Marked For Death: A Dark Urban Fantasy Novel Becca Blake (fiction novels to read .txt) 📖

to go get that looked at.” I softened my tone and dug through the pouch on my thigh for gauze. “I’d offer you some healing herbs, but they do nothing to help infernal wounds. You need to head down to the clinic to get it treated.”

Jacob pushed my hand away, knocking the gauze to the floor. “I don’t need anything from you.”

“Clearly,” I said, looking again at the blood oozing from his shoulder. I shoulder-checked Jacob on my way past him as I stormed out of the training center, leaving my package of gauze behind.

Knowing this asshole was going to be my new partner made me miss Ayla even more.

It was two o’clock, and it was time to head to the Rusted Blade for a drink.

***

I adjusted the final buckle on my harness, making sure all of my weapons were firmly in place and all of my supplies were where they belonged. My sword and dagger were on opposite hips, and I concealed the handgun I rarely used beneath my leather jacket. I could shoot just fine, but the enchanted bullets weren’t cheap. It was only for emergencies. The pouches on my thighs held first aid supplies, spare bullets, and my cell phone in its industrial strength case.

I still wasn’t thrilled about the Council forcing me to work with Jacob, but after a month off, I was just excited to get back to work.

Orion had been far too busy the last week preparing for the new recruits to arrive, so I hadn’t checked in with him. Which was just as well—I was sure he was still fuming about how I embarrassed him.

“Looks like you’re all set.” My father sat at the top of the staircase, smiling.

“I didn’t realize you were watching me get ready.”

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t here long.” He got up and started down the stairs. “Orion says they’re sending you and Jacob right out in the field, so I wanted to see you off before you go.”

“He just graduated the training program, and I just had a partner die in the field. They’re not going to send us out to do anything dangerous,” I said.

“What we do is always dangerous.” He leaned against the wall and hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I’m heading out today, too.”

“How long will you be gone this time?”

“It could be awhile.” Dad opened the weapons cabinet by the front door and pulled out a sheathed sword, which he handed to me. “I wanted to give you this before I go.”

I pulled out the blade to admire the craftsmanship. The symbol of the Arbiters of Shadow, two crescent moons connected by a vertical line, was embossed on the blade with gold and silver detailing surrounding it. It was just the right size for me, and the balance was perfect.

“It’s beautiful. What’s this for?”

“A gift for your birthday. It will still need to be enchanted, so you’ll have to drop it off at the alchemy lab before you leave Haygrove.”

“My birthday is still a few months away,” I said. “You won’t be gone that long, will you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure.”

I set the sword down, then wrapped my arms around my father. “I love it. Thank you.”

He kissed my hair as he returned the hug. “I just want you to know how proud I am of you. And your mother would have been proud of you, too. Whatever happens, don’t forget that.”

“I won’t.” I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. “You’re acting weird, you know.”

“I’m just worried about you,” he said.

Of course he was worried. It could have just as easily been my death instead of Ayla’s.

“I’ll be fine, Dad,” I said, looking up at him with a smile I hoped was reassuring.

“You’re right. You’d better get out of here. I don’t want Orion to chew me out if you get there late on your first day back. Just… be careful.” He returned my smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

I took the sword and said goodbye to my dad, then rushed out of the house. My walk turned into a jog as I hurried to the Courtyard. I pushed through the morning Market Street foot traffic, navigating the path of least resistance through the crowd. At this time of day, just about everyone was on their way to one of the three buildings at the center of town: the training center, the town hall, or headquarters, which was my destination.

Standing at six stories, the HQ was the largest building in Haygrove. I had never been to any of the upper floors, which were all filled with cubicles for administrative jobs that would have bored me to death. Demon hunting was a thankless job, and often not a profitable one, so the Arbiters maintained a handful of mundane corporate ventures to help fund operations. The people who stayed in Haygrove to make sure things ran smoothly were an important part of the Arbiters of Shadow, and I was grateful for everything they did. But desk work wasn’t for me, and I was glad I wasn’t stuck in there with them.

I arrived in time to catch the next elevator heading down to the basement and leaned against the railing in the back corner. Orion stepped in next to me while the elevator filled around us.

“Hey, kid. Ready to get back to work?” He handed me one of the two coffees he’d brought with him.

He didn’t seem mad, at least. That was a good sign.

I snatched the drink from his hands a bit more quickly than would be considered polite. “I’ve been ready for the last month.”

I was thankful that Orion didn’t push the point that I hadn’t been ready… or that I still might not be.

“So did you ever find out—”

“Later,” he said.

His narrowed eyes and sharp tone shut me up for the rest of the ride, even though I was dying to ask him for more details. I could wait until we weren’t on a