Read Shadow's Light for Free Online Page A

obviously had every attention of emptying that bottle. I wasn't sure how I would fare. I'm not much of a drinker. Back home, I'd have the odd Bacardi and Coke , but never more than two. Cachaça is about 48% alcohol. Bacardi , watered down with Coke , is a walk in the park in comparison to that.
    “They will discover your hiding place, as I have done,” Avery continued with the conversation as though it hadn't been interrupted by his eavesdropping on my thoughts and a shared stiff drink. “You are not safe. I could help you.”
    Help me? Yeah right, because keeping me safe was right up there with letting me go free. What Avery wanted was to slit my palm and then his own, and clasp our hands together, letting our blood bond us in a joining that would double his power and give the Iunctio some of mine. Keeping me safe was not top of the list. Getting my power first would have been.
    “They are one and the same,” he answered casually, not even trying to hide the fact that he had been in my mind.
    When I didn't say anything, but just continued to eyeball him he added, “I can teach you to recognise fey, before they get too close.”
    Now that would be handy. I may be able to sense vampires throughout the world, but the Fey I can't get a complete handle on. I know they are not human, but I can't tell what. A bit like an oculus , I suppose.
    “How?” I asked, despite my desire not to show any interest at all.
    “I have a talent for detecting fey magic. You would be able to learn, I am sure. Your own talents lend themselves to it. I can teach you to be prepared. You are more than capable of defending yourself once you know what you are facing.”
    “Why would you do this?” I couldn't see him doing this out of any kind of generosity. There had to be something he wanted in return.
    “Your death or loss from this realm, should a fey take you to Álfheimr , would be detrimental.” Yeah, detrimental to the Iunctio . “The portals are expanding daily, Ms. Monk. It must be stopped.”
    “I won't join with you, Avery.” He knew this, he knew I wouldn't fall for his charms.
    “And I do not wish to force you.” He poured two new glasses full of Cachaça . “You will come to me of your own accord. By then, the world will be over-run with fey and you will see it as the only possible solution to our salvation.” He pushed my glass back towards me. “To truths and patience.” He drank his drink in one shot.
    “To not getting what you want and Hell freezing over,” I said and downed my own glass.
    OK, so two glasses of Cachaça had been potent. Three was slightly over the edge. I'm a cheap drunk, so sue me.
    He refilled the glasses and I think my stomach did a flip. I couldn't do another shot. I could feel my face flushing, warm tingles brushing over the length of my body, just under the skin. The world was suddenly a little hazy, but at least it hadn't started tipping over sideways just yet. But, I wasn't feeling that heartache. Or sadness or loss. I was happily numb and for the first time in two months, I was happy to be alive.
    Alcohol. What a wickedly, wickedly deceptive drink.
    “You need me, Ms. Monk. Face it. Your decision to hide in South America was a sound one and you have done admirably. But, I found you and they will find you too. The Iunctio , the Fey. The Russian.” Oh, yeah let's not forget Viktor Davydov. He wanted my arse too. But, more in the killing of my arse, than coveting it. “Let's make a deal. I don't alert the Iunctio to your current location, give you time to come to the conclusion that joining with me is a sound idea, and you entertain me whilst we're here.”
    “Entertain you?” I had sudden images of how exactly Avery likes to be entertained and neither of us were dressed in them. “Hey! Get out of my head Plucking Pervert!” Avery could manipulate other's minds. I was picking those images were all his.
    He just laughed and pushed another full glass of Cachaça towards me. The bottle