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She looked over at Jeff, who was frowning at her. What? he mouthed.
She turned back to Magnus and Morgan, watching them devour their second set of steaks. Okay,
maybe werewolves? How long does the furry set live for, anyway? Her big brothers were serious
carnivores.
 Hey, pumpkin. Uncle Val leaned down to give her a hug, and she winced.  Did I hurt you?
The genuine concern on his face helped ease some of her fears, but not all of them. Couldn t vampires
hypnotize people with their eyes?  Um, no.
Those icy eyes of his narrowed.  What s wrong?
She bit her lip, wondering how to head him off. Uncle Val was like a bulldog when he thought
something was wrong with any of his nieces or nephews.  Nothing.
He studied her intently, joined by Travis. The two men looked like they were trying to see inside her
soul.
Are two vamps stronger than one vamp? She didn t know, but she wasn t eager to find out. She
squeezed her eyes shut. It was a stupid gesture, she knew that, but it wasn t like she could go running down
the hall for the elevator and freedom.
 What the fuck is wrong with you? Someone slip magic mushrooms onto your sandwich?
She opened her eyes to see Jeff frowning at her curiously.  Nothing. Nothing s wrong. She gave him
a weak, sickly grin, signaling with her hands that he should drop it.
 It s finally worn off. She looked over to find Travis grimacing and exchanging a loaded glance with
Uncle Val.
 We knew it would. Uncle Val picked up a sandwich, but the easy expression he d walked in with
had turned hard. It was his game face, the one he showed when he was about to get down to business. On
anyone else that expression would have terrified her. But this was Uncle Val, who wouldn t harm a hair on
her head.
Would he?
 We knew what would? Jeff stood off and faced his uncle and friend, his hands clenched at his sides.
He d angled his body between hers and theirs, protecting her, his expression fierce.
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Dana Marie Bell
Travis held up his hand.  Down, boy.
Jeff held up his hands, but she could tell her twin had hit the limit of his patience by the way his
whole body tensed up. He was about two seconds away from losing it.  Look, nice as it is to know, you
didn t call a family meeting to tell us my sister is pregnant. So what s up, and how does it affect Jamie?
 The last person on the face of the earth I would ever hurt is your sister, and you know that. Travis
gestured back towards the sofa.  Sit down, Jeff. I promise, we ll explain everything.
 Wait. Jordan s pregnant? Uncle Val turned with a happy smile to hug Jordan, ignoring the way
Logan scowled at him. She knew the two of them had some issues with each other in the past, but she
thought they d been resolved.
Jeff ignored Val, his focus on Travis.  Everything?
Travis nodded.  I give you my solemn oath that any question you or Jamie asks me within the next
hour I will do my best to answer honestly.
Logan gasped. Kir looked shocked. Magnus and Morgan winced.
And Jordan nodded.
That was the reaction Jamie was most interested in. Jordan was calm, her hand firmly clasped in
Logan s, Kir scooting back to rest his head against Logan s knee. Whatever it was, Jordan wasn t
concerned at all.
Logan snorted and looked down at Kir.  Think they re done enough for plan A-1?
 What the fuck is going on? Jeff s roar got everyone s attention.  My grandfather is suddenly a
psychopath, my uncle, who used to kiss said psychopath s ass, is now my co-worker, my sister has gotten
knocked up by two guys, my other sister got nearly beat to death, my boss is acting& okay, he s the only
one of you freaks acting normal. Jeff huffed out a breath and glared at them all before wearily rubbing his
eyes.  He s always been a secretive son of a bitch. My big brothers are not beating the shit out of the pervs
for knocking up Jordan. He scrubbed his hand through his hair, frustration practically vibrating off of him.
 When did I ride the Wacky train to Dysfunction Junction?
She couldn t help it. She started giggling. She d watched the frustration ratcheting up inside her twin
with each day she spent in the hospital and knew it was only a matter of time before that hidden temper of
his flared up. Jeff hated being kept in the dark more than anything. It was why he d decided to become a PI
like Jordan and Travis.
 You haven t. There was a strange timbre to Travis s voice, a deep, almost echoing quality that
stopped her giggles. Travis had his eyes closed, his head tilted back, as if he was listening to something that
only he could hear.  You ve asked me what the fuck is going on. Old Man Grimm will stop at nothing to
kill Kir and Logan, including harming you, your sisters, your brothers and anyone else who stands in his
way.
 Why?
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Eye of the Beholder
 For rule of the Aesir and the Vanir, and for prophecy.
Jamie blinked.  Wait. Aren t the Aesir the Norse gods? She was half-Norwegian. Her father had
practically spoon-fed her stories of the might of Thor, Odin and the Aesir.
 Yes.
That deep timbre to his voice was beginning to send shivers down her spine. She leaned forward.
 Okay, why would my crazy grandfather think he needs to rule a bunch of myths?
 They aren t myth, and he was their ruler, up until recently.
 So, basically, you re telling me that Odin tried to kill me.
 No.
She sagged in relief. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]