Read The Night for Free Online Page A

the largest and most beautiful. The breeze had dropped and the water was still, reflecting the glory of the heavens on its dark surface. Celene surprised him by sitting down on the bank, resting her back against a tall white tree, and hugging her knees to her chest.
    “We cannot stop,” he said but she either didn’t hear him, or she was ignoring him.
    He moved around her and stared down at her. Throughout the long walk, she had said nothing to him. She had been lost in her own world, with her thoughts that were clearly weighing her down. He crouched in front of her, looking right into her eyes.
    “Tell me what is wrong, Celene. What is it that is worrying you? What do you fear?” he whispered to her, and she looked at him, her face soft and eyes twinkling with unshed tears.
    “I fear... that you will not understand...”
    He frowned and then raised his eyes to the hill as the sky behind it began to lighten.
    “Speak to me,” he said, a feeling of urgency settling in his stomach as he saw the sun beginning to rise and felt the night set him free. “Tell me where you go.”
    “I cannot,” she said with a faint smile and then she was gone.
    He stared at the spot she had occupied not a second before and couldn’t believe what had happened. She had made no motion and uttered no spell to cause her to disappear. It was as though she had no control over it. The only thing that witches and wizards had no control over were curses.
    Was she cursed too?
    Settling down, he stared at the lake and waited for her to return, knowing that he couldn’t leave this spot or he would lose her. The castle was still a distance away. When Celene returned with the night, he would drink the remains of his potion and fight the curse for control over his body. They would only have a few hours in which to find and confront Erikka, and he wasn’t sure it would be enough.
    He didn’t want Celene going in alone to face the witch. It was too dangerous and a risk he wasn’t willing to take. He would defy the curse with every last drop of his energy and use every spell in his power to keep himself in human form so he could protect her if he needed to. He was useless to her as a cat, but as a man, he could keep her safe.
    Closing his eyes, he didn’t notice the moment he drifted off to sleep.

    Celene looked down at Zane with hope in her heart. He had kissed her, had shown his feelings for her, and had made her believe that he would understand what she was, but she still feared. She feared that he wouldn’t understand and that the knowledge of her power would drive him away as it had Elektra’s lover.
    Maybe her sister was right and it was foolish to love a mortal, but she had chosen to give her heart to him, and she wouldn’t change her mind now. No matter how short their time together might be, she had known true love and was sure that he reciprocated those feelings.
    He stirred slightly, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand and purring. She frowned and gently nudged his shoulder, wanting him to wake and stop making that noise. It was a bad sign. She knew it. The two halves of him were beginning to merge into one, just as he had said they would.
    His eyes opened slowly and were dark with sleep when they finally found hers. She smiled at him, silently wishing for a sign that he was beginning to understand her at last, and that her fears were pointless.
    He stretched and yawned.
    “Is it evening already?” he said and reached around behind him, gripping the tree to help him to his feet.
    “It is.” She watched him closely, still waiting for her sign.
    He smiled at her, his eyes brightening and lifting her heart. When he reached out and brushed her cheek with his fingers, she managed another smile, this time as thanks for offering her what she had needed most—reassurance.
    “There are clouds on the horizon,” he said, uncorking a small bottle.
    “A potion?” she said with a frown, ignoring what he had said. Tonight deserved to