first sailor who whistled in her direction. Why not? She couldn’t catch a disease, and if he turned out to be a freak, she could take him down.