Free NocC 026 - Lauren Hawkeye - The Darkling's Desire - Harlequin 2012-11 by Nocturne Page B

the Witchling would
come for his woman soon.
    His suspicions were usually on the right.
    Keeping himself wrapped in shadows, he jumped from the tree,
landing on his feet like an animal. Though he forced himself to keep his eyes
from the woman across the parking lot, he saw in his peripheral vision that she
started when he landed, a wicked-looking blade appearing suddenly in her right
hand.
    So he had been right—she had some powers that were more than
human. She would never have heard his descent otherwise.
    Closing his eyes and inhaling air that he no longer needed to
breathe, he told himself for the third time since discovering the woman to
focus.
    No matter how much she intrigued him, for he had always loved a
puzzle, he had a job to do.
    *
    Anastasia shifted uneasily in her crouch, trying to
ignore the fact that she could no longer feel the tips of her fingers.
    Minutes earlier she had heard a noise that sounded like a
footfall—a creature landing on the ground. Though her eyes, her ears, her every
sense failed to detect anything, she knew that she
hadn’t imagined it.
    Squinting, straining, she scanned the empty lot and once again
saw nothing. But…was that.... yes! There was a low murmur of voices, barely
audible through the back door of the shop. But they were there, she was sure of
it.
    Cursing, Anastasia made her way carefully to that closed door.
Pressing her ear to the cool steel, the voices became louder—one male, one
female.
    Furious with herself, she fumbled for the blade that she had
replaced in its worn sheath only moments before. The Witchling, Gavin Thibodeau,
must have gotten past her somehow. How was she going to assassinate the female
Darkling now? She should have just gone in and done the job straightaway,
instead of waiting, hiding, gaining her bearings.
    Lesson learned. But she still hadn’t accomplished what she had
come here to do. Inhaling deeply, she backed up, then sprang at the door with
her black-booted foot outstretched.
    She was gratified when it flew open beneath her kick, though
the resultant shock was felt all the way up into her torso. But at least she had
done it right.
    Two startled and wary faces greeted her as she burst forth into
the cluttered room. Aubrey Hart, the former doctor turned newly made Darkling,
stood with her palms planted on the ornately carved wooden counter. She
displayed the innate stillness of her kind. Anastasia had seen photos of the
woman, but she hadn’t been prepared for the innocence that the creature
displayed. With her cascade of honeyed hair and wide azure eyes she looked
nothing like the evil rogue that Anastasia had expected.
    This was who she was supposed to
kill?
    Stalling for time as her mind sorted that one out, Anastasia
shifted her stare to the other being in the room. She pegged him instantly as
another Darkling, but he was a stranger to her. With his head cocked slightly to
one side, he studied her as if she were a bug under a microscope…or as if he
were taking her clothing off, piece by piece.
    He was hot. She noted this as completely as she had noted
Aubrey’s unease, but she tried to shove that thought right out of her head.
    It had no bearing on her mission.
    Instead she focused on his special skills. Did he have more
speed than the average Darkling? She hadn’t learned of anything of the kind.
    From the corner of her eye Anastasia saw Aubrey lick her lips
once, slowly, and saw the woman’s blue eyes fasten on the pulse throbbing, slow
and steady, in Anastasia’s neck.
    Shit. She was in way over her head. Her only hope was to catch
Aubrey by surprise, and damn whatever the other Darkling was here for. Not ideal
circumstances, but she would have to work with what she could.
    Before she could over think it, Anastasia launched herself
across the room, landing on the counter in a crouch. Aubrey hissed in surprise,
baring her fangs, a show that Anastasia knew was bravado.
    She could see the fear reflected in the sea-blue depths of