The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

Author:Christine Lynn Herman [Herman, Christine Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2019-04-01T18:30:00+00:00

The Saunders manor shone like a beacon from half a mile away. The lights flaring in the upstairs windows cut harshly through the forest, making it easy for Harper to keep the house in sight as she navigated the woods. Maurice Carlisle’s words ran through her mind with every step: Go to her. We trust you, Harper.

It had been a long time since someone had shown any faith in her at all; and now, in the space of just a few days, she’d gained the respect of Violet Saunders—and her own father.

She was not about to let either of them down.

But as the bottom of the hill came into view, Harper froze. Parked in the center of the driveway were two police cars, their sirens casting red-and-blue shadows across the manor’s front porch.

Standing next to the second car, her badge gleaming in the light that spilled through the windows, was Augusta Hawthorne.

The person Harper had sworn to take down at all costs.

The person who, if Justin was to be believed, had taken Harper’s best friend away from her.

The person who Harper was more afraid of than the Gray. Than the Beast.

Her legs were heavy as stone, anchoring her to the forest floor. All her bravery had crumbled the moment she saw that shock of blond hair.

But if she bolted, she’d be disappointing everyone.

Worst of all, she’d be proving the Beast right the day it told her she was unworthy of her family birthright.

Harper patted the edge of the dagger she’d tucked into her pocket, then stepped carefully through the woods, circling the Saunders manor. If she could get in through the back door, there was still a chance she could talk to Violet.

But she’d barely gone a few feet when a series of rustles and curses came from the trees to her left.

Harper flattened her spine against the nearest tree trunk, struggling to calm her breathing. Someone was in the forest with her. Someone who, she realized as the stream of curses continued, was either very drunk, or very, very foolish.

“Are you fucking serious?” sighed the voice, apparently to itself. “I am the branch guy! It’s, like, my whole thing! Don’t you wanna be helpful, trees, instead of getting in my way?”

Harper groaned silently as the sea of branches parted to her left, revealing a disheveled, visibly intoxicated Justin Hawthorne.

Very drunk and very foolish, then.

His gaze found her before she had time to duck behind the nearest tree.

“You!” Justin raised a finger and jabbed it in her direction. The gesture felt like an accusation. “Why in the founders’ names are you here?”

Harper wondered if he would believe her if she told him she was a drunk hallucination.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, instead.

The question seemed to confuse him. “Violet asked for help,” he said. “And Isaac was too drunk, so May had to take him home, so I came here.”

Harper pushed down a surge of annoyance that Violet had reached out to the Hawthornes, too. At least Justin was in no condition to win back Violet’s allegiance.

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