Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2) Read Free

breathed, and in an instant he had his arms around him.
    Michael hugged him back. “How you doing, kiddo?” he asked.
    Aaron didn’t answer, choosing instead to tighten his arms around Michael. When Aaron pulled away, he saw the fatigue on his uncle. Michael’s vibrant, bright blue eyes were dull, with dark circles under them. His face seemed thinner and his usually neat hair was dishevelled.
    Michael looked around the busy street before back at Aaron. “What’s going on?”
    Aaron didn’t know what to tell him.
    “Where are your mum and dad?” Michael asked.
    “They’re inside,” Aaron replied, nodding in the direction of the cottage. “Where were you? Why didn’t you come back with Mum and Dad?” Aaron hadn’t seen his uncle in four months. Michael had left with Chris and Kate, but he didn’t return until now.
    Michael closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. “In hell,” he muttered. Opening his eyes, he saw Aaron’s expression. He smiled, reaching out to ruffle Aaron’s hair. “Not literally, Aaron. Don’t look so scared.” He grinned at Aaron’s messy locks. “You need a haircut.”
    “It’s the last thing I need,” Aaron said.
    “Seriously, what’s going on here?” Michael asked, glancing up and down the busy street.
    Aaron opened his mouth to try to start explaining.
    “Aaron Adams!”
    The shout had both Aaron and Michael looking around at the open Gate. Aaron spotted Patrick Sweeney, the Lurker he had met only a few days ago, standing with fellow white-robed men. Patrick broke away from the group of Lurkers to hurry down the street towards Aaron.
    “I just heard,” Patrick said, coming to Aaron’s side, looking rather ashen-faced. “Kyran – he’s the Scorcher? I can’t believe it.”
    Aaron couldn’t find anything to say.
    “Scorcher?” Michael’s eyes widened. “As in, the son of Hadrian?”
    Aaron looked around at him. “You know about him?” The fact that Hadrian had a son was only discovered two years ago, when Michael was still in the human realm with Aaron and his parents.
    “I heard the stories when we were looking for Neriah,” Michael explained. “Horror stories,” he corrected.
    Aaron’s heart twisted as a mental picture of Kyran flashed in his mind. A part of him was still in denial, refusing to believe that all the death and destruction accredited to the Scorcher had been carried out by Kyran. Aaron couldn’t bring himself to think Kyran could be that cruel.
    “Is that why there’s so much commotion?” Michael asked. “We found the Scorcher?”
    Aaron shook his head. “He escaped.” Then taking in a deep breath, he added, “He took the key to unlock Hadrian’s power.”
    Michael’s eyes widened, his face rapidly losing colour.
    “What?”
    “He was living here,” Aaron continued. “He stayed in Salvador for a year, waiting for a chance to get to Neriah.”
    “The Scorcher was here? In Salvador?” Michael asked. “How is that possible? He can’t get past the Gate.”
    “He’s not a vamage,” Aaron said. “He’s a mage.”
    Michael looked like he was struggling to speak. His mouth opened and closed a few times but no sound came out. He ran both hands through his hair. “I...How? I – I don’t understand.”
    “None of us do,” Patrick said. “But we don’t have the time to work it out. Hadrian’s got the key; he’ll have his powers back in no time.” He looked to the Gate, through which more Hunters were arriving. “Neriah’s gathering all the teams. Hopefully we can get together a decent defence before Hadrian attacks.” He turned to face Michael. “I don’t think we’ve met.” He held out a hand. “Patrick Sweeney, Head Lurker, rank twelve.”
    Michael shook his hand. “Michael Williams,” he said. “Ex-Hunter.”
    It took a moment for it to hit Aaron. “Wait.” He turned to Patrick with a frown. “You don’t know him?” he asked, gesturing to Michael. “You said you knew my uncle, that you worked with him