Midnight Fire - Rise of the Dark Angel - Book One by Melody Anne Page A

loved to toy with them, gain their trust and then pounce when they were least expecting it. It was like a game of cat and mouse and gave them a sense of power.
                  Jayden had never felt the need to play with beings who were so much weaker than him. He’d never thought of having anything to do with them since his fall from the light. He’d quickly erased from his memory the years of service to Josiah , now roaming the underworld with Vyco. Being around Phoenix was bringing back the long forgotten. For the first time in an eternity he thought about his sister, Chastity. Just thinking her name caus ed an ache to form in his chest, where it had been hollow for so long.

Chapter Eight
     
                  Phoenix walked into the cave, down the long semi-lit hallway , not aware Jayden was holding back . She was tired and glad to be inside , which was unusual. She normally wanted to stay out as long as possible but she was feeling guilt y over making her brother worry about her.
                  The two of them continued down the twisting turns of the cave, the route familiar to Phoenix. They stepped into the central cavern and she spotted John right away. He hadn’ t yet turned around to spot her and she took a deep breath, prepared for the lecture she knew she deserved. He finally turned and Phoenix watched as his eyes narrowed. Even though the lighting was always poor in the cavern, especially after being out in the sun , she could see the sparks flying from his dark blue depths.
                  “It’s about time you got back here , Phoenix. We were getting ready to send out a search party,” John shouted as he quickly approached them. Neither of them noticed the slight shift in Jayden. He was respondi ng to the anger in John’s voice and prepared to protect her but he quickly backed down when he realized John meant her no harm .
                  “I’ m sorry , John. I was picking and then fell asleep by a stream,” Phoenix told her brother . Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment because she’ d fallen asleep on the job.
                  “Phoenix, do you know how dangerous that was? You could’ve been captured, or even worse, killed,” John said, as he wrapped his arms around her. “You need to have someone with you from now on. I know you like to have alone time but it’ s just not worth it. The guards reported e nemy troops have gotten closer to our area and you know I couldn’t handle it if anything ever happened to you,” John said, squeezing Phoenix so tightly she couldn’t breathe for a few moments.
                  “You’ re choking me , John,” she gasped and he quickly loosened his grip . “I’ m really sorry and I won’t let it happen again. I love you , too,” she said with a huge smile, which took Jayden’s breath away once more .
                  “Sorry , s is. I was just scared when I couldn’t get ahold of you,” John said, calming down and smiling sheepishly at his sister. He finally noticed Jayden standing by silently and his shoulders stiffened up again as he looked at the outsider. “Who’ s this?” he asked Phoenix, instead of addressing the question to the guest .
                  “This is Jayden. H e’ s an escapee I met today ,” Phoenix said, grabbing hold of Jayden’s arm and pulling him forward. He had to control himself, not to pull her into his arms. At her simple touch, his body lit on fire and he didn’t want to release her .
                  “Hello Jayden. L et me take you to the elders and we can get you settled ,” John said a bit reluctantly. He was looking over Jayden with suspicion, which amused him . He thought if John knew who he really was he’ d have a reason to be suspicious . B ut , at that point her older brother just didn’t like the fact he’ d been alone with his sister in the woods. John didn’t know how right it