Free Shadow Light (Beautiful Beings #3) by Kailin Gow

and mysterious in their melodies; haunting in their harmonies. 
    My breath was immediately taken away as we entered the church.  Two wide aisles led to the chancel, accented with streamlined pilasters.  The enormous vaulted ceiling, so high above us, was painted with various biblical scenes.
    Though the scenes depicted were angelic, uplifting and celestial, I felt the tension that passed from me to Moore, to Brax, to Asher and back to me with added intensity. 
    Thankfully, a few people sat in the front pews, their heads bowed in prayer.  I found a degree of comfort in knowing we weren’t alone.
    Markus took on a reverent stance as he walked down the aisle.  He led us out to the cloister then opened a small and uninviting door.  A dark and narrow stairwell greeted us and the tension I’d felt from the guys moments earlier was multiplied tenfold.
    The chants could be heard louder now, bringing parishioners to great heights of prayer, and no doubt bringing solace and enjoyment to the young monks who milled about with various chores.  But the chants seemed to bring only an added weight to our ever growing uncertainty.
    Each step we set our foot to was cracked, chipped and uneven, making our descent into the darkened belly of the monastery a tedious undertaking.  I had to steady myself on the cold and clammy walls.  As we reached the last step, the ceiling seemed to fall down over us, making everyone have to stoop in order to avoid smashing their heads.
    In sharp contrast to the high ceiling, celestial images and heavenly light of the church above, the under belly had a ceiling that left Asher and Moore in a perpetual hunch.  After a few meandering corridors, we emerged into a large den that was both surprising in its beauty and disturbing in its richness.
    Ornately carved bookshelves lined one wall while a large and majestic oak table took up the center of the large room.  The ceiling rose, coming to spike in the center, right above the table.  At the table sat two men, both intent on the computer screen before them.  They appeared to be in the same age bracket as Markus, but were dressed more in the fashion of Dr. Kingsley as opposed to that of Markus.
    At first sight they gave the impression of being academics, rather than priest demon slayers, like Markus.  My curiosity was piqued as I tried to connect the dots.  What did these men have in common with one another and what did they all have to do with us?  It was hard to imagine these two finely dressed men involved in anything demonic.  It was impossible to think they could possibly hold the key to ridding Brax and Moore of their curse.
    The smaller, more delicate of the two stood and looked directly at me.  After a moment of scrutiny, he removed his glasses and gazed briefly at Brax, Moore and Asher before bringing his gaze back to me.  Without his glasses and with the hint of a tense smile on his lips, he appeared a little younger than I'd originally thought.  Still very handsome, he had a tight, square jaw that made him look serious and subdued, but with eyes that blazed with mischief and a touch of danger.
    Beside him, the broader and slightly more portly man remained seated, almost unaware of our arrival.  There was something a bit European about him, though I couldn't quite put my finger on what country.  There was something almost Grecian in his profile, but he had startlingly blond hair. 
     Though he'd surely been very handsome when younger and thinner, there was something intriguing and attractive about him.  He exuded confidence, almost arrogance.  Perhaps it was in the way he barely gazed our way, or in the slight smirk that came to his lips when he did.
    "Who among you is called Braxton?" the dark haired man asked.
    For a tense and silent moment, no one responded.  Then Braxton stepped forward.  "I'm Braxton Kingsley."
    "Good.  Good.  And I'm Gordon Green."  He gazed down at his silent partner and arched a tense brow as he tilted