Free Volcanoes by Nicole Hamlett Page B

really."
    "I thought not," he said with a look of superiority that made me want to smack him.
    "Don't be stubborn." I elbowed him in the ribs on my way around him and pried his fingers fr om the doorknob. "This is my house and I'll deal with this. Besides, he probably can't get past the wards."
    He nodded at this then sighed. "Fine, but first sign of trouble, you get your ass into the house. Did you have Dylan call for help?"
    "Of course I di d." I threw him a look that asked if he was brain damaged and stepped outside into the bright glare of the day. It seemed weird that such a perfect sunny day was utterly silent.
    "I know you're out here," I called. "So you can stop with the sneaky act." I sat on the porch steps and propped my chin in my hand, waiting. I ignored the gasp of disbelief on the other side of the door.
    "I see despite your words that you're not bold enough to leave the boundaries of your wards." His silky deep tone shimmered over my skin.
    "I'm brazen, not stupid." My eyes met his as I replied with a smile. "I can't say that it's a pleasure to meet you in the flesh, considering."
    "Considering what?" He asked curiously.
    "Well, considering that you've spent a substantial amount of t ime trying to kill me and everyone I love."
    "What if I were to tell you I'm trying to get my own loved ones back home?"
    "I think you could have asked someone. Been up front. Perhaps even honest. But you decided to create havoc on my home turf and that make s you the bad guy and that means that we don't get to be friends. So, why are you here?"
    He looked surprised by my direct answer. Perhaps he was used to the perpetual mind fuck. It wasn't my style and I was tired of playing games. I needed to know what he wanted so I could figure out how to get him out of my world as quickly as possible.
    "What if I came to beg for my mother's life? What if I wanted to take your measure? From what I've heard, you'll be the woman to kill me." He shrugged at the last as thoug h it meant nothing to him.
    "Persephone tell you that?  She's kind of a jealous bitch. I wouldn't listen to much of what she has to say. Actually, I haven't found her to be all that accurate lately. You should fire her and send her my way. We have unfinish ed business."
    He chuckled and shook his head. "I see."
    "Actually - here, hold on." I stood up and twirled around. "There, you took my measure. Like what you see?" I gave him the dimple smile that always worked in the charming pants off department.
    It didn 't work. "Mm, Not really," he replied, completely unimpressed.
    "Hmm. Well that was just rude. So first, we're not letting your mummy go – ." I shrugged just as nonchalantly and stifled the urge to run away right then at his malicious glare. "Secondly, I do n't care if you like what you see - you're not my type anyway. Soooo, try not to let the door of the Rift hit you in the ass on your way off my planet, would you? I'm a little tired right now from destroying your Legion of Dunderheads and I don't feel lik e fighting right now." I smirked and gave him a shooing motion with my hands.
    He frowned. "You confuse me. Do you not have any sense of self-preservation?"
    "Mmmm, no - not really. Seriously though, I'm really tired of you fucking things up here . It would be best if you just went back to wherever you came from. How about you run along now and leave me and my son alone?" I smiled at him standing there safely behind the wards and stood up, brushed the dirt off my ass and started backward up the st e ps.
    My step faltered. Why? Because he ’ d smiled at me. Not a pleasant Sunday afternoon smile. A smile filled with knowledge and no small amount of malice. "And what if I say no?"
    I let my features grow cold. I was dead serious when I replied, "Then I kill you and dance on your bloody grave."
    "I'd like to see you try that." Then, he stepped onto my front yard.
    Shit fuck!
    I squeaked and scrambled backwards, tripping on the top step. The door to the house flew