Free Hellfire by Kate Douglas Page B

not.
With a last glance at the dark sword, she walked around the extra bed and
crawled in beside Alton. He covered her with the sheet and tugged her close
against his side.
    Within seconds she knew he
slept, but Ginny lay awake for a long time, wondering about the blood in her
veins and the legacy she’d not known of until now. Wondering what it meant, and
how this knowledge might change her life.
     
     
    Alton awoke once more during
the night. Ginny slept close beside him, tucked up under his arm with her nose
pressed against his ribs. When he’d reached for her earlier and realized she’d
gone, he never dreamed she’d come back to his bed.
    The fact she’d fallen asleep
in his arms in the first place had thrilled him more than it should have. He’d
been afraid to move for fear she’d wake up and leave his side, but she’d come
back. Awake and aware, she’d still slipped into bed beside him.
    There might be a sheet between
them, but she was closer than he’d expected, more relaxed beside him than he’d
dreamed.
    Her hair had dried into tight
little curls. He inhaled and smelled the same shampoo he’d used on his hair.
With the warmth of her body beside him and the clean scent of soap and shampoo
tickling his nose, he drifted back to sleep.
    It was light when Alton awoke
again. Ginny stood beside the bed, dressing. He barely caught a glimpse of
smooth, dark thigh and curved buttock when she slipped out of the soft pants
she’d been wearing. Within seconds she’d pulled on a pair of pale blue
underpants and a matching bra, followed by snug, faded blue jeans and a
stretchy T-shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail this morning.
She pulled the end out of her shirt and fluffed the frizzy black curls with a
look of pure disgust on her face. While she was fiddling with her ponytail, he
sat up in bed and waited for her to notice he was awake.
    She turned around and bit back
a short shriek. Then she glared at him. “How long have you been awake?”
    He faked a big yawn and
stretched. “Just now. Give me a minute and I’ll be
ready to go.” He noticed the fresh bandage wrapped around her fingers and palm.
“How’s your hand?”
    She shook her head. “Healing pretty fast, actually. There’s no sign of
infection.” She held her hand up and showed him how she could flex her fingers
in spite of the bandage. “See?”
    “Good. I’m glad it’s better.
What time is it?”
    “It’s early. Barely six. I don’t think the clinic opens until at least
nine.”
    “Someone may come early to
feed the animals,” he said. “We can park nearby and wait.”
     
     
    Ginny drove through a fast
food place and they bought a couple of breakfast burritos and cups of coffee.
It was only quarter to eight when she parked the Focus down the street from the
clinic.
    Alton reached in his pocket
for his cell phone. He’d remembered to charge it at the hotel, but there were
no messages on it. He tried calling Eddy, but it went straight to her voice
mail, so he left a message that they were at the clinic to check on the
possessed pets, ended the call, and stuck the phone back in his pocket.
    He’d thought about telling her
of his plans to take Ginny to Lemuria. Thought about it, and discarded the
idea. If Eddy said it was too dangerous, what would he do? He still wasn’t sure
it was the right move, but he had to do something. Had to find out if his
people were going to help fight this battle that seemed to be growing more
involved, more confusing, by the day.
     
     
    They had a good view of the
parking lot and employee entrance as well as the front of the clinic. Alton
sipped his coffee and studied the building. Ginny nibbled on her egg burrito
and studied Alton.
    He filled the passenger side
of the little car. Even though the seat was shoved as far back as it would go,
his long legs were bent and his head nearly touched the top. Still, he seemed
relaxed as he stared at the little adobe building that housed the