Free A Girl's Guide to Demon Hunting by Emily Miles

kitchen.
    Ace and Shooter sat at the little table, untouched sandwiches in front of them. I gave them a small wave and turned to focus on the newcomer leaning against the counter. He was around my age, dressed in dark washed jeans and a grey T-shirt. Dark hair hung loose, nearly to his shoulders and he looked to be about as tall as Ace.   I’m guessing this is Max. His blue eyes gave me a quick once-over before he extended his hand to me.
    “You must be Allie,” he said as I put my hand in his.
    I felt his warm skin a second before the gentle pulse of his power ran through me like a single heartbeat and the world tilted on its axis. Fear slammed hard into me and I fought the urge to run as my mind screamed at me to stay calm. No need to panic Allie; it’s only a Guardian, no reason to believe your life is going to come to a bloody end in less than ten seconds.   Ok, actually pretty much every reason but not the best thing to focus on right this second.
    Unable to speak, I give him a weak smile and let go of his hand like it was on fire. I backed away from him until my back touched the door jam. What the hell was Father Henry thinking? I tried to keep my freak-out from showing on my face as Father Henry introduced him to Jenny.
    I watched, looking for any sign that he suspected the truth about me. When he didn’t even bat an eye as Pancake came into the room carrying her favorite red ball, I began to relax; at least enough to release the death grip I had on the door jam. Okay, maybe he didn’t feel the darkness or he didn’t expect a Hell Hound, either way I wasn’t going to take any chances. I tapped my leg and Pancake came to lie at my feet. She happily chewed on the ball, oblivious to the danger in the room.
    “Now that we’re all here, care to tell us what’s going on?” Shooter asked Max.
Max looked between me and my friends with a confused look before he settled on Father Henry.
    “Can I talk to you in private?” Max asked.
    “We can use my study.” Father Henry said and walked out of the kitchen. I followed them; no way was I going to let a Guardian alone with Father Henry. I didn’t get out of the kitchen before Max spun around and put his hand on my arm, blocking me from leaving. 
    “I said in private.”
    Ace and Shooter were on their feet the second he touched me because, well, because they’re Ace and Shooter. I opened my mouth to tell Max to get out of my way when Father Henry shook his head no and glanced back in the kitchen. I gave Max my best ‘you hurt him and I kill you’ glare, the one I call number five. He rolled his eyes and turned around, following Father Henry down the dark hallway and into the study. I need to work on my number five.
    Ace and Shooter were already standing on their chairs, helping Jenny climb on the kitchen table when I turned back around. None of us spoke as I climbed up next to Jenny and opened the air vent. Little known fact about old houses: the air vents create a perfect way to listen in on private conversations.
    I’d learned this last year when Father Henry had unsuccessfully tried to plan a surprise party for me. I had to tell him and my friends how I’d known when I did a crappy job of acting surprised. Ace said it was my distinct lack of almost killing everyone in the darkened room that gave it away; surprise is hard to fake when you’re a semi-pro Demon hunter.
We all tilted our heads to the vent. Max’s voice came through loud and clear.
    “I thought you said you could help me. Instead you give me three humans and a little girl.”
    “Allie has more knowledge of the Demons here than anyone, myself included. And those humans are the best at what they do.”
   “Fine, I’ll give the humans the benefit of the doubt but Allie doesn’t even look like she’s old enough to drive.”
    What is it about me and driving? So I don’t have a real