Incendiary (The Premonition Series (Volume 4)) Read Free

about pain, I promise ye.”
    Russell growls . “Look at the dead guy trippin’, Zee,” Russell says with an undercurrent of menace in his tone “He must not know that we have more game than Mattel.”
    “I was going to crash your party as soon as I found you, Brennus. Consider yourself invited to ours, if it’s more convenient,” Reed says lig htly. “Just make it soon .”
    “I will , aingeal ,” Brennus replies to Reed , trying to keep his cool.
    Gazing at me, the ligh t from the moon causes Brennus’ black hair to shine with a silve ry glow . “Ye were right…ye did end up doing me wrong. I gave ye everyting. Ye’ll spend eternity making dis up ta me,” Brennus whispers in my ear with the harshness of betrayal .
    Turning, Brennus’ image begi n s walking away, back over the sea and into the frightening, blac k-cloud horizon. As he retreats acros s the frozen waves, one thing i s clear to me: I believe him. Touching the onyx locket hanging from my neck wit h trembling fingers, I whisper , “He’s coming. We have to leave.”
    Reed’s gentle voice interrupts my panicked thoughts as he says softly, “I will never let him have you again .”
    The murky clouds roil back, receding and uncovering the night sky speckled with pinpoint s of fire. Russell and Zephyr co me nearer to us, lending me their support with their presence. Shivering in Reed’s arms, I drop Russell’s hand and huddle nearer to Reed , while the moon cast s its light upon us.
    “Still…we shoul d go,” I reply with my hands shaking.
    “We exp ected him to find us,” Reed remarks softly, stroki ng my wings. “You have his knife— ”
    “You knew he’d find me!” I frown, pulling back from him so that I can see his eyes.
    “Yes,” Reed answers honestly. “The only thing I regret is that he di dn’ t really come here tonight . I would’ ve felt him if he had, but since I’m not affected by his magic, I did not sense his shadowy presence. We put Russell on point to detect Brennus’ magic . ”
    “I felt that cold freak all the way over on the other s ide of the island,” Russell says grimly.
    “Why didn’t you tell me that his knif e would lead him to me?” I ask Reed , feeling like I have just attended my own funeral.
    Reed’s eyebrows dra w together over his lovely green eyes. “I didn’t wan t to worry you, Evie,” Reed says w ith concern in his tone. “You ha ve been through so much— ”
    “Yeah,” Russell chimes in. “We’ll take it from here.” He points his chin toward Reed and Zephyr.
    “You don’ t know Brennus, Russell,” I warn . “He’ll destroy himself to get me back.”
    “Good!” Russell sho o t s back. “It’ll be his funeral — we’re ready for him and his army to come . I like the way you stood up to him, though, tellin’ him you weren’t goin’ with him. I thought maybe he still had you wrapped ‘round his finger — ”
    “I’m not his slave,” I interject defensively.
    “T he l ast few weeks you were with him, you acted like one of them,” Russell counters quietly. “I w as afraid they might own you now. ”
    “ I had to act like one of them ,” I reply , truly beginning to shake now. T he breeze is becoming gentle with only the scent of salt and tropical flowe rs woven within the balmy heat. “But I always wanted to come home.”
    “Shh,” Reed hushes me in a soothing tone. “ Of course you did, ” he agrees as he sho o t s Russell a look full of censure.
    “You have a plan and you haven’t told me about it?” I ask , before piercing each one of them with my narrowing eyes.
    Zep hyr’s light-brown wings twitch as he replies , “We were waiting until you fully recovered from your captivity. ”
    “When did you think that w as going to happen?” I counter , annoyed that they’re keeping things from me again.
    Zephyr’s eyebrow arch es over his ice blue eye as he smiles, “I believ e that you just proved that you are ready,” he replies .
    “Okay,” I