Free Coveted - Book 3 in the Gwen Sparks Series by Stephanie Nelson Page A

stared in astonishment. They were both chuckling like hyenas while Dorian helped unpack Lauren’s things. I had never seen Dorian in a full blown laugh, his cheeks stretching wide while a deep rumble of laughter sounded from his full lips. Sure he had laughed around me, but it was more at my own expense rather than finding humor with me. An, “I’m not laughing with you, I’m laughing at you” sort of thing. A nasty pang of jealously stuck in my gut, causing my upper lip to curl up in a sneer as I glared at the blonde intruder. I got my inner green monster under control and headed to the kitchen to slip on my boots. I glanced down to appraise what I was wearing: black yoga pants and a long sleeve gray t-shirt. Deciding that the pants might not be thick enough to chase away the coolness of the night, I hurried to my room and changed into jeans. As I slipped past Dorian’s room, I did a walk by peek. Dorian’s head snapped up and settled in my direction but I didn’t stop my escape.
    I needed time by myself, without a giggling vampire Barbie and infatuated angel of Death and I knew just the place. I grabbed my coat and closed the front door behind me quietly. The stairway squeaked under my weight. I liked to walk and the temperature outside wasn’t as cold as I expected. Slipping on my jacket, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and headed for the one place that had become peaceful for me.
     
    * * *
     
    Flora’s cemetery sat on the edge of town. It wasn’t very big but what it lacked in size it made up for in charm. I know how strange that sounds, that a graveyard would be charming, but I no longer found the resting place of the dead frightening. There was something very calming about the hallowed ground. A three foot stone wall encompassed the area and a tall wrought iron arch with a hinged double gate welcomed grievers. Thick oak trees with curvy bare branches shared the area with tombstones and mausoleums.
    As I walked down the worn thin path, I closed my eyes and reached my senses out. Dorian told me with more practice I wouldn’t have to concentrate on sensing death, it would become a sixth sense of sorts. Though I was accepting what I am, the idea of always being able to detectdeath was a bit disconcerting. Imagine if you found out your neighbor, the one who always waves and makes small talk, had actually killed someone. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I knew Aiden killed a lot of people and I didn’t want a constant reminder of sensing it from him.
    Death has a distinct feel and smell to it. It is the coldest cold I’ve ever felt. It penetrates to the bone, and then come the emotions. The spirits’ feelings smack me in the face and make it hard breathe sometimes, especially if they are trying to get my attention. And the smell? It would be disgusting to most, but it doesn’t faze me. It is the stench of rotting fruit, sweet yet sour too.
    A tug of cold emotion came from in front of me. I slowly opened my eyes to find at least ten transparent bodies lingering with watchful eyes. The first time I came to the Flora cemetery, the spirits had been shy, scared almost. They knew what I was and that I could send them to the realm of the dead if I saw fit. After coming back a few times, the ghosts were starting to trust me.
    “Where’s your sidekick?” Eddie asked appearing right in front of my face. I jumped back in surprise, holding my heart as it jittered rapidly from the shock.
    “Son of a...” I took a moment to catch my breath. “You scared the living hell outta me.” I took another ragged breath. “Dorian is at the apartment.”
    “Does he know you’re out here by yourself?” Eddie chided.
    “I’m a grown ass woman, Eddie. I don’t need permission to go somewhere.” I walked around him and up the path. “I wanted to thank you,” I told him when he floated to catch up to me. “For alerting Dorian about my attack.”
    “Just doing my job.” Eddie’s pale shoulders rose and fell in a