Free Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales Page A

his hand through his tousled locks, away from his face. The motion was not as effective as he would have liked, the tangles twisted his hair into non-compliance but he could still see that the three Chosen awaited his explanation.
    “ I would have been here earlier, ” his soft melodious voice filled the flat, “ but I had difficulty getting through the snowstorm. ”
    “ Snowstorm? What snowstorm? ” countered the Noble as he made his way over to the window. “ There was no snowstorm when Bridget and I…” His protestation slid away as he took in the sight of the now uncovered window. White and green brocade creaked in his bronze grip.  “ Where ’ s my car? ”
    “ Dear heaven on earth, ” gasped Notus, his hand slapping his forehead as he stared at the blustery weather just inches from his face.
    Bridget pressed her slim body against Fernando ’ s back, her head peeking around his shoulder. The expression of her face matched that of the monks.
    Notus placed his hand against the snow dotted windowpane and drew it back, leaving a faint condensation impression behind.
    “ When did this start? ” Notus turned to his son who only shrugged.
    “ What I want to know is where is my Ferrari ? ”
    The Angel stepped over to stand behind his friends. His height made it easy for him to have a clear view of the storm. Scanning the street below he pointed at a large blob of snow sitting near the wind battered stop sign. “ Is that it? ”
    Fernando groaned, his shoulders slumping. “ Tell me I didn ’ t leave the roof down? ”
    “ You left the roof down, ” stated Bridget matter-of-factly. “ I told you to put it up, but no, you said it was a nice night despite the fact people were staring at us driving like we were crazy. ”
    Another groan escaped the Noble ’ s lips and he turned away from the scene. He did not want to calculate the damage that the snow had already done.
    “ How are we going to get home, Fernando? ” Bridget crossed her arms and glared up at her Chosen ’ s stricken face. “ I ’ m not walking home in that. I wore straps. ”
    Quick to divert the oncoming fight Notus offered the only solution he could think of. “ You two are most welcome to spend the day here. I ’ m sure by nightfall tomorrow the storm will have passed and the streets will have cleared. ”
    Surprised at the offer, the Angel regretted not being open to the emotions of the Chosen. “ Notus—” he began but was quickly cut off.
    “ The two of you can take the boy ’ s bed. ”
    Knowing where the next sentence would lead, he headed the monk off at the pass by walking over and collapsing onto the sofa. “ I ’ ll take the couch. ”
    “ Are you sure? We don ’ t want to put you out. ” Bridget walked over to sit back onto her spot forcing the Angel to take up residence at the other end.
    “ She might not want to, but a bed is preferable to sharing a couch. ” Fernando closed the drapes, cutting off the horrendous view and returned to his chair next to the tree.
    “ Then it ’ s settled, ” declared Notus as he went to change the album on the turntable.
    “ I ’ d better let Juliette know that we won ’ t be coming back to the house by dawn. ”
    “ You ’ d think she ’ d figure that one out on her on, ” muttered the Noble.
    Silence reigned as Notus picked out the next record to play and Bridget closed her eyes in concentration. Her communication with her Chosen was completed as Notus lowered the needle onto an old 78 of Fats Domino.
    “ So, has the house been destroyed yet? ”
    Bridget glared at Fernando. “ The house is safer when you ’ re not there. ”
    “ Now, now, it ’ s Christmas, ” entered Notus. He sat down in the chair at the other end. “ Truce everybody, truce. ”
    Swivelling in his spot, the monk turned to face his wayward son. “ Now where were you? You said you ’ d be home by dawn this morning, but you didn ’ t show. Do you know how much I worried? ”
    The onslaught