Free Phoenix Rising (Book 5 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens Page A

smile faded as she studied the house. "We should check it out."
    "I think you should stay in the car." Devon was unwilling to expose her to the deadly rays of the sun anymore than she had to be.
    She opened her mouth to argue, but something on his face must have silenced her as she nodded her agreement. "Ok."
    Relief filled him as he leaned over and kissed her. He relished in the feel of her supple lips against his as he slid his hand across her cheek. There was a moment where she didn't trust herself and then she melted against him. Her mouth parted for his invasion and she welcomed him eagerly as her fingers curled into his back and she lost herself to him. Devon tugged the blanket back from her face in order to curl his hands into her thick, silken hair.
    He completely forgot about Chris and Melissa until the car doors closed. Cassie jerked slightly before pulling away from him. She grinned at him as her cheeks colored and she bowed her head. He pulled the glasses from her face; he had to see her eyes again. They sparkled back at him, warmth and love radiating from them. Whether Hunter or vampire, she was spectacular and she was his.
    She gave him every bit of herself that she had to give, and more. She'd given up her entire world for him, even if it had been sooner than planned and in a far more brutal way than he had planned for. He would have eased her into the change, he would have tried to take some of the pain from the transition from her, and he would have been there for her. But if there was one thing he'd learned in his lengthy existence it was that life never went as planned.
    He would have given anything to take back the traumatic death she'd experienced. When he saw his brother again, Devon was going to make him pay for what he'd done to her. "I think we embarrassed them," she murmured.
    He stroked her silken cheek and bent to kiss the tip of her nose. "They'll survive. I love you."
    Her grin widened. "I love you too."
    He reluctantly pulled away from her and was careful to only open the door a crack as he climbed out. "Lock the doors."
    "We will," Melissa assured him before climbing back into the passenger side.
    Devon could feel their eyes following them as he and Chris made their way to the small house. He led the way around the back when he discovered the front door was locked.

CHAPTER 8
     
    Cassie'shands twisted together as she watched Chris and Devon disappear around the side of the house. She hated the fact that she couldn't be with them, that she was now practically useless during the day hours. She pressed her fingers against the tinted glass as she strained to see more. But no matter what she was, Hunter or vampire, she couldn't see through buildings.
    "Do you think they made it in?" she asked.
    "I hope so."
    "Why doesn't this house frighten you?"
    Melissa shrugged and barely glanced at Cassie before she turned her attention back to the farmhouse. A Farmers Porch wrapped around three sides of it and the red color was cheerful even in the dreary winter landscape. Bird feeders hung from the beams, even from this distance she could hear them creak as they swayed in the wind.
    A curtain in the living room pulled back and Devon waved at them before he dropped it back down. "It feels more alive than the others," Melissa said. "It's not a premonition or anything, there's just something about this one that feels safer. But things are so screwy now Cass that I could be completely wrong."
    The hairs on the back of Cassie's neck stood up, a chill raced down her spine. "Melissa," she breathed as she fought off the panic trying to engulf her.
    "But I don't think so," Melissa rushed on when she realized what she'd said. "They'll be fine Cass."
    Cassie's hands fisted as she turned her attention back to the house. She was more powerful now, stronger than she had been as a Hunter, yet she'd never felt so weak. If she had a heartbeat she knew it would be racing. Instead, her body was oddly unresponsive to the