Free Remember Me (Storm Lords Book 1) by Nina Croft Page A

yellow eyes glowed feral. A huge sword hung at his back, and he drew it in one fluid move. He took a single step toward Bryce and pressed the tip of the sword to his throat. “You really want it all to end?”
    Bryce nodded. The movement pressed t he sword against his skin and a bead of crimson welled from the small wound. The sweet scent of blood tinged the air.
    Cade held his breath.
    Torr lowered the sword. “I won’t end your life now. But if you come back to me one year from today and you still wis h me to do this…so be it.” Torr stepped back and the demon was gone. He moved to the other man, clasped him close, then released him. “Go.”
    As Bryce turned to leave, the door was flung open and Phoebe stood in the entrance. She was wearing his shirt, but h ad pulled on her skirt and boots, her blond hair hung loose about her shoulders, her legs were astride, her eyes flashing. Something had obviously happened since he had left her curled up sleepily in bed, and his mind searched for what it could be. Nothing could have harmed her in this building.
    He was aware that the whole room was watching them, and he shifted uncomfortably. He’d have preferred this conversation alone, but could hardly ask Torr to leave his own office, and Phoebe didn’t look particularly a menable right now. “Phoebe, what is it? What’s happened?”
    She seemed to become aware that they weren’t alone and she looked around the room, her eyes widening as they took in his brothers. Then she gritted her teeth, and resolve hardened her expression.
    “I saw the painting.”
    For a moment, his mind didn’t make the connection. “Painting?”
    “Of your wife. Of Eleni.”
    Shock hit him in the gut. Why hadn’t he thought of that? The answer came almost immediately—because his mind had been on other things. There were n o locked doors in this building. If you weren’t supposed to be there, you would never get in. He hadn’t even thought to hide the painting.
    He stared at her, trying to see what was in her eyes. Behind the anger, he could detect a pain she was obviously tryi ng her best to hide. He wanted to drag her into his arms, comfort her. He couldn’t say the words, but he could show her that he loved her. He turned to look at the others. Torr nodded, and they all filed out of the office. Torr rested his hand on his arm a s he passed, and Cade felt the strength flowing through him from the contact.
    “It’s not what you think,” he said as the door clicked shut behind them.
    “How do you know what I think?” she snapped.
    “It’s obvious you’re angry, but you’re also hurt, and there’s no need.”
    “No need? You come on to me strong, and I’m thinking there’s something odd here. Now, I know what. I’ve just discovered that I’m the exact image of your dead wife. Is that a coincidence, Cade?”
    “It’s not a coincidence.”
    “Then tell me what it is, because I can’t come up with any other reason than you’re fixated on a dead woman.”
    He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides while his mind worked furiously. He couldn’t tell her the truth because it would break the Covenant. And not only would he lose her forever, but all of his brothers would be banished back to the Abyss and Lilith.
    She watched him, and he saw the sadness fill her eyes. “There is no other reason, is there?”
    “It’s not like that. I can’t explain right now, but just st ay with me, just for one more day, and I’ll show you what you mean to me.” He took a step toward her, and she backed away from him until she came up against the closed door. She held up her hand, and he forced himself to come to a halt a foot away from her , when everything inside him wanted to take hold of her and refuse to let her go. “Just one day, Phoebe.”
    She bit her lower lip and stared over his shoulder. Finally, her gaze returned to his face. “Tell me one thing.”
    Cade took a deep breath and nodded. B ut inside he knew the