Free Betrayal Bites (Tales of Sydney Sedrick Book 2) by Mandi Casey Page A

Kieran’s coven. They seemed older, more in control than this one did.
    “You will not be disappointed, Master. When we have fully summoned The One, everything will be set, and your plans can go forth as you wish. You will be pleased. I swear it.” The rogue bent his head down in a show of submission, exposing the skin on his neck. Scorch marks seared his skin in thick, puckered welts. Andras hurt his servants? I’d figure that would be counterproductive in getting done what you wanted.
    There was so much in my newfound life I didn’t understand. Each different band of bad guys seemed to have their own way of doing things, and how they treated each other. It was like they each had their own unique culture; some were similar to each other, and some were vastly different. Why would a rogue vampire choose to work for a vindictive demon lord who hurt them instead of hanging out with the covens and enjoying the posh parties they seemed to hold for every possible event imaginable?
    A gentle breeze swayed Andras’ long white hair. From my viewpoint around the corner of the compound’s library, I didn’t feel any wind blowing through the room, and there were no open windows. Was I between realms? How was I able to see them? Blake didn’t say my body had disappeared. But then again, there wasn’t much time for chitchat before being sucked into this next vision, or whatever the heck it was.
    The smell of old blood was everywhere. I looked down at my feet. I could see right through them to the floor. There was no blood on the carpeted floor anywhere around me. I put my hand up to the dark-stained, wooden doorframe of the library. My hand didn’t touch the wood.
    It went through it.
    I could feel the presence of the mass that made up the doorway, but it didn’t stop my hand like it would have in the real world. I didn’t even know what the real world was anymore. My instincts told me that what I was seeing in the visions was really happening, but I couldn’t tell if it had already happened, was happening, or was going to happen. Nothing in the visions told the timing of the events. There were no clues like the local newspaper lying around on a coffee table with the date handily printed on the top header like you see in the mystery movies.
    The rogue and demon couldn’t see me. I took a silent step over the threshold of the doorway. Neither Andras nor the rogue paid me any attention. They had no idea I was standing there, even though I could see them clear as day. I must be in some sort of alternate universe, maybe some type of shadow world?
    My shoes didn’t make a sound as they landed on the carpet with each step. I entered the room they occupied, hoping to find some sort of indication as to their plans.
    Who was The One they wanted so badly to have come out of that hole in the cement base covered with all those symbols? It had to be some type of dark magic they used. Nothing good could come out of having to use blood to bring forth some kind of being.
    I lifted my hand out in front of me. My skin wasn’t solid. Wiggling my fingers, the light from the lamp on the desk went right through them, giving them a pink iridescent hue. That’s when my translucent arm began to waver right before my eyes. A vacuum pulled at me, my body slowly became a whirl in the air, and then I was gone from the library.
    I felt like I had a rock inside my gut. Nausea began to curl tendril-like extensions up my chest, reaching toward my collarbones, and I was sure I was going to yak.
    Firm, warm hands roughly shook me. Blake. I’d know his hands anywhere.
    “Sydney, we have to get you out of here. Would you snap out of it?” Blake was clearly losing his temper. I opened my eyes to see him hovering over me while lying on the floor of the club.
    Blake helped me slowly get to my feet. I looked down at myself. Figures, I had to fall on the part of the floor that someone had spilled part of their beverage on. I snarled in frustration at the big